In Utah, voters can nullify any law passed by an elected body — including a tax increase — through a referendum process which “refers” the matter to the ballot. State law requires that a referendum be filed initially with the names and addresses of at least five sponsors. And that’s what is giving Weaver heartburn. Orem’s petition was first submitted to her by resident Wayne Burr with names of five sponsors but no addresses. By the time the addresses were submitted a couple of days later, the filing deadline had passed.

If Weaver rejects the referendum on the technicality of missing addresses, she will light a firestorm of protest. City officials don’t want a referendum hanging out there because it freezes the implementation of their tax increase until voters weigh in via special election or until the next regular election. Waiting until November 2013 would keep the tax hike on ice until after Orem’s 2014 budget cycle.

That’s what opponents of the tax increase want because it will force the city to dig deeper into its pockets before hitting the taxpayers. There is money available, after all. For instance, the city could save $1 million by doing what many private companies have done: reduce or eliminate its generous 1-for-1 matching benefit for 401k retirement accounts. Some say it could save another million by stopping an optional subsidy payment to University Mall.

Weaver should take a deep breath and follow the spirit of the law by approving the launch of the tax referendum. The address rule is for verifying the identity of the sponsors, not to hang up the whole process. In a city as small as Orem, the identities are easy enough to confirm.