Harrison Accepts State Retirement Incentive Program

For the second consecutive year the Town/Village of Harrison will use a retirement incentive program in an effort to shed salary expenses. 

This year, the town has accepted a program offered by New York State, a different approach than the town-run retirement incentive program used last year that led to the departure of 17 town employees including Police Chief David Hall.

The state program, signed by Gov. Paterson in May, will only be used if the town can reduce the salaries of those who take the incentive by 50 percent within two years, according to Harrison Mayor/Supervisor Joan Walsh, adding that she doesn't expect nearly as many people to retire this year.

Walsh said that all town employees have already been asked if they would be interested accepting the incentive program.

"Fifteen people said they were interested, but when push comes to shove I think we are down to five," said Walsh.

The state has offered this program in the past and Harrison has periodically accepted it, according to Walsh. She said that in order to be eligible for the state retirement program town employees must be older than 55 with more than 25 years of service.

The town is not considering using the same program as last year, said Walsh. Even with the 17 retirements in December 2009, Harrison passed its 2010 budget with a 12.9 percent tax increase.

"We are down so far in staffing now that we could not afford to lose that number of people with the services we currently provide," she said.