On Monday night, the Indiana Area School Board approved a tentative budget for the 2023-24 school year that contains a 2% tax increase.
The taxes would go up to 15.67 mils, and it would result in an increase of $48.84 for the average taxpayer. Audit and Finance Committee Chair Julia Trimarchi-Cuccaro said that the tax increase is more of an abundance of caution with the increase in expenses over cyber charter school tuition, safety and health insurance. The budget comes to $64,060,839 and that includes a deficit of over $4 million. But Trimarchi-Cuccaro said that there is still time for the budget situation to improve before next month.
The vote was 6-3, with Cinda Brode, Terry Kerr and Jim Shaffer voting against it. The final budget will be up for approval at their June 26th meeting.
In other business, the board approved multiple hirings, including summer learning camp teachers, tutors and support staff and instructors for summer school. The board also authorized the administration to request bids for asbestos abatement in the Eisenhower Elementary School renovation/addition project.
