Acting Mayor Matt Claman on Monday reinstated $3.8 million to the Anchorage School District's $759 million budget for next school year, calling it the responsible thing to do even in economically challenging and uncertain times.

Claman's veto reverses the cuts made last week in a 6-4 vote by Anchorage Assembly members. The money was trimmed, Assembly members said, because of concerns about a School District budget that has nearly doubled in a decade.

Citing the district's challenges, including a high dropout rate, Claman said, "Accepting the reduced budget would be irresponsible. ... I have to look in the mirror."

Local taxes pay about 30 percent of the district budget. The majority of the money comes from the state, with a small percentage coming from the federal government.

The Assembly would have to come up with eight out of 10 votes to undo Claman's veto. That's unlikely because Claman has the support of at least three Assembly members -- Harriet Drummond from West and Southwest Anchorage, Mike Gutierrez from East Anchorage and Elvi Gray-Jackson from central Anchorage.

Claman, who is running for mayor in next week's election, said the $3.8 million translates to about two cups of coffee a month for the average taxpayer.

This year's school budget is $738 million. That means that with or without the Assembly cut the School District was getting a funding boost unlike many other city departments, said Assembly member Debbie Ossiander from Eagle River in response to Claman's action. "We have to be looking at every single expenditure," she said.

The city's operating budget, which pays for city services including the police and fire departments, is facing a $17 million budget shortfall next year.

Assembly members Jennifer Johnston from South Anchorage and Patrick Flynn from downtown had proposed the cut, which represented 2 percent of the funding from local property taxes. Reached Monday afternoon, Johnston said that for too long the Assembly just accepted the School District's budget increases. "There haven't been any checks and balances," she said.

Before she was an Assemblywoman, Johnston started a nonprofit working with at-risk youth. "You can't buy your way out of the 60 percent graduation rate," she said.

District superintendent Carol Comeau said she was pleased with Claman's decision but hopes there's no backlash on April 7 when voters cast their ballots for some $96 million in school capital improvement and maintenance bonds.