LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A sales tax increase approved by Leavenworth voters earlier this year is paying off with a 40 percent cut in the city’s property tax.

The City Commission this week passed a $38 million operating budget for 2015 that includes a 21-mill drop in the property tax for homeowners and business owners.

Leavenworth officials note the decline affects only the city’s mill levy, which is separate from other taxing authorities such as the school district and Leavenworth County.

The decrease is funded by a 1 percent increase in the city sales tax approved by Leavenworth voters in February.

Mayor Mark Preisinger called the city’s property tax reduction the largest in Kansas.