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The city council voted 5-1 to amend its school funding policy from 2011. The amended language will give the council flexibility to spend surplus funds on other uses, rather than sending the money straight to the schools鈥� budget as a 鈥渢rue-up,鈥� as in years past.

Under the change, the city will still provide 40% of tax revenue to its school system. But any surplus would become fair game for other city projects, not necessarily schools related.

Councilman Luke Priddy voted against the measure, and Councilwoman Vivian Sanchez-Jones abstained from voting due to a conflict of interest because she works for the school system.

Priddy asked the council to table the issue until December, in hopes of finding a better alternative. But that motion died 5-2, with support only from Priddy and Councilwoman Stephanie Moon Reynolds.

鈥淲e set up a scenario where every year you鈥檇 have some politicization,鈥� Priddy said. 鈥淭he opposition between us and the school board on this policy is what we can expect every year coming down the line.鈥�

School board officials also opposed the amended budget agreement, and were present in the city council chambers on Monday.

After the vote, outgoing school board member Mark Cathey said the amended school funding formula throws a rock into the most important service provided by any government. He described the changes as a gut-punch.

鈥淓very year, you see other city councils and boards of supervisors and school boards at arms, knocking heads, yelling at each other, going back and forth on what they need to spend their money on,鈥� Cathey said. 鈥淲e haven鈥檛 had to get down on our knees and beg the city council for money.鈥�

But that will change when the amended formula kicks in starting with 2026 budgeting discussions, he said. Cathey said the school board would even need to justify changes to staff salary and benefits.

鈥淚t鈥檚 intolerable,鈥� Cathey said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 not something we should have to do.鈥�

Superintendent Verletta White said in practice, the funding formula gives more like 30% to 33% of local taxes. But the spirit of the agreement was still there, at least until Monday.

鈥淲e really do need to take a look at those percentages,鈥� White said. 鈥淭he true-up, or as they call it, the surplus, is not extra. The surplus is part of the core 40%.鈥�

She said those extra funds have provided stability for funding safety measures and for completing large school construction projects.

鈥淚 respectfully would submit to the council that they should take a look at how we have utilized our true-up over the past several years,鈥� White said. 鈥淭he kinds of things that the city wants to do and needs to do, we respect that. We have the same kinds of things to do.鈥�

Councilwoman Trish White-Boyd said the city has needs to meet, and that requires funding. The council put off funding a new fire station and a new library this year, as construction costs inflate.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 anything wrong with us advocating for ways to build our bridges, to pave our roads, to pay our employees, to pay our fire department,鈥� White-Boyd said. 鈥淲e would never do anything to impede our schools.鈥�

Discussions about the school funding formula accompanied other city council votes regarding the upcoming fiscal year budget, which goes into effect July 1. The budgeting process takes up most of the government year.

The city council also approved its $379 million operating budget for the year, holding the real estate property tax rate at the same $1.22 per $100 of assessed value.