Now, however, county taxpayers aren't going to get angry until they receive their tax notices in the fall. They likely will waste a lot of time venting at the county assessor and, perhaps, their local school boards. With any luck, they won't figure out the truth until after state lawmakers are re-elected in November.

Small school districts may indeed be best for educating children, but politicians gave flight to this idea. Now they need to take the blame for turning it into the Hindenburg.

Before, only the folks on the west side of the Jordan District could complain about being denied a chance to vote on the district split, even though it affected them directly. Now everyone else in the county has the same valid complaint. Because all taxes come from the same person — you — cities are wondering how they can now raise money for their own legitimate needs.

One interesting side note: Salt Lake County is emerging as the voice of reason here, as it did when it stood firm against public funding for a soccer stadium last year. Lawmakers overrode them on that one, and on this one, too.

The County Council had voted against allowing a vote to split the Jordan District because some unincorporated residents would be affected. In a special session last August, the Legislature stripped the county of its power to stop the vote.

You may not believe the traditional truisms. Just make sure you don't buy one about how lawmakers haven't raised your taxes.

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Jay Evensen is editor of the Deseret Morning News editorial page. E-mail: even@desnews.com