By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

EAST SPENCER — With only two changes, the board approved its fiscal year 2016 general fund budget, which stands at just over $1.2 million.

The first adjustment to the budget concerned conversion of the employee health plan to ACA supported plan provided through Blue Cross Blue Shield and Rick Johnson Insurance.

The cost savings is $20,058 and won’t change the total budget. The second adjustment is the recently awarded state Fire Marshal’s grant that wasn’t initially included in the budget. The amount of $13,043 will be added as credit under the revenue for the fire department.

The grant funds will help pay for a newer command/medical responder vehicle. The added amount will slightly change the overall budget said Town Administrator Macon Sammons Jr.

The budget before the addition was $1,277,483 and after the grant funds are in place will bring the budget to $1,290,526.

The board also:

• Approved the pre-application for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Housing Preservation Assistance grant program. The application is for a grant program that provides towns and other eligible entities funds to assist low and very-low income homeowners in repairing or rehabilitating homes in rural areas. The term of the grant can vary from one to two years, depending on available funds.

Sammons said the hope is that he and Planning Director F.E. Isenhour can complete the application by the July 1 deadline.

• Approved to begin the process for the $2.4 million CDBG Infrastructure grant contract. The grant was provided through the N.C. Department of Environmental and Natural Resources’ Division of Water Infrastructure. The grant will help rehabilitate the town’s water/sewer system. A project budget will be stretched out over three years beginning with fiscal year 2016.