Published: October 17, 2009 12:02 am      

Whitestown approves 2010 budget

Whitestown — Whitestown’s budget may more than double for the coming year, if the Department of Local Government Finance does not reduce a $3.866,849 budget approved by the Whitestown Town Council Tuesday.

The 2009 budget was $1,614,305.

The most significant increase came from taking over the Worth Township Fire Department, as there was no fire budget for Whitestown before. However, there were also increases of over $300,000 each in the Police, Town Administration and Motor Vehicle Highway funds.

The police budget increase comes from Police Chief Dennis Anderson’s request for six more officers, if the department receives a grant from stimulus funds. If they do not, only two will hired. Three officers were hired since the beginning of 2009. That amount also includes the subsequent increase in benefits that would come with those additional hires.

For more on this story, see Saturday's Lebanon Reporter