The Indiana School Board last night approved the budget for the 2019-2020 school year and for the second consecutive year, there will be no tax increases for district residents.
In an 8-1 vote, the board passed the budget with a total of $56,671,371. The district is holding the lines on taxes at 15.36 mils, and the deficit that remains will come out of the district’s fund balance. Julia Trimarchi-Cuccaro, the chair of the audit and finance committee said that while it was nice to have two years with no tax increase, taxes may have to come up next year.
—Julia Trimarchi-Cuccaro, IASD Board Member
Doug Steve was the lone vote against the budget. He had put forward a motion for a 2% tax increase that had been suggested by the district’s business administration. That motion failed on lack of a second. Steve said that the budget was more politically-motivated.
The board also took a vote on which of the four options concerning elementary school upgrades would be sought and vetted further. Each school board member voted on each of the suggestions, and option one , which would help maintain all schools got garnered a majority with six votes, while the other options were all rejected. Board President Walter Schroth said that while they have reached the end of this phase, the direction has not been definitely set.
–Walter Schroth, IASB President
Finally the board approved creating a Director of Education position and the board also approved the job description for that position.
