LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lincoln’s tax rate will likely go up next year after the mayor won his lawsuit to force the City Council to fund his budget.

A judge ruled in Mayor Chris Beutler (BYTE’-lur) favor on Wednesday.

Beutler had argued that the council was obligated to pass a tax rate that supports the budget of record for the city.

In this case, Beutler says the budget he submitted before vetoing the council’s revised version is the valid one. The Republicans on the council had said the smaller budget they passed should be considered the legal budget.

Councilman Roy Christensen says he’s disappointed in the ruling, but he and the other Republicans won’t decide whether to appeal until their lawyer reviews the ruling.