Tuesday night, the River Valley School Board voted to table the 2026-27 budget.
The proposed budget on last night’s agenda included a 2% tax increase, bringing millage rates to 17.16 mills for Indiana County Residents and 149.58 mills. Board president Rick Harper said that a legal issue has forced the district to delay the final passage.
The budget needs to be passed by the end of the month.
At the end of the meeting, Harper issued a statement condemning recent actions by former Superintendent Phillip Martel. In an interview that aired on Indiana in the Morning on April 10th, Martel had called board member Beverley Carnese “cancerous”. In his statement during the meeting, Harper said that Martel’s words could be considered “disparaging in nature” and while differences in opinion are allowed, they should be handled in a respectful manner.
The statement also condemned the actions of board member Anthony Canzano on May 26th at the River Valley Steam Academy. Canzano became aggressive towards a reporter from the Indiana Gazette towards the end of the meeting and after it had adjourned. Harper’s statement said Canzano’s actions were “embarrassing to say the least.”
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