The Whitehall-Coplay School Board approved the proposed final general fund budget for the 2016-17 school year at its meeting Monday night.

The adopted budget is in the amount of $64,894,102, with an increase of 4.84 percent in expenditures.

The proposed final budget balances revenues with expenditures at a tax rate of 16.1719 mills, which is an increase of 2.016 percent from the prior year.

Seven members voted in favor of the budget, while Owen Eberhart Jr. and William Leiner Jr. voted against it.

“It’s unfortunate it’s a tax increase,” said Superintendent John Corby, “but Act 1 allows up to a 2.4-percent increase, and we kept it at 2 percent.”

“This budget addresses the needs of the district,” Corby added.

The budget includes adding three teaching positions and seven paraeducator positions.

After the meeting, Eberhart and Leiner discussed their reasons for voting against the budget.

“Someone has to vote for the old-timers, retirees and senior citizens,” he said. “I can’t pay my own taxes.”

“The district does a great job with the budget, but the state does not show responsibility,” Leiner said. “I’m opposed to shifting the budget in the district. There needs to be change in Harrisburg.”

In other business, the board elected Leiner as treasurer for the term of July 1 to June 30, 2017.

Board member Tina Koren nominated Leiner, while Vice President Robert Kolb nominated incumbent treasurer Arthur Taschler Jr.

In a roll call vote, four members of the board - Eberhart, Patty Gaugler, Koren and Lloyd Schafer - voted for Leiner.

Board members Eileen Abruzzi, President Wayne Grim and Kolb voted for Taschler.

Taschler and Leiner abstained.

District Solicitor Jeffrey Sultanik said, “I think we need five votes to close the election. We will leave it open as of now and come back to it later.”

Sultanik left the room and, upon returning, confirmed the need for five votes.

In the repolling of the votes, Leiner voted for himself, while Taschler abstained.