Lehighton Area School District’s finance committee will meet Wednesday for what will likely be the final time before it votes on its 2021-22 budget next week.

According to the district’s website, the virtual meeting has been scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

Last week, Lehighton Business Administrator Edward Rarick said the district’s latest proposed budget projects an almost $3,000 surplus.

Revenues are projected for $42,697,405, with expenditures estimated for $42,694,456.

In one of the most frequently discussed items during budget season, the current proposal has $10,000 in the budget for the Lehighton Area Memorial Library. In recent years, the district’s contribution had been $20,000.

One of the early draft budgets had zeroed out the library line item as the district worked toward balancing revenues and expenditures.

“We got to the point with the budget where things were refined and there was going to be money left over, so we were able to put $10,000 back in there without taking us into a deficit,” Rarick said last week. “

Autumn Abelovsky, a library board member, thanked the district for returning the $10,000 to the budget.

Rarick said if the district were to find more savings, it could consider restoring the full $20,000.

“Ultimately, that is a board decision on what it wants to do there,” Rarick said.

Director David Bradley has pushed for the district to budget $30,000 for the library.

Lehighton’s board narrowly passed a proposed final budget, calling for a 4.2% property tax increase, 5-4 in late May.

The budget fully restores $1.3 million for student transportation.

The district has to pass a final budget by June 30. It is scheduled to meet as a full board on June 28.