Rep. David Cox, R-Lehi, who sponsored the bill that allowed for splitting of districts and who also served on the feasibility study committee, said there was a good deal of misinformation circulated about the impacts of a split, much of it designed to inflame and scare people away from the potential.

Wendy Shoop, a district patron who signed on to help push the idea, said that while the split would not have lessened school-related taxes, it would return critical local control to parents and teachers. She said the tax levies likely would have remained about the same

"We have to try this," she said, "but so many people are afraid of the change."

Commissioner Jerry Grover said his vote for putting the issue on the ballot was not so much in favor of a split, but in favor of letting the people decide.

He said because of the way the legislation is written, it forces the commission to try and predict what the general populous would dictate.

"It's a little backwards from what we normally do," he said, referring to initiatives that generally go on the ballot for public approval and then come back to the commission for basically a ratification vote.

"It's never been my role to shut them (initiative votes) down. I'm more of a gatekeeper," Grover said. "We have to vote for it in order to give the people their say."

He said those pushing for creation of the new district have the option to petition through regular initiative channels, but noted that process would not have the same kind of close scrutiny.

"It's not like this is going to go away," Grover said.

Commissioner White said if the two areas had been more evenly divided and the new district included American Fork, Highland and Alpine — instead of just Lehi High area, he would have voted to put the issue on the ballot.

Herbert said he didn't expect the initiative would pass largely because it had the potential to bring significant tax increases for the new district without reducing the tax burden for the remaining district.

"People tend to vote with their pocketbooks," he said.

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