LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Republican majority has set the stage for an expected lawsuit over competing budgets to guide Lincoln’s spending and taxes.

The council voted 4-3 Monday to approve a tax rate that officials say wouldn’t generate enough revenue to support the budget submitted by Mayor Chris Beutler (BYTE’-lur), a Democrat.

Beutler and Democrats on the council say the council must approve a tax rate that fully supports the budget of record, in this case the budget Beutler submitted before vetoing the council’s budget.

The Republicans on the council say the mayor cannot veto a budget, and the trimmer budget approved by the Republican majority is the legal budget.

City Attorney Jeff Kirkpatrick has hired attorneys for both sides in anticipation of a lawsuit.