Blog Diary: Hopatcong Votes on School Board Elections, Budget

Updated 7:17 p.m.:

A 24-year Hopatcong resident, Shelli Skeels said she voted for the proposed budget. She said she thought the budget was put together better than last year's.

"It sounded like they were a little more in tune with what had to be done this year," she said. "That's why I voted no last year, but voted yes this year.

"I don't like our taxes," she continued, "but we need to get something budgetwise doing. There were some things that they seemed like they were trying to get under control by redoing the budget this time around and I would hate to see more things cut out."

Skeels said she voted Bongiorno, Lavery and Madar for the Board of Education.

And that's it for Patch for now. We're heading up to Newton to see if we can get the results as soon as they're official. We'll try to check in from the Board of Elections office to give you a look at the scene.

Check back later tonight for final results.

Updated 6:08 p.m.:

Former Hopatcong teacher Mike Purdue said he voted "yes" to the budget and for Lavery, LoBue and Madar—all incumbents.

Purdue, now teaching in Dover, said he didn't mind the school tax increase.

"If you think about it in terms of real dollars," he said, standing in the ambulance squad parking lot, "it cost, in today's dollars, about $130,000 to educate me in public schools. So until I've paid $130,000 in property taxes, I should shut up and vote 'yes.' The only thing I have a hard time with in Hopatcong is, having once been a teacher in Hopatcong, the medical plan in Hopatcong for teachers is way too generous."

A heads up: We're ending the live blog at 7 p.m. That way, we can prepare for tonight's final results and get them to you, plus reactions, as soon as possible.

Updated 5:20 p.m.:

Ran into 32-year Hopatcong resident Jule Girman. She said she voted against the budget. She also said she voted for Lavery, Bongiorno and Madar after reading their profiles in another publication.

"I really do think that those that represent the town have to take a serious look at where we're heading," Girman said. "We need a good school system."

Patch has spoken to a lot of people so far who've voted against the budget. Did you vote for it? Let us know in the comments. Or call us. Or email us. We're around.

Updated 4:40 p.m.:

Earlier in the day, before polls opened, borough resident Michael Flippin said on our Facebook page that he planned to vote down the budget. And he was pretty adamant about it.

"Absolutely, I don't feel the school systems have done enough to look at ways to reduce expenses," Flippin wrote. "Families in Hopatcong are struggling in today's economy and increases should not be taken for granted. Many people have either lost jobs or had their salary (sic) reduced or static over the past few years. However, the schools seem to think their immune to the economy. There are many ways to reduce costs, including freezing salaries and increasing benefit contributions. Small things to start, sports don't have to be played under the lights at night. Eliminate crossing guards and have the police do it. Schedule sports in a way to help reduce transportation costs. Look into ways of going green with the schools."

Patch appreciates all comments from readers. Your opinions could better inform the next person heading into the booth, whether you're for or against the budget.

The weather seems to have dried up. We'll probably head to the ambulance squad, next. Should start seeing polling places get busier around rush hour.

Keep up with us. Also, keep telling us your opinion, either in the comments section or on our Facebook page ... which we encourage you to "like."

Updated 4:01 p.m.:

As the clouds opened up and rain poured on the Hopatcong Senior Citizens Center parking lot, Larry Borshard said there was no way he'd vote for the school budget.

"Absolutely voted 'no,'" he said. "Then they have to work harder to trim it down on the town council. That leans it out a little more. In fact, I would be afraid to ever vote 'yes' because that's part of the process now.'"

Borshard, whose son, Connor, is a Marine, said he didn't vote for any of the BOE candidates on the ballot. Instead, he wrote in three candidates—friends of his, he said, since he didn't know anything about the four people running. Did his friends know he was writing them in?

"No," he said smiling. "I usually tell them after."

Note: I've left TAFKATCC. Look outside. It's pouring. Or at least it was when I was writing this. Anyway, rain coupled with the fact I'm yelling at people from 100 feet makes it nearly impossible to get people to stop and share their opinions. But rain can only stop so much. Feel free to tell us your opinion in the comments. Or email Brendan@Patch.com.

