08/26/08

Twin Falls City Council members have voted 7 to zero to approve the budget for the new fiscal year.

The budget will be a little more than $8-million higher than the current fiscal year, which is a 21 percent jump.

However, about half of the increase comes from outside funding sources such as grants from the federal government.

Several large improvement projects are in the works to redo a number of streets.

The Twin Falls City Wastewater Treatment Plant is another major focus of the budget.

Water and sewer rates will go up, but city council members say compared to national averages those increases are minimal.