Raises and a pair of infrastructure projects are two reasons for a budget increase next year in West Lafayette.
The city is planning to give employees a two-percent pay hike in 2013 and begin work on the intersection of Salisbury and Navajo and another on Happy Hollow Road.
That brings the spending plan to a little more than $18-million, which is 9.2-percent more than this year’s budget.
Clerk-Treasurer Judy Rhodes says the increase will be paid for through reserves and won’t come at the expense of tax payers.
She says an increase of gas, water, and utility costs is also driving the spending plan up.
The city council gave preliminary approval to the budget.
It will hold a public hearing on the issue next month.