The Bethlehem Area School Board officially adopted its 2016-17 preliminary budget at its regular board meeting Wednesday evening.

The preliminary general fund budget is $266,227,559 (up from $244.8M for 2015-16), and authorizes the advertising and regulatory filing of Act 1 Referendum exceptions, which could allow the BASD to raise taxes over the state-mandated maximum of 2.4 percent. Pensions account for more than $30 million of BASD’s total preliminary budget, which is an increase of more than $5 million from last year.

The board also approved the 2014-15 audit report, which was conducted by district’s auditors Gorman & Associates, who found no major issues with the BASD during the fiscal year. William Gorman has 30 years of experience in accounting and at a recent meeting applauded BASD’s efforts at financial improvement in the past decade.

The board also made gave approval of the use of its facilities as local polling places for the Nov. 8 General Election.

The next facility and curriculum committee meetings are scheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 1 at the Education Center, 1516 Sycamore St.