WARWICK — The School Committee has taken the first step toward reimbursing the city for the $600,000-plus deficit it amassed last year. But even though the will is there, it remains to be seen if there will be any money to back the intent.

The board voted unanimously last week to apply money from any surplus it has at the end of the current fiscal year toward the operating deficit for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2007.

The board closed the last fiscal year in the red largely because of Medicaid reimbursements that came in lower than expected. The same problem has prompted predictions of another operating deficit when the current fiscal year ends on June 30.

Still, school officials said that last week’s resolution was sincere.

“We wanted to do what was responsible,” School Committee Chairman Christopher E. Friel said. He noted that the prior-year deficit was discovered recently when it was too late to take corrective action.

And while it may be unlikely that there will be any cash on hand this June 30, Friel said cost-saving measures have already decreased the size of the shortfall that may result this year from Medicaid payments lagging behind predictions.

“The odds of there being money behind the resolution may be slim, but I think it’s important that we recognize the deficit and state that we intend to pay it back,” Friel said.

Although the current School Committee cannot bind future boards, the resolution it adopted last week does stipulate that the matter of reimbursing the city for making up for the deficit be discussed every year until the debt is paid.

“I think it’s something that’s going to have to be revisited,” Friel said.

Mayor Scott Avedisian said the board’s action was a step in the right direction, particularly because the school board acknowledged its responsibility for the operating shortfall.

“This is an acknowledgement that they are obligated to pay this city back,” Avedisian said. “And it’s certainly better than anything we’ve gotten from them in the past.”

Avedisian and Friel said that when it comes to an operating deficit being predicted for the current year due to the Medicaid reimbursements, one key difference is that there is time for the school board to implement cost savings and file a “corrective action” plan with city as required by state law.

Friel said the board will submit a plan shortly.

Regarding last year’s deficit and the resolution to pay it back, School Committee member Joyce Andrade said, “We understand the financial difficulties the city is facing and wanted to communicate with them — to extend an olive branch.

“Our financial picture is pretty bleak and we’re going to have to deal with it,” Andrade said. “But we wanted to let the public know that we will work with the city and for the taxpayers. We want to be fiscally responsible.”

bpoliche@projo.com