New Orleans City Council members voted Thursday to sue Mayor LaToya Cantrell in an effort to force her administration to pay NOLA Public Schools $20 million. Why it matters: The Council's action ups the ante in a dispute between its members and Cantrell's administration.

The New Orleans City Council has joined the Orleans Parish School Board's lawsuit against Mayor LaToya Cantrell's administration, arguing that the School Board is owed millions and that Cantrell cannot back out of a deal to pay it that her administration agreed to three months ago.

Council members and school officials blasted Mayor LaToya Cantrell for backing out of a deal meant to help city schools out of a budget shortfall.

New Orleans City Council members are expected to decide Thursday whether they will sue Mayor LaToya Cantrell in an effort to force her administration to pay NOLA Public Schools $20 million. Why it matters: Cantrell's administration appears to be backing out on an agreement that the council says was already a done deal to avoid staffing cuts.

The New Orleans City Council and the Orleans Parish School Board are suing Mayor LaToya Cantrell's administration to force it to make good on the $20 million settlement it agreed to last year.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell appears to have decided against honoring a $20 million settlement agreement with the Orleans Parish School Board that was authorized by the City Council.

The New Orleans City Council has voted to join the lawsuit brought by NOLA Public Schools against the Cantrell administration for backing out of an agreement to give the schools $20 million to fill a hole in the budget.