I am happy to report that the town board recently held a public hearing on the 2017 preliminary budget. This budget maintains the high quality services and facilities our community values and has come to expect. The budget will keep the town under the state-mandated property tax cap for the fourth consecutive year, and represents a slight percentage increase in spending over 2016. The bulk of that increase will go toward capital improvement projects.
Harrison is rated Aa1 by Moody’s, as of our last bond issue in 2015. Within that rating, Moody’s cited our strengths as having a healthy financial position, conservative budgeting, and sizable and affluent tax base benefiting from ongoing commercial and residential development. They also cited our average, manageable debt burden and our rapid amortization of principal.
I am very happy with the budget we came up with. It does not rely on fund balance reserves and it is, again, within the mandated tax cap. I am completely confident that the town/village of Harrison is in a financial position to successfully face the years ahead.
The road restoration project on Halstead Avenue is nearing the finish line. I know it’s been a long ordeal, as the project began in early August. As the construction work continues, I would greatly appreciate your patience while this important infrastructure project moves toward completion. There may be some slight travel delays, and added caution is advised as you operate vehicles through our commercial district.
Congratulations to the Harrison Fire Department for the successful blood drive recently held at their firehouse. Thirty-two donors participated and 28 pints of blood were collected for donation to the American Red Cross. The blood drive volunteers are always very accommodating and strive to make each drive better than the last. The volunteer firefighters and several local Girl Scouts were very helpful in attending to the donors, making sure they were comfortable and relaxed. A special kudos goes to Christina Frohlich for coordinating the event. Be sure to keep and eye out for the next drive, scheduled for sometime in May 2017.
I would like to take this time to recognize the Interfaith Congregational Laymen’s Committee, ICLC, of Harrison. Every year, the committee extends a townwide invitation to an important celebration. This year, St. Gregory the Great Church hosted an assembly that underscored the theme, “One Nation Under God.” It was a wonderful event, and it provided an opportunity for all attendees to recognize the richness and value in each other’s faiths. The ICLC is an interfaith fellowship, of lay representatives, from local congregations. For more information on ICLC, please call Lola Geiger at 939-7066.
In closing, I would like to wish each one of you a very happy Thanksgiving.
The next Lunch with the Mayor is on Friday, Dec. 2 and I will be at NY Pizza Station, located at 370 Halstead Ave. in Harrison. I will be at this location from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and look forward to talking about issues facing our community.
