Warren deserves credit this week for voting to fully fund the Bristol Warren Regional School District this coming year. That its representatives on the Joint Finance Committee were not successful in approving a 3.97 percent budget increase is beside the point: As has been the case in recent years, the vote last Thursday night (story, page 1) fell along town lines, with Bristol advocating for, and winning through its 6-3 majority, a smaller 2 percent increase.

The seeds of Warren’s motion to fully fund the district were sown half a decade ago, when Warren embarked on a five-year plan to bring its fiscal house in order, shaving costs where possible and reprioritizing spending. That long-term strategy was aided in 2016, when town council members established an educational reserve account while a lawsuit between Warren and Bristol was still being argued in Rhode Island Superior Court and, later, the state Supreme Court. That money was set aside in the case — unlikely, Warren officials said at the time — that Bristol would prevail in court.

Warren was ultimately successful, leaving the funds set aside in the reserve account available for Warren’s use.

Thursday’s vote was made possible in large part by that reserve account, which allowed Warren to seek full funding for the district without cutting other vital town services and programs. As a result, Warren taxpayers are looking at a minimal property tax increase this year — 31 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.

What will happen next year is another story. With the reserve account no longer available as a buffer toward increased spending and a resultant tax increase (or service cuts elsewhere), Warren will likely face a harder decision then than its JFC members did this year. But as JFC member Steve Thompson said Thursday, the town’s move to fully support Bristol Warren is a vital part of the council’s thinking this year and likely next:

“We’ve been planning to be in this position tonight, to be able to support education, and I support the motion to fully fund this district.”

This is a win for Warren and Bristol residents and evidence that, despite the animosity between the two towns, Warren’s priorities are on track.