Lawmakers, meanwhile, are working to ensure tax-poor school districts can get their hands on more state aid for school buildings, which they hope could take the edge off for the remaining west-side districts.

East-side municipalities are voting now whether to put the school district split up for a public vote — the final hurdle in the movement. Cottonwood Heights, Midvale, Alta and Draper city councils gave the thumbs up this past week. This week, the Sandy City Council will vote, and South Salt Lake and Holladay will at least discuss it. The Salt Lake County Council is scheduled to vote on the matter July 31.

A "no" vote from one of the councils could delay, if not derail, the whole thing.

But if it's all green lights, then the people will vote on the idea in November — if they live in the proposed east-side districts. The west side would have no say. Mayors in Jordan's west-side cities and the Jordan Board of Education have questioned whether that violates the U.S. Constitution's one-man, one-vote guarantee in the 14th Amendment. There's also buzz of a lawsuit.

Also of note: Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon has sought legal advice on the matter. Among them: what his veto powers are.

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E-mail: lee@desnews.com; jtcook@desnews.com