School Budget Takes 8th Straight Loss; Newcomer Tops BOE Race

Make it eight.

Hopatcong voters narrowly defeated a school budget that would have raised taxes on an average home $109 on Wednesday. It was the district's eighth straight defeated budget.

Reached late Wednesday night, district Superintendent Dr. Charles Maranzano said the defeated budget could have a damaging impact on schools. Next the budget goes to the borough council for potential cuts.

"That's disappointing," Maranzano said. "I was hoping that we could prevail, that there could be a positive push against a negative sentiment."

A vote of 660-626 (according to unofficial tallies) downed the $35 million proposed budget, which would have resulted in a tax rate of $1.09 per $100 of assessed valuation for the calendar year 2011, up from 1.07 in 2011. That would have meant a tax payment of approximately $3,400 per year for the owner of a home assessed at the municipal average of $315,000, which doesn't include taxes levied by the borough or Sussex County.

"I understand the taxpayers' sentiment about controlling costs and no raising of taxes," Maranzano said, "but you have to invest in public education to maintain quality of living in a community."

Six Hopatcong teachers were told last week they might not have jobs in the fall. Maranzano said their positions could hinge on the budget vote.

He also said more teaching positions would most likely be lost if the borough council cuts a significant amount from the budget. Last year, it slashed $730,000, which, along with $1.7 million in state aid cuts, forced the district to release 24.5 positions and end many programs.

Maranzano said he didn't want to cut teachers, but will if necessary.

"If we have to cut deeply into our budget, we're going to have to cut personnel," he said.

School Board Vote

With four people running for three open Board of Education seats, a newcomer proved the to be the biggest winner.

Margaret Bongiorno gained the most votes with 800. Incumbent Richard Lavery had the second-highest count at 708, while Susan Madar, also an incumbent, grabbed 690.

Three-term incumbent Patricia LoBue was the odd candidate out, earning just 640 votes.

Bongiorno said she was surprised by her victory.

"I can't believe it," she said. "I knew it was a long shot. I have to absorb it now, but I think we can do some good work. There are good people and good minds. I think we can do some good stuff."

Bongiorno ran against Lavery in November while both were seeking to fill a vacant seat. But Lavery won. He'll be entering his first full term.

Lavery said he was excited for his three-year term, but "very frustrated" that the budget didn't pass.

"I don't understand why the parents do not go out and vote," he said. "Of all the people who live in Hopatcong, that means people are not going out and voting [for the budget]."

Lavery said he'd like to tackle a few things early in his term. Among the first: teacher contracts.

"I'd like to see negotiations with teachers where they are going to take more responsibility for their benefits," he said. "Instead of losing teaching jobs, I'd rather control the cost of teacehrs by having them contribute more  to their benefits. ... I cannot see how we can afford to lose a lot more [teachers]."

The Board of Education's reorganization meeting is scheduled for Monday at 7 p.m. at the administration building.