Carbon Career & Technical Institute's fiscal business was the prime focus of the Palmerton Area School Board Tuesday night at its meeting.

The board approved CCTI's proposed operating budget for 2016-2017, which totals almost $8.1 million.Palmerton's total 2016-17 budgeted cost share for CCTI is $2,021,582. This number is based on five-year historical average enrollments, so it is not split evenly among the districts.Before a vote was cast, school board member Susan Debski asked if this budget is an increase over last year. Superintendent Scot Engler said no, it's the same. That was all she needed to know. The board unanimously approved the operating budget.CCTI also asked the school district, via two motions prepared by the district's solicitor, to vote on two motions concerning a refunding project. Having been written in legalese, Debski asked for clarification about what the motions mean. Engler explained that CCTI wants to look into financing its bonds, similar to what Palmerton Area School District did in November.Engler said CCTI wants to find out if they can save at least $1 million by refinancing. If they can, they would like to pursue that option. The two motions give CCTI the approval to move forward in their pursuit of possible refinancing.Palmerton is one of five participating school districts that have to pass a motion allowing CCTI to pursue the refunding. Palmerton's school board approved both motions."The state is on Day 230 without a budget," Engler said in his report to the board. He thanked the board for their work in keeping mill increases in recent years at the state index or less."More than one-third of the districts in the state are seeking an exemption," he said.This means that these districts anticipate needing to raise taxes more than the state allowable index of 3.2 percent. This is not something Palmerton school district will have to do, he said."I don't think that budget deal is going to be coming anytime soon," said Ryan Kish, the school district's new business administrator. He has heard colleagues at other school districts say some state lawmakers want to wait until after the presidential primaries and others until after the election to approve a state budget.In other business, the school board approved the appointment of Audrey Larvey to represent the school district as a trustee at Lehigh Carbon Community College for a term running from July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2022.The board also approved two short-term substitute teachers. Tina Rothenberger will be filling in for a teacher from April 29 through the end of the year at a pay rate of $120 per day. Kristina Himmelwright will step in for a teacher from March 26 for six weeks, also at a pay rate of $120 per day.Several businesses were approved to do work for the school district. These include:• Berkheimer Associates in Bangor - delinquent tax collector services for the 2015-2016 school year. There is no fee for this service to the school district. The fee is assessed to the delinquent taxpayer.• Theatre World Backdrops LLC - backdrop rentals for the spring musical production.• Mainstreet Leasing - bus transportation for the Environmental Club field trip to Camden, New Jersey.