RALEIGH - In an effort to quash feuding between the Wake school board and county commissioners, two high-powered civic groups Wednesday proposed a pact aimed at settling the most contentious issues between the elective bodies -- land deals and money.

Leaders from the Wake Education Partnership and the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce want a multiyear agreement that would guarantee a set amount of county money to be given the school district each year to run schools. In return, the school board would hand over control of school land deals and maintenance to commissioners.

But leaders of the partnership and chamber left it up to school and county board members to hammer out two crucial details: how long the agreement would run and how much money the county will be expected to give the school system each year. A top chamber official also said the agreement could lead to higher property taxes, a prospect that runs counter to the commissioners' promise to hold the line on revenue.

The pact's main purpose would be to end the annual haggling about budget requests and land deals. As part of the proposal, the school district would not only give up control of buying land for new schools, it would also cede responsibility for the construction, operation and maintenance of school facilities. Commissioners, who control the school district's purse strings, would oversee these matters.

Thus unburdened, the groups say, the school board could focus more time on improving student test scores that have plateaued in recent years and close the academic achievement gap between poor and rich students.

"We believe it's time to change how we do things; we believe it's time for a bold new approach," said Ann Denlinger, president of the partnership, which is a nonprofit advocacy group that supports public schools.

The agreement comes at a time when another budget battle is brewing between the two boards. Superintendent Del Burns has called for a $35 million increase in the amount of money the county is expected to contribute to school coffers and hinted that the amount could increase. But commissioners have warned that the district's budget request is already too high and won't leave enough money for them to meet other spending needs.

A pact could end the squabbling, but it could also result in higher property taxes to meet the needs of the school system, said Harvey Schmitt, president and chief executive officer of the chamber. But to show taxpayers the need for any additional revenue raised for the school system, Schmitt said the pact would have to include measures of academic achievement.

"What's the measurable return the community will get?" Schmitt said.

Joe Bryan, commissioners chairman, said he favors a pact but wants a detailed agreement in place before the county begins drawing up next year's budget this spring.

"From my perspective, the community is challenging us to try and do a better job," Bryan said.

School board member Eleanor Goettee said both boards would have to agree on how much money schools would be given -- a point she said could be contentious.

"In theory, it sounds reasonable and attractive," Goettee said, "but we have to come together to decide what is satisfactory. I can foresee that being a real issue."

This isn't the first attempt by outside groups to broker a multiyear pact between the two boards. An effort to develop a school funding formula in 2002 ended in failure. Various groups have also urged the county to take over school construction.

Denlinger and Schmitt said it would be up to the two boards to turn this proposal into reality. Both the partnership and the chamber hope to make a formal presentation about the agreement at a joint meeting of both boards April 16.