@Sam—I’m sure you realize that your total real estate tax levy is the combination of the county, municipal, and school budgets. I believe I read that the county budget remained the same although that could have been Morris not Sussex. You can count on the school budget share to increase the full 2% allowed by Christie Law without a public vote. As for any money saved when and if a new school superintendent is hired, you must remember offices will have to be re-decorated, re-carpeted, as well as new computers will need to be purchased. You understand all that right?

Why do offices have to be re-decorated and re-carpeted and how old are these computers..My office has same carpet and paint for last 8 years..Computer 4 years old..Suck it up..and yes I understand..dont talk down to people

Basically you paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for a reassessment that in reality lowered everyones value approx 30% but raised the rate. brumbear is right Patch was more interested in chickens than the budget. According to the article in the alternative press you can get a line item copy of the budget at the municipal building pick one up before the next meeting brumbear and ask your questions we would all like to know the answers!

Laker I share your concern as a lakefront owner. I myself am looking at a 21% increase in taxes due to the reassessment. If you look back on the five years I've been in this town my taxes are up 66%. After the reassessment I will also be paying roughly 4k more in taxes than a comparably valued lakefront in Jefferson, Roxbury, or mt. Arlington. When apprasial systems did this to the west Milford lakefront owners last year at least the organized and fought it. All I have heard from the hopatcong lakefront owners is complacency and some worries about a small amount of chicken poo getting into the lake.

Lakefront owners are definitely bearing the brunt of these new taxes. So, when one lakefront owner took protest actions we have hash words to say because they did not roll over and pay up like the rest of us. Most of our neighboring towns that have faired better economically with better schools and property values because they have active citizen audit groups that are watch and review their school and municipal spending budgets. Most lakefront owners in Hopatcong couldn't care less about the Hopatcong School system since they do not use them. Guess what ? Lakefront owners are paying increased taxes for these failing schools and the failures of these schools have impacted the market value of their lakefront homes besides the reassessment. The big taxed lakefront owner is getting what they deserve by not questioning the management of our municipality and school administrators as it's not my problem, I am just here for the Lake. Well, the chickens have come home to roost. The Lakefront owners are just taxpaying chickens clucking away but will manage to scratch up these increases because they always do. They never see themselves as a group that should take action. They just peck and peep even when their neck is finally on the chopping block.

Since you all got away with it during the sewer scam.feel ZERO sympathy

@S. Murry sounds like you have a personal problem and you should send him a letter.

I was not part of tax reval group however, I give these people credit for their active opposition to our run away taxes and the devaluation of Hopatcong property. I guess I have more respect for people who are willing to put up a fight than those that obediently open their wallets . The reality that most of you are not willing to face was that the major property devaluation in Hopatcong was not from residential property but commercial and the biggest commercial property landholders have successfully gotten their property taxes reduced even after this reassessment. The Hopatcong commercial property devaluation from 2007 was over $21 Million in 2011 where the residential properties were under $10 Million. How are they adjusting for this loss - Well of course with the new residential tax rate? It's seems to me that those who did not follow the big bag of wind are eating crow anyway so why the criticism of this group? Maybe the silence on Patch is from getting a good deal that they are no sharing with you. People don't like to brag about their inside deals to Patch especially our big commercial landholders. Right now there is someone laughing at the taxpayer and the Mayor's budget dog and pony show they bought. Maybe it's that big bag of wind that is having the last laugh.

Michelle regarding the last statement in your most recent post. I really don't think so based on the facts that his residence hasn't sold (if he was truly serious about selling in the first place,"love it or list it" was his claim), and the listing price is unrealistic based on Zillow and Trulia. With all his "claimed" knowledge about world markets and the collapse of the monetary system and US Economy, seems like he bought a very bad investment and is now stuck with it! Sucks to be him!

Maybe the S. In S. Murray stands for Sheeple cause I cannot believe some people cant see the lack of business being brought into this town and the spend it like we got attitudes that got us into this mess, not Roll Back. S. Murray, you def belong on the Town Council or better yet, maybe you can be our next wolf in sheeps clothing, er, i mean mayor! Anyone who believes this is because of Roll Back should go back to sticking their head in the sand and be a good little lemming! If idiots could fly, this town would be an airport. Hey! Maybe the town could start a new business, Lemmings Airlines with a Sheeple shuttle service!

Oh Michelle...we are really tired of you and Louise and the Marvelous Ms MM grinding your own brand of taineted meat to make sausage for Patch!

Can we still keep the Sheeple Shuttle Service? Ohhhh pleaseeeee???

Observer: I leave it to you and your Muse Michele. May you make lovely things together! Personal attack, no....a simple recap of the woman's background; check her profile, just like ROLL BACK OUR TAX used to insist!

