"They should not be worried," Evans said. "In no way is it the intention of the Legislature to penalize those school districts who at this point cannot fully participate. It's an ongoing program, so they may opt in in a year or two. But it's a partnership, and the school districts must decide when they can participate."

"I think that if a district takes the state money and doesn't raise taxes, the Legislature will review that activity," said Burke Jolley, Jordan District deputy superintendent of business services. "I think their original intent was, we'll provide half the money and you generate your share to improve reading. If you do anything other than that, I think you're inviting additional scrutiny (from) the Legislature."

Conservative lawmakers have complained school leaders want them to raise taxes when they're not willing to do it themselves. In 2000, legislative leaders recommended more money for districts raising property taxes — an idea that died in the ensuing economic downturn.

Supporters of conservative causes such as tax credits for private school tuition also say the state throws money at schools without demanding results.

Overtones of both issues surface in the reading program's political compromise. It requires investment, with state support, and accountability: If tax-raising districts don't meet reading goals in three years, the tax gets axed.

Legislators undoubtedly will keep tabs on the program's results. And they could do the same with districts that raise the tax.

"When the Legislature looks at who may or may not raise the levy, they also need to examine circumstances the district finds itself in, and the relative tax burden those districts are currently imposing on their residents," Ogden said.

North Summit, for instance, is the only district the newspaper contacted that won't try to find matching funds. It just wants the $29,300 base money.

"We just passed a bond, so we're not going to go for the levy," Superintendent Steve Carlsen said. "Going to the people again just wouldn't be fair."

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E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com