The city of Des Moines is taking on a unique plan to save taxpayers about a million bucks and keep their city employees insured. The Des Moines Register reports that City Council members approved a plan to move to a self-insurance system. The city is looking for ways to reduce expenses significantly since property values have dropped and commercial property tax rates are dropping by 40 percent.

They’re not the only ones moving to a self-insured program. Nearby Ankeny and West Des Moines are using similar models. “I hope we stay self-insured,” City Councilwoman Christine Hensley said according to The Des Moines Register. “I think the time is right for us to go forward with that. I think there have been some changes made.” This isn’t the first time the city has used a plan like this. The system was in place  until 2003 when the city started buying private insurance from Wellmark.

Leaders expect to start seeing significant savings in 2013 because of this move. “Conservatively speaking, we anticipate it being more than $1 million,” one leader said. Alternatively, council members said they would have been paying millions more– rather than saving a million dollars. The new plan starts July 1.