Board Expected to Vote on '12 Budget Tonight

The Harrison Town Board is expected to vote on and will likely approve the 2012 town/village budget during Thursday evening's meeting.

The current , approved at the last budget hearing two weeks ago, stays under the Gov. Andrew Cuomo's 2 percent tax levy cap and raises the tax rate approximately 4.2 percent. A public hearing will be held before the vote.

There have been several changes to the budget since Harrison Mayor/Supervisor Joan Walsh  in October. The town clerk's salary, which was originally cut by more than 10,000, was  per-year. Eleven department heads who stood to receive raises under Walsh's original proposal will see their salaries increase  in 2012.

Those changes were made by 3-2 party-line votes, with Republicans voting in favor.

At the most recent budget hearing, the board discussed staffing levels in the police department as well. Members of the Harrison Police Department  to increase staffing levels by eight men in 2012, but that proposal was met with a lukewarm response by the board.

The current preliminary budget is approximately $54.7 million. The board can propose changes to the budget tonight, but they must be approved by a majority vote to go into affect.

According to state law, the board must approve a final budget by Dec. 22.