My prediction is they'll get:3% raises, 100% benefit coverage and NO contributions towards their pension. Same as last year.

Prior teacher's contract. Salaries (see guide) + 100% paid medical and dental.

http://www.perc.state.nj.us/publicsectorcontracts.nsf/Contracts%20By%20Employer/01B99AA7D307B69085257651006B36EC/$File/Hopatcong%20BE%20and%20Hopatcong%20EA%202008.pdf?OpenElement

And when those contracts are negotiated and signed, can you please post on the PERC website.

http://www.perc.state.nj.us/publicsectorcontracts.nsf

"State law now requires all public contracts to be forwarded to the Public Employment Relations Commission within 15 days of their execution, then posted on the PERC website"

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012301230004

We'd like to see how much $ went "for the children". Follow PERC link above and under search just type in the name Hopatcong and all the contracts will come up.

All public employees pay into their benefits.

Of course this is news! What about the support staff who are do great with the kids, which is so important but what about the fact they've worked for very low wages, no benefits and without a contract for 2 years! You always forget the "little people".

That's the last contract, not the new one. Its state law now! And by the way I AM a taxpayer!

Stop misleading US taxpayers!

so teacher of the year, exactly what were you doing the first half of the school year. I am glad to hear your going to be paying attention to the children now. I could never or will ever understand when your collecting a paycheck twice a month(unlike alot of people that don't have a paycheck)why you can't concentrate on your job. You know eventually a deal would be struck and everything would be okay, it's called school politics. Now settle down and do your job, you know the one you have been getting paid to do . Have a great day!!!!

If “our” elected Board of Education Members agreed to a raise of more than 0.00% then they should be ashamed of themselves. In this economic climate NO ONE IS GETTING RAISES – PERIOD! – 0.00% !

Be glad you have a secure job, health insurance and a future pension! We have excellent teachers but a pay increase is NOT in the budget! How about property tax relief for the residents?

Maybe the BOE held the line? Someone has to stop the madness and the ever increasing raises of public workers. When will it end? When will the growth stop? Maybe the taxpayers will be proud of a BOE that held the line? I am actually hopeful = 0.00%

When will we find out?

Yea, god forbid they get a raise! Wake up folks, property taxes are never going down!
And its not the teachers fault! Talk to your governor. Maybe he'll pick you up in the helicopter. You can take in a baseball game together !

Emily I was thinking the same thing...What was she doing up until this passed? The teachers were getting paid......just go to show that when they say "its all about the children" its not ...its about the $$$. Hopefully the BOE didn't give in .....we can only hope....

How do you pay for the retirees?

I will never understand why people who work for the private sector and enjoy raises, health insurance, paid vacation time and other perks think that those who work in various government jobs are not entitled to the same. They pay taxes and many pay into their benefits just like the private sector. Are some receiving ridiculous perks and benefits? Of course there are and that's where you should be pointing fingers. Look to upper management to find that. Just like the CEO's of the company you may work for have a much better compensation package than you it's the same with government employees. It's not your average Joe or Joann teacher or town/state employee. Why do you think your neighbor, your cousin, your daughter's father-in-law who work just as hard as you, probably harder in a lot of cases, are not entitled to the same as you just because their salaries are paid by taxes? I am not in any way saying our taxes are not out of hand but instead of cutting hardworking folk's throats over it your time would be better spent looking for and screaming about the true wastes of our tax dollars.

Thank you Tammy!!

Thanks Emily I was thinking the exact same thing? If I was worried about anything other than doing my job for half the year, I wouldn't have one.

However I do think teachers deserve raises, if they have earned them. They have to deal with property taxes, income taxes, and state and municipal fees just the same as everyone else, it is just a shame they don't understand how much they contribute to them.

Tammy and James, the point is that right now, people in the private sector are not receiving those high level perks you are talking about. Also, it is not just the high level government earners receiving the high perks, there was just a story on NJ.com about Jersey City who owns over $74 MILLION to public employees for unused sick pay? That can not include only high level earners there, can it? That is only current employees, who knows how much has been paid out already to those retired.

