Hopatcong School Budget Could Go Without Vote

Hopatcong's voted unanimously Monday to stop residents from voting on school budgets that the stay under the 2-percent tax cap and to move school board elections from April to November.

The vote came about week after the state Legislature passed bill A4394, authorizing municipalities, local voters (through petition) and school boards to make the moves. Gov. Chris Christie had backed the bill, saying one election would save money and increase voter turnout.

School budgets proposing an increase over the 2-percent tax cap would still require voter approval in November. Budgets under the cap must still be submitted to the state education commissioner.

Hopatcong Board of Education President Cliff Lundin said he was initially hesitant to vote "yes."

"I had mixed feelings about this only because I was worried about school board elections becoming political or partisan," he said. "I also hesitate when you take away someone's right to vote on something.

"But, in reality, if we make 2 percent, we fully comply with state law. The school boards are the only governmental entity that has their budgets voted on and, in a lot of cases, people take the their ire out on the entire town or the school."

The district spends $20,000 to $25,000 on school board elections each April and moving them November could cut costs significantly, Business Administrator Theresa Sierchio said.

More of Hopatcong's approximately 9,000 registered voters might turn out in November than April, Sierchio said. Hopatcong's school board elections have seen low voter numbers in recent years.

"It is something that I think is overdo," Sierchio said. "Two percent is not a lot to increase the budget by and it provides that minimum for us."

Hopatcong's last eight school budget proposals have been defeated. Last year, the $35 million budget fell by . As a result, it was cut by the borough council.

The terms of school board members Joan Reilly, Dolores Krowl and Lundin were set to expire in April. Instead they will extend until a January reorganization meeting.