(KLZA)--Following a public hearing drawing no comment Tuesday evening the Falls City Council approved a total budget for Fiscal Year 2016-17 of more than $43.7-million. 

The property tax levy will be 45.3-cents per $100 of assessed valuation with a total property tax asking of $682,779. The levy is slightly lower than the previous year, the total tax request is down $4,225.

The City valuation increased by nearly $975-thousand. City Administrator Gary Jorn said this years original budget was about $143,000 short of projected revenues so cuts had to be made. All capital expenditures were cut except for those for the Police Department through grant funds and those in the Street Department, which are highway allocation funds that the City match will pay for.  

A major impact on the budget this year was a 23 percent increase in health insurance premiums amounting to approximately $120,000. The property, workers comp and liability insurance was budgeted for a 10 percent increase. 

Jorn said the budget is normally around $25-million but the $12-million generator project at the City Power Plant and another $2.5-million for the water well project contributed to the large increase.