Decision Time For Harrison

The school board candidates have placed their signs all over town, left fliers on cars and debated their viewpoints; the school district has made its case for the budget, proposing it publicly several times over the past month.

Now all there is to do is vote.

And that is what Harrison will do today, as polls are open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at all four local elementary schools. Voters will either accept or deny the 2010 - 11 budget, as well as choose a new board of education member.

The budget, originally adopted in late April at $101.1 million will include a tax increase of 3.3 percent. If passed, the proposed budget will eliminate 17 positions within the district; most of which, according to the school board, have already been vacated by retirement.

Harrison School Superintendent Louis Wool has said numerous times that this has been the most difficult budget he has ever had to work with. The district had to sharply reduce spending just to keep the tax increase where it is because of declining state revenue and reduced property values within the town, according to the school board.

Lost revenue for next year is expected to total $3.3 million, including an approximate $572,000 cut in state aid.

Despite those efforts, some members of the community have said that they are hesitant to accept another tax increase, of any kind, with open arms.

The school board said when the budget was adopted that they are proud of what they are sending to voters, Tuesday those voters will get the final say.

If the budget is passed, it will be implemented for next year as is. If it is to fail, the school district will have the option of either creating a new budget that would go to vote on the third Tuesday of June or creating a contingency budget. If the second vote does not pass, the school board will have to create a contingency budget before July 1.

A contingency budget allows only for "the expenditures absolutely necessary to operate and maintain schools," according to New York State Department of Education web site.

For a more in-depth look at the New York State school budget laws click here.

The school district has not directly indicated which route it would take if the budget is rejected by Tuesday's vote. 

Residents will also choose a new member of the Harrison Board of Education. Naomi Oppmann and Jason Schechter will run for the open seat left by Robert Amato, who will not seek re-election. Incumbent Abby Mendelsohn will run for her seat unopposed.

Schechter and Oppmann discussed their views on the district's future at a debate held in the L.M.K Middle School cafeteria during the first week of May. Schechter, who has three children in the district and a background in financial management, appears to be the more traditional candidate. Meanwhile Oppmann, who has run largely on a ticket of transparency within the district and outside-the-box fundraising ideas, appears to be a fresh option for those seeking a different type of candidate.

The two have differed widely on key issues such as future management of the budget. Schechter has focused on working with teachers and other school workers to find a compromise on salaries and benefits that fit the needs of all. Oppmann, on the other hand, has focused on utilizing all of the towns resources to build revenue while cutting down on future tax increases. 

Both candidates have focused a lot on future financial management of the school, but offer different solutions. During the first public debate between the two Oppmann looked at smaller items like turning off lights and becoming a "greener" school district. Schechter said that in order to make a difference on a $100 million budget, most of the school's energy needs to be focused on bigger ticket items like employee salaries, which typically make up about 70 percent of a school district's expenses.

There is no registration process to vote on Tuesday, all voters must sign a statement confirming that they are 18 years of age, a United States citizen and a resident of the district for at least 30 days. Proof of residence can include a driver's license or utility bill.

For more information about Tuesday's voting process click here.

Unofficial results are expected at around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, we will have them posted as soon as they become available.