Observer: Tell your 'Muse' to stop commenting on a person's weight, lest someone launch a personal attack, but that is OK in your book?

More like a knee and a couple of fingers ! How is that going to level out future taxes? Is there a time limit for a reassessment? You know that when the market goes up the town will reassess and there will be tax appeals and the cycle will continue. That is if the town doesn't go bankrupt first.

S. Murray the issue was photoshopping in response to your question. I gave an example. Why did you mention photoshopping? What was your intent on this one? I weighed in on your comment which was a left handed loaded question - was it not? The reply hurts because you gave yourself away by your question. I then knew it was you and I had to give you my special photoshop example. Maybe you should play this game again without the language that gives yourself away. But don't think you can because you can change your name but not your ...

Michelle you hit the nail on the head or should I say you guessed the weight on the scale? Seems S. Murray likes talking to himself. Split personality? Well since he asked you about what drugs you were on... hope it's not the person with the same name (that was reported on NJ.com) of Hopatcong, who was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, distribution of a controlled dangerous substance within 500 feet of a park.

My mistake for entertaining a malicious dimwit after knowing his identity . So I deleted the unrelated humor that has drifted away from this real tax issue. Many folks in Hopatcong have been hurt by this administration. This was about Gov. leadership who couldn't find it in themselves to work at making real cuts to the budget to face the reality of our economic situation. There is still bill payments to Atlantic City, Holiday gift baskets, buffet dinners at the Mt Arlington and bus trip parties. How many homes are under water from this exercise. How many lending banks will be deterred from making future loans in Hopatcong because this prompted existing mortgage foreclosures. The Mayor says she loves her Senior's . Well ,she just slashed their retirement nest egg by 100K. Hard to get the best sale price on your Hopatcong home to move into a new retirement place. This was Sale $$ they counted on. So the Seniors bless you Mayor & Co. And Bless you for only taking an additional $38 from everyone. We have short memories and will forget $1000's in damages with a formal devaluation and expenses incurred from this fiasco. And bless those who won't ask why the largest landholders have gotten substantial tax reductions while they saw tax increases. And bless our Mayor's family $$$ landholdings outside of Hopatcong where they don't need to worry. Pulling off all this and still having folks believe they have a sincere leader shows the depth of clueless blind faith.

Michelle it has become obvious that he has to resort to silliness because he can't hold a candle to your insurmountable wit. Ignore him and he will once again fade into the darkness of his lonely world.

Stop crying out for them. They're busy reading fiction - the new budget. It is time for you to roll off your ice flow, polish the car and slap on that "in your dreams" photo of yourself. It is campaign time. You Go! Mr. Independent - You Go! Sylvia deserves to have a man like you beside her. I'm routing for you all the way.

I agree Michele should have posted the picture of you going to the cafeteria.

A friend just suggested that I look at Mara Modes candidate facebook page for a more informative account of the municipal budget meeting. I must admit after reading the other accounts from the newspaper and the alternate press I was quite surprised. I found it enlightening as to why the residents are in the "dark" and being kept there by word games played by the mayor and council. I also find it appalling that they would hide behind semantics instead answering the man's question. After all how many people would know to ask about "soft costs" associated with a grant to the tune of over $80,000, and that's only part of it.

Let's go find our lost ratables. I have clues on how they got lost. I did a battle of words at our town meeting because they play word games and if you don't know the right words you will never get the answer to your question. Here's my word play game with them on at our Budget Meeting 4-3 that was open to the public: Below is a quote from the AP because I complained about the misuse of the word “Donation” at the Council Meeting and said it was a settlement from PSE&G. Ursin spoke to the reporter off record – The word we argued on the record was “Donation” and not the word “Grant” but either words I find appalling.
“After the meeting, Township Attorney John Ursin explained PSE&G had been sued by several towns over powerlines. The company went to municipalities the powerlines touched and offered them funds. “They came and said, ‘how about a grant and then you agree not to sue’,” he said. He noted the lines cross a tiny, wooded corner of Hopatcong.”
They Packaged the future compensation for damage monies as grants to hide the intended purpose of these monies from the public and from public comment . So PSE&G develops a grant to give to Town Officials to keep silent and they sign away our rights to claim future damages. What a unique definition for the word “grant” - most creative use of the word “grant” that I have ever seen. I wonder how many of these grants Hopatcong has.

I remember when the three candidates were running a few years ago and "someone" (not naming names) went to St. Jude's and told the parishioners that the council was under attack for being Christian. Found out later it wasn't true, but by that time the damage was done and the election was over. Can you guess who got re-elected? Give them credit they know how to spin. At least some people out there are trying to save the town in spite of the political spin.