CHINA GROVE — The town council on Tuesday approved its fiscal year 2016 budget in a brief, called meeting.

The Town of China Grove’s budget for the 2016 fiscal year projects $4.22 million in expenditures and the purchase of a fire truck at more than $600,000. The budget also includes a 2 percent cost of living raise for all employees and a merit pool of 5 percent. No one spoke during a public comment period for the budget. China Grove’s town board approved the budget without significant discussion.

China Grove Mayor Don Bringle offered the only comment on the budget during Tuesday’s meeting.

“I’m comfortable with where we’re at, where we’re going in this year’s budget and the work that we have in front of us with the fire department and purchasing the fire engine,” Bringle said

To pay for expenditures in the 2016 budget year, the town board voted to implement a 58 cents per $100 tax rate. The rate is a 2 cent increase over the previous year and slightly more than a revenue neutral rate, meaning that tax revenue from the coming year would be equal to the previous year.

To help balance its budget, China Grove will withdraw more than $250,000 from its fund balance — partially a savings account — and reduce the amount to less than 50 percent, according to a budget draft. The largest portion of the withdrawal will pay for a down payment on a new fire truck. A $500,000 loan is included in China Grove’s budget to pay for the truck.

The China Grove Fire Department is projected to have the largest budget for the 2016 fiscal year at $1.18 million. The police department is second at $995,300.

After the meeting, Bringle said water rates would decrease by about 7 percent for resident of China Grove as a result of the town’s agreement with Salisbury-Rowan Utilities.

The largest single revenue source in the town’s budget is property taxes at $1.69 million. Sales taxes are the second largest source of revenue at $725,000.

The town’s 2016 fiscal year budget will begin on July 1 and end on June 30, 2016.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.