ANDERSON­ — Those in charge of keeping the books for nearby towns expressed alarm Monday at the misappropriation of funds in Chesterfield. They said they believed procedures in their towns safeguarded against such problems.

ANDERSON, Ind. — After more than one dozen meetings, the Madison County Council approved a final budget Monday, but it got the support of only four members. Instead of using a projected budget model of $39 million, council members started with the $35 million 2009 budget and made a series of cuts to pare down expenses.

Five former employees defrauded the town of Chesterfield of more than $250,000 over two years, according to a state audit report released Thursday.

CHESTERFIELD — Five Chesterfield town employees, including Town Marshal James Kimm, misappropriated more than $250,000 during a two-year period, the State Board of Accounts charged in an audit released Wednesday. Kimm and former Clerk-Treasurer Christopher Parrish were alleged to have spent $52,553 on unsubstantiated travel and reimbursement claims.

ANDERSON, Ind. -- The phone system at the Madison County Government Center has malfunctioned, preventing incoming calls from being received. The problem was discovered around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday and technicians are working to correct the problem. People with county business to attend to are advised to visit the courthouse in person at 16 E. 9th St. in downtown Anderson.

ANDERSON — The Anderson Plan Commission on Tuesday agreed to send a draft of the city’s amended off-premise sign ordinance to city attorney Bill Kreegar to put in a final draft before being approved by the commission and the City Council. The ordinance would change the number of annually allotted permits for billboards from two to four and allow for the possibility of an electronic billboard.

ANDERSON — The Board of Public Works on Tuesday signed a final contract with Indianapolis-based Shook Construction for $8,249,000 to make facility improvements to the Water Pollution Control department for Phase I of its long-term control plan. The plan is in place to fulfill a federal consent decree that requires updates to the facility and a reduction in the annual number of combined sewer overflow events.

ANDERSON, Ind. — The Madison County Council cast the deciding vote to increase the county option income tax, or COIT, in a heated meeting Monday night. Both the Anderson and Alexandria city councils previously approved a motion to increase the COIT, and the measure needed only the support of the county council to pass.

ANDERSON — The slot machines in Las Vegas didn’t cash in quite like they used to and the shores of Hawaii felt the ripple effect of the fledgling American economy.