Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 (CIU) Executive Director Dr. Charlene Brennan presented the 2016-17 proposed budget to the Bethlehem Area School Board at its finance committee meeting Tuesday evening.

The CIU was created in 1971 to provide services to students with special needs.

IU 20 is one of 29 total units in the state of Pennsylvania, and it covers Northampton, Monroe and Pike counties, serving about 100,000 students from 13 disricts with a $3.3 operating budget.

Brennan said that the proposed budget includes a $94,000 increase, the first increase in seven years, but it will be covered by contracts with the state department of education.

Brennan said the increase was necessitated by rising pension and healthcare costs. “The budget is very heavy on salary and benefits,” she said.

Board members also questioned Brennan about two sizable salary increases, the larger of which was 17 percent. The concern was whether increased responsibilities justified the pay hikes. Brennan assured the board a reorganization within IU 20 made broadened the positions while streamlining others, actually saving money instead of hiring for new positions. “We realized that our business manager was acting on the same level as our assistant executive director, so his position was adjusted to put them on the same organizational level,” Brennan said. “The entire plan solves all the issues and put a strong structure in place.”