The Weatherly Area school board voted to approve its preliminary budget for the 2019-20 school year.

As of right now, the $14.5 million plan calls for a 9.1-mill increase for taxpayers in the district. Business Manager Pete Bard was quick to point out that the document is only the first draft, and that he, the administration and the board will work together to make sure any increase “is the smallest possible or no increase at all.”

The preliminary budget passed 6-1, with Gerry Grega voting against. A copy of the budget is available on the district’s website.

The budget will not be finalized until June.

The district’s building renovation project moved forward with the board officially adopting a $15 million maximum principal bond parameters resolution to finance the renovations. The figure is well above what the district plans to spend, but approval of the amount was necessary to move the financing forward.

The board also officially approved the CLIU budget, which calls for a contribution from the district of $8,821. The figure is $321 less than the 2018-19 budget.

Board members Brian O’Donnell and William Knepper were absent from the meeting.