Harrison Schools Receive Slight Bump in State Aid

Harrison's schools will receive slightly more state aid than expected in 2012-13, providing a small boost as the district works toward a completed budget during the next two weeks.

The $3.19 million Harrison will receive in state assistance is about $41,000 more than the district had anticipated in previous budget presentations, said Harrison Assistant Superintendent for Business Robert Salierno. Since state numbers are not finalized until late in the budget season, districts must project the amount of money they will receive based on early estimates provided by the state.

The final numbers, released this week, provided the district with some positive news.

"It was a slight improvement from where I had expected," said Salierno.

The $41,000 will help chop away at the $200,000 in savings school administrators in order to stay beneath the district's $93.1 million tax levy cap for that year.

The board of education and school administrators have been optimistic that they will find the savings to stay beneath the cap in 2012-13. Salierno said Monday he expects to have a finalized plan ready for the board by April 11, the next public meeting.

The board plans to review the budget on that date and could approve a final budget at the next meeting on April 18. A final public hearing on the proposed budget will be held on May 2, two weeks before it will go to a public vote.