MCALLEN – The city of McAllen voted to give $1 million to University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s Medical School.

Commissioners supported the decision as a matter of economic development.

The university's message to taxpayers was that medical schools around Texas don’t get funded on state dollars alone.

They say the funds awarded Monday night are specifically for what’s called the Cancer Immunology Program and building labs that will effectively recruit researchers to the Valley.

During the meeting, there was a long discussion by commissioners about the costs and benefits of such a decision.

McAllen Mayor Jim Darling and Commissioner Richard Cortez say that it’s an important opportunity to get the ball rolling and the medical school means jobs for the area.

Commissioners John Ingram and Joaquin Zamora questioned whether it’s the best use of money and pointed to other needs in the city.

Today's meeting is the second time the McAllen commissioners voted to award UTRGV $1 million as it continues efforts to fund its projects.