(a) Criteria.--In selecting projects for allocation of the tax-exempt bond authority of the Commonwealth, the department shall endeavor to best serve the purposes set forth in section 2701¹ in accordance with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Public Law 99-514, 26 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.). In so doing, the secretary may, among other things, consider all of the following:

(b) Tax-exempt bond authority set-aside.--Either at the beginning of or at any time during the course of each year, the department may set aside such tax-exempt bond authority as the department, in consultation with the Secretary of the Budget, determines for use during the year for the various categories of tax-exempt bonds such as manufacturing facilities, enterprise zone facilities, exempt facilities, mortgage revenue bonds, student loan bonds, first-time farmers and redevelopment bonds.