Politics & Government

Mayor: 'Never Heard Of' Failed School Budget Escaping Cuts

Some Hopatcong residents ask council to leave budget untouched. Others say to make cuts.

More cuts? No cuts?

Hopatcong Mayor Slyvia Petillo said Wednesday night the borough council has had only preliminary talks about how it should handle the school district's defeated budget. But she also said she couldn't recall a time a failed budget didn't see cuts.

"I don't remember that happening," she said at council meeting at borough hall. "I've never heard of that happening."

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Hopatcong downed its eighth straight school budget proposal last week, this time by just 34 votes. The $35 million budget, which would have raised school taxes on the average borough home $109, now goes to the borough council for possible—if any—cuts.

Last year, the council slashed $730,000 from the proposed budget. That, coupled with a $1.7 million loss in state aid, led to 24.5 teacher cuts and a bunch of program eliminations.

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More teachers could lose jobs if the council makes significant cuts to this year's budget, Superintendent Dr. Charles Maranzano has said. In late April, the district told six teachers they might not have jobs in the fall in anticipation of a defeated budget, Maranzano said. State law says teachers must be given reduction-in-force or non-renewal notices by May 15.

On Wednesday night, before a larger-than-usual crowd, Petillo said the council would first meet to pore over the budget before meeting with the Board of Education to hammer out a final dollar number. And while the district must accept whatever reduction the council makes, it doesn't have to listen to its recommendations on what to cut.

Petillo said she's looking forward to collaborating with the Board of Education. School board President Cliff Lundin, a former Hopatcong mayor, said he understood the council could have to make difficult choices regarding the budget.

"But I can tell you, we made some very tough choices in this budget before it even went public," said Lundin, who also said the proposed budget included losing a curriculum supervisor.

"We want to work with you to come to an agreeable solution," Lundin said later. "But this is a tight budget."

A handful of borough residents voiced their support for both sides of the budget battle.

Donna Luciani and Liz Juliano each asked the council to consider leaving the budget alone.

"I know it's a tough time economically for everybody, but the budget only failed by 34 votes," she said. "Our kids have suffered enough."

Ron Demott, Randy Paulenich and Brian Hickey each explained why they voted it down. DeMott said the teachers' union should make sacrifices. Paulenich said teachers should freeze their salaries and contribute more to health care and the district should find a cheaper health care plan. Hickey said parts of the budget seemed "unsustainable."

"So, my 6-year old—I had to make a choice—is probably going to suffer for a few years," Hickey said. "I hope by the time my 5-month old goes to school we've got a better model going forward."

Petillo said the council would discuss the budget in executive session on Monday at 8 p.m. before scheduling a meeting with the school board.


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