James DeCapua has prepared a new budget for creating a building and construction code enforcement office that he hopes will be more pleasing to the state.

DeCapua, executive director of Mercer County Regional Council of Governments, had applied for a $153,500 grant to start the office, but the state asked him to revise the budget and better detail the local revenues.

DeCapua cut the grant request to $108,000, increased the amount expected from inspection and building permit fees to $65,000 from $41,500 and threw in two reconditioned minivans retired from Mercer County Community Transit for $25,000 in in-kind services.

"We've done our homework and we've done our lobbying and we hope we can get a significant portion of this request," he said last week.

If the state grants less, DeCapua can cut out parts of the budget, including the $9,000 administrative service fee and $12,000 in rent.