San Antonio should keep a program aimed at protecting the Edwards Aquifer if voters choose to shift sales tax money that funds the program to instead boost public transit, city officials said Wednesday.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg has sought to settle the fate of the Edwards Aquifer protection program for the past several months. He and other local officials want the $40 million raised by the 1/8-cent sales tax to instead pay for better bus service and other initiatives at VIA Metropolitan Transit.

The city can continue to operate the aquifer program, aimed at securing the city’s primary source of clean water, by using revenue the city gets from the city-owned San Antonio Water System, Deputy City Manager Maria Villagómez told City Council members Wednesday.

Read more from Joshua Fechter with San Antonio Express-News here.