Updated 3:13 p.m.:

Things have picked up at The Artist Formerly Known As The Civic Center. Lots of people strolling in and out of the doors. An overcast sky has taken over the sun, which is good news for this Irish, pale-skinned reporter.

Spoke with Michele Guttenberger a few minutes ago. She said she voted Lavery, Bongiorno and Madar for the BOE. And she said she went againt the proposed budget.

Guttenberger on why she voted how she did on the BOE: "Based on the comments and the information that they've supplied in Patch, they are concerned about the budget and that they would be more diligent about government or educational spending," she said. "They saw that there could be cuts done on the administrative end without touching teachers and student programs."

And on the budget: "I think that there's still some fat in the administrative part that hasn't been reviewed. ... This is no a down period or a small recession," she said. "We need to restructure things. We can't operate the same way with our educational system and everyone has made some concessions in their own personal spending and we have to do the same here. Throwing money doesn't necessarily mean better education. I think we need more parental involvement, community involvement. There's a lot of things you can do for learning."

Let me reiterate: We'll talk to you whether you're for or against the budget, and regardless of your election choices. We just want the opinions of Hopatcong residents.

Lap top battery is dying. Might move to Dunkin Donuts to recharge soon. And I'm not talking about the computer. Coffee, I'm coming.

Updated 2:43 p.m.

Next up, Alexa McLean, a former Hopatcong teacher. She lost her job in last year's cuts. But she said the voted "no" to this year's budget proposal.

"I believe that we have a lot of money in our budget," said McLean, a former high school Spanish teacher and 10-year borough resident. "I think that administrators have to be cut instead of the teachers. Last year we lost 20-something teachers out of the classroom. This way, they cut administrators. I think there's a lot of money to use. Maybe they're not using it correctly."

McLean also said she chose Lavery for the BOE and left the rest of the spots blank. She knew Lavery from his days as a Hopatcong substitue teacher.

Another note: Patch will talk to anybody, and quote anybody. Just come one by, tell us your opinion, and we'll post it.

And another note: I should have brought sun block. Soon, I'm going to look like Sebastian from "The Little Mermaid" — bright red and crabby.

Keep up with us ...

Updated 2:20 p.m.:

Patch's first stop: The , or as we like to call it, The Artist Formerly Known as the Civic Center.

Just spoke with Cindy Heaton, an 11-year Hopatcong resident. She said she came out to vote against the proposed school budget. She also said she voted for all three female candidates.

"I'm a lakefront homeowner and I already pay really high taxes and we have no children," said Heaton, wife of Ken Heaton, the Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club's commodore. "I think it's a little bit much for us to carry the burden of that."

Heaton said she had her house reassessed a year ago. "We paid between a lawyer and another survey between $3,000 to lower our taxes and we haven't seen the result of that yet," she said. "And to have [the budget proposal] counteract that is kind of frustrating."

We've had several people roll through. Check back for more opinions throughout the day.

Updated 2 p.m.:

It's vote time!

Keep up with Patch throughout the day. We'll try to update often while exit polling, or asking Hopatcong voters their opinions on the election and budget vote as they leave polling places. Click to today's action.

(Note: Don't be alarmed if you see a 6-foot male in a green Patch shirt waving and yelling hello as you walk out of the polling buildings. Reporters aren't allowed within 100 feet of polling places. So I'll try to remain 101 feet away.)

Also, let's keep the discussion fresh. Tell us if you're voting, if you're abstaining, if you're planning a sit-in. Let us know how you feel about today's vote in the comments section.

A few more things:

Hopatcong residents can vote on the Board of Education election and school budget from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Then the numbers go up to Sussex County's Board of Elections in Newton for final processing.

Four people are running for three open BOE seats. The district is proposing a $35 million budget.

But that's not all you need to know.

Three of the four people in the BOE race are incumbents. Susan Madar (one term), Richard Lavery (filled vacant seat in November) and Patricia LoBue (three terms) have each served on the school board. Margaret Bongiorno is the only newcomer.

The district budget proposal would raise school taxes $109 on the average Hopatcong home assessed at $315,000. Superintendent Dr. Charles Maranzano, in anticipation of another defeated budget, notified six teachers they might not have jobs in the fall. He said they'd probably keep their jobs if the budget passes. And if not, more cuts could come.