Please answer the given financial question based on the context.
Context: a valuation allowance is provided against deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized . changes to our valuation allowance during the year ended december 31 , 2017 , the 2016 fiscal transition period and the years ended may 31 , 2016 and 2015 are summarized below ( in thousands ) : .
|balance at may 31 2014|$ -7199 ( 7199 )|
|utilization of foreign net operating loss carryforwards|3387|
|other|-11 ( 11 )|
|balance at may 31 2015|-3823 ( 3823 )|
|allowance for foreign income tax credit carryforward|-7140 ( 7140 )|
|allowance for domestic net operating loss carryforwards|-4474 ( 4474 )|
|allowance for domestic net unrealized capital loss|-1526 ( 1526 )|
|release of allowance of domestic capital loss carryforward|1746|
|other|98|
|balance at may 31 2016|-15119 ( 15119 )|
|allowance for domestic net operating loss carryforwards|-1504 ( 1504 )|
|release of allowance of domestic net unrealized capital loss|12|
|balance at december 31 2016|-16611 ( 16611 )|
|allowance for foreign net operating loss carryforwards|-6469 ( 6469 )|
|allowance for domestic net operating loss carryforwards|-3793 ( 3793 )|
|allowance for state credit carryforwards|-685 ( 685 )|
|rate change on domestic net operating loss and capital loss carryforwards|3868|
|utilization of foreign income tax credit carryforward|7140|
|balance at december 31 2017|$ -16550 ( 16550 )|
the increase in the valuation allowance related to net operating loss carryforwards of $ 10.3 million for the year ended december 31 , 2017 relates primarily to carryforward assets recorded as part of the acquisition of active network . the increase in the valuation allowance related to domestic net operating loss carryforwards of $ 1.5 million and $ 4.5 million for the 2016 fiscal transition period and the year ended may 31 , 2016 , respectively , relates to acquired carryforwards from the merger with heartland . foreign net operating loss carryforwards of $ 43.2 million and domestic net operating loss carryforwards of $ 28.9 million at december 31 , 2017 will expire between december 31 , 2026 and december 31 , 2037 if not utilized . we conduct business globally and file income tax returns in the domestic federal jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions . in the normal course of business , we are subject to examination by taxing authorities around the world . we are no longer subjected to state income tax examinations for years ended on or before may 31 , 2008 , u.s . federal income tax examinations for years ended on or before december 31 , 2013 and u.k . federal income tax examinations for years ended on or before may 31 , 2014 . 88 2013 global payments inc . | 2017 form 10-k annual report .
Question: what was the net change in the valuation allowance in thousands between 2016 and 2017?
Answer:
61.0