POST FALLS - With no tax increase and a $4 million decrease from the current budget, it was smooth sailing in getting the Post Falls city budget for fiscal 2014 approved on Tuesday night.

The city council unanimously approved the $37.96 million budget and praised staff for crafting the proposal under a new finance director and city administrator.

Shelly Enderud, previously the finance director, replaced Eric Keck at city administrator. Jason Faulkner then stepped in as finance director earlier this year.

"Jason did a good job of coming in the middle of everything and I'm sure it was nice having Shelly down the hall," said Councilman Skip Hissong.

Barry Rubin was the lone resident who commented on the budget during the public hearing.

"There's not a lot to complain about," he said, adding that it was nice to see services maintained without raising taxes.

Rubin suggested that a budget bar graph be crafted in future years to show the ups and downs of the amounts for a historical perspective to see trends.

Councilman Joe Malloy asked if future budgets will show amounts for individual programs and services as was the case last year. Enderud said staff still has the ability to do that, but wasn't able to during this cycle due to the leadership transitions.

The budget includes a 3 percent across-the-board raise for employees.

The pay raise comes on the heels of merit increases of up to 4 percent last year for some employees and a 5 percent hike for sworn police officers and emergency communication officers. No pay raises were given in 2010 and 2011.

The budget will add two new police positions - a records evidence technician and a school resource officer position that will be partially funded by the school district.

Other items included in the budget are: three patrol cars, $132,000; Taser stun guns, $16,000; a new roof for the parks shop on Third Avenue, $35,000; and fleet replacement, $110,000.

The city's street reconstruction fund will increase from $129,000 this year to $269,000.

Post Falls raised taxes once - 2 percent - in the past five budget cycles.