Hopatcong Schools Plan Special Budget Meeting

The Hopatcong Board of Education will host a special meeting to discuss the shaping of the 2012-2013 budget at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the .

Hopatcong schools Business Administrator Theresa Sierchio said the meeting will be an opportunity for school board members to highlight what they consider important in the budget, and for borough residents to become part of the equation. Sierchio said she expects Hopatcong to have about $790,000 to add to the upcoming budget via the tax levy, which Sierchio estimated at $450,000, and $340,000 it held over in state aid from August.

Hopatcong schools Superintendent Dr. Charles Maranazno said the meeting is part of the district's push toward a transparent budget-forming process.

"Any time we're discussing the use of public money it certainly raises the level of concern in the citizenry," he said. "We happen to be completely above the board and we hope to be completely transparent in the hopes of gaining support in the ballot box. So anyone who has interest in our finances, they're invited to be part of an open process."

Maranzano said the upcoming budget will likely be formed less of the budget in private committee meetings and more before the entire board. "We're trying to streamline the process, too, rather than throw it to a committee and then open it up to the full board," he said. "This way everyone will receive the same information at the same time."

Hopatcong's budget earned its in the spring. The $35 million proposal was then —the majority of which came from supplemental student insurance.