We agree wholeheartedly.

Voters in the east-side Salt Lake County communities that would form a new district also may not have the constitutional authority to approve the division on their own, without all current district residents weighing in.

A year-old law lets communities of a certain size form their own district after only a feasibility study and a vote. Some west-side cities say they will sue to keep district divisions proposed under that wrongheaded law off the ballot, based on the equal-protection clause of the U.S. Constitution. They see that the law is unfair since those who could see a significant tax increase by dividing either Jordan or Granite districts would not have a vote.

With his keen eye for detail, Corroon is investigating whether he has the authority to veto a possible County Council decision to join with five cities in putting the issue to a vote in November. Council members will vote July 31. If they go along with a November vote, Corroon should veto it if he can.

Studies commissioned by east-side residents of both Jordan and Granite districts answered some questions about the impacts a district split probably would have on property taxes, school enrollments and financing of new schools needed on the valley's west side. Both predicted that the new districts could see lower property taxes, but that some east-side schools could close and west-side residents would probably see a significant property-tax increase to pay for new schools.

The two studies painted only possible scenarios; they conflicted in some areas and left important issues to conjecture. That's not a good foundation for making such a drastic change. Leaving the division of a district entirely up to those who may benefit is asking for trouble.

The Legislature should reconsider, in a special session, this ill-conceived law before it opens a Pandora's box of trouble for public schools that would be difficult, if not impossible, to fix.