Board Nixes $39K in Raises For High Ranking Employees

Plans to provide pay raises to 11 of Harrison's higher-ranking town employees totaling almost $40,000 have been nixed with a 3-2 vote from the town board.

The pay increases were included in the supervisor's budget proposed Oct. 31 and ranged from $7,464 per year for the court clerk position to $1,000 per year for the parks and playground foreman. In total, denying the raises removed $39,796 from the 2012 budget and reduced the projected tax rate for 2012 to 4.2 percent.

Harrison Mayor/Supervisor Joan Walsh said she included the raises in her proposed budget because of what those employees are being asked to handle given the reduced staffing levels within their departments.

Most of the employees up for raises were promoted in 2009 when Harrison offered a for high-earning employees. Walsh said the raises she proposed would have paid each employee less than their predecessors, but were necessary given the amount of work that is asked of them on a daily basis.

"I felt that these people have earned it," said Walsh. "I thought it was the right thing to do."

She said Republicans removed the raises before Thursday's meeting without her knowledge, adding that the total amount spent adds up to little when looking at a budget of more than $50 million.

"I don't think it really made an impact on any particular resident, whereas it would make a tremendous difference in the lives of the people affected," she said.

Walsh and Councilman Pat Vetere (D) voted against the preliminary budget removing the raises.

Republicans approved the new preliminary budget with a 3-2 party line vote. Councilman Joseph Cannella (R) said while the town employees have been asked to do more with less over the last few years, he doesn't think an increase in pay is appropriate given the financial obstacles the town faces.

"I do understand our town employees across the board are working very, very hard," Cannella said. "It reflects the environment that we now see ourselves in."

Most of the department heads in line for the raises attended the meeting. Board members were at times sympathetic while explaining why they voted down the pay increases.

"It's not out of a lack of appreciation for all that you do for this town," said Councilwoman Marlane Amelio (R). "These are significantly difficult times and not to respond to it or to pick and choose some people who should be given these raises is unfair."

Each position will still receive their contractual 3 percent raise from 2011, but the vote denied any further pay increases to all but one position. One sanitation foreman's pay was increased to be in line with others holding the same position.

The changes, along with the restoration of the Harrison Town Clerk salary, leaves the Harrison preliminary budget approximately $27,000 less than the supervisor's proposed budget.

The preliminary budget lowers the tax rate increase by only a fraction of a percent below the original 4.25 percent originally proposed. The town board can still approve changes to the budget until Dec. 22.

See a breakdown of the changes below:

* If preliminary budget is approved.