How would you feel if you were putting money into a retirement fund, and tour boss STOLE the money and then told you that you now have to pay more to make up for the money that they STOLE? And since people like to cry about the benefits that public employees get, we all pay into our benefits now, why don't you cry about the fact that the governor walks away with FREE benefits for LIFE after one term.( hopefully ) If that doesn't bother you, then you're just as big a hypocrite as he is!

Okay listen Bronson. 1. You don't pay anyones pension! The state has not made a pension payment in over fifteen years! 2. The teachers pay into their benefits now. All public employees do. You're looking at the last contract. and NJ schools rank at the top in the country! Have a wonderful day......

You pay more into the welfare system than you do teachers salaries!

Another good point!

Jon R--Government employees are not receiving "high level" perks either. Countless have been working without a contract for YEARS. So while they are now required to contribute to their health benefits, contribute more to their pension and factor in the cost of living increasing every 10 minutes they have not received even a basic cost of living increase. So, JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, they have less in their pockets at the end of the month than they did 2-3 years ago. Trust me, very few who's salary is paid for by taxes are getting rich, nor are they retiring to the islands with their unused sick pay.

Ok Flip. Wrong as usual? You don't know me. I said YOUR taxes are not paying anybodys pension. If the money is not being put in there, how is it paying the pension? Are you saying your father didn't deserve his pension?

And by the way, I was responding to the numb nut that was using the teacher contract that expired june 2011 to say that's the deal the teachers just got, but since you butted in I replied to you.

How much do teachers pay for their benefits? 50/50 like I do....i don't think so... again they are looking to get a 3% raise. When is enough, enough? The average salary is $65k with paid holidays and summers off! Some of these teachers are making over $100k!!! There should be an end to this. Freeze the salaries once you reach a certain salary. Maybe the schools should concentrate on making the student teacher ratio smaller so our kids get a real education. Freeze salaries and hire more teachers. Something major needs to happen

They better not have received a raise. They only just started paying into their benefits while everyone else has been doing it for years. Nobody deserves a raise in this economy, especially not those who don't even work 365 days a year! The average teacher makes $58,000 in NJ for a few more than 180 days. That would be $116,000 for a full year's work. I will be graduating with a DOCTORAL degree in the MEDICAL field and I will NEVER make more than $95,000, despite 6 years of education and working 365 days a year, probably 70 hour weeks. Someone tell me how that math makes sense.

Wow! Crying about raises and benefits and then saying "hire more teachers" all in the same sentence.... no wonder the teachers are getting a bad rap! "Just because I don't get it, neither should they". Spend a day in the classroom!! Once again, cry about the people that teach your children but don't worry about the many people in Trenton making six figure salaries and collecting near six figure pensions! Great priorities people! I want all of you babies to try teaching for one week. And i'm not even a teacher! CG, did your teachers do a good job?

Btw I'm on the classrooms. I'm a volunteer. So I know what goes on in the classrooms! As for Trenton making six figures....I thought this article was about the teachers?!? You keep bringing up Trenton. Stay on the subject. We do need more teachers because 28 kids in a classroom is a little much

So we can't afford to pay the teachers we have, so let's hire more! Do the real teachers in the school know that you think they make too much?

And I'm not crying...i just don't see why teachers can't be like the rest of us and pay into their benefits like we do. They should also have pay freezes too. Our town like many others are hurting. And now our kids are suffering because of the lack of resources they were used to. So James don't snap at me for having an opinion.

So basically this is all about people getting something that you don't. "Why teachers can't be like the rest of us". Most of my friends work in the private sector and make more than me, I should make what they make

Not all teachers are off in the summer! Some work extended school programs and most of the others have other jobs. They also pay into benefits for their families!

Teachers DO pay into their benefits! There are still MANY companies given their employees raises, so I think you're jealous that your's isn't! My husband is very fortunate to get one every year, is he suppose to take a "pay freeze" because his friends aren't getting raises? It's silly! I think teachers don't make nearly enough to deal with "the children" we have in disctrict!! Teacher's get shit upon, yet get blamed for making too much money! A new teacher doesn't make the salry you think and if a teacher is making $80K or more it's because they've been here 40 years!

YAY, a smart person!

Out of control spending is the biggest reason I am appealing my taxes AGAIN this year.

Christie had it right...."If you want to lower taxes.....spend LESS".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jUpeWUD3VI

Look where property values are heading in Hopatcong...

http://www.zillow.com/local-info/NJ-Hopatcong-home-value/r_52570/

Want to appeal your taxes? You have till April 1st. But you need an appraisal done:

Raul Mendez, Appraiser" raul44@optonline.net

Then you need a good attorney to fight for you.

Rob Spiotti, Tax Attorney" rspiotti@taxcounsel.com

http://taxcounsel.com/Attorney-Profiles/Robert-E--Spiotti,-Esq.aspx

The reassessment done in 2008 is unrealistic. Prices have dropped to 2003 levels.

If you want to try and do it own your own here's a good self help site cost $39.00.

http://housetaxax.com/

Here's the NJ form A-1 "Petition of Appeal".

http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/pdf/other_forms/lpt/petappl.pdf

Hopatcong uses a 2.072 multiplier off of your assessed value to arrive at your tax.

Recently sold homes are at this site http://www.zillow.com/homes/hopatcong,nj_rb/

Congratulations to Mrs. Canizaro for inspiring her students each and every day. Keep up the great work!!!!

First half of the year she was concentrating on her contract. Now her response was now she can get back to teaching the children. Come on people, wake up, it's all about the money. Really if the kids mattered all that much how come we are below average on the education ladder.

@Roll Back---Poor, poor Governor Christie. Only $157,000.00 dollars a year!! To add insult to injury he has to take a noisy helicopter to his son's baseball games while we rush home from work in our cars that we have to fill with gas that costs over 3 bucks a gallon, insured for probably about a grand a year, to whoof down hamburger helper for dinner (I bet Governor Christie had a steak that night) and get our kid to the game. That is if we get the night off from our second job and actually get to see our kid's game.

And he gets FREE benefits for life! Where's the shared sacrifice he keeps speaking of?

Roll back our taxes, no offends, you're an a$$. Hopatcong has some of the lowest taxes in Nj. People don't want to move here because you cant control your children! Blame the school but it's the people in town. And those teacher you claim have been here 10 years making good money taught before coming here. You don't start over again. Maybe if you actually voted for the budget programs wouldn't be cut and our schools would be of value, ie. Putting officers back in the schools to "chase" out the scumbags!

Good points Hopatcong Mom! I'm surprised by the lack of interest regarding the results of the 2011 NJ Proficiency tests (all levels) that were released by the state on 2/1. By far, it's the best indicator of how Hopatcong schools measure up with neighboring districts and the state averages. Maybe nobody cares?

Show me the proof Mayor Petillo. Give us links. We don't want to be paying for something we aren't receiving.

I can't believe adults are calling each other a$$**** because they have an opinion that is different then their own. How about respectfully disagreeing?

Jo Ann, I agree with you. We should be able to have an opinion( without being cruel) because somewhere in everyones opionion may lie the answer to a problem.

The reason I name called was because he keeps posting the same bull for months. Wants to blame everyone for hopatcongs woes but himself. Posting garbage about taxes and the economy. People would stay in town if we passed a budget, our schools would have amazing programs. I'm sick of everyone blaming the town and schools for everything...when they need to see they're part of the problem, when they need to be part of the solution.

I have posted new comments and links about salaries, benefits and pensions which is where all the money is going. We have the 3rd highest cost to educate a student at around $17K plus per year with some of the worst performing schools. It's not a $ issues because I asked the Superintendant once "if we gave you more $ would the performance improve"? He never answered. If he's so sure $ would help then he should respond now in front of all of us. But he's guaranteed at least a 2 o/o increase now so why should he stick his neck out? If anyone wnats to pay more taxes this year please do so. Any extra you want to contribute will help subsidize mine.

So if the schools were performing at a level you found acceptable, you wouldn't complain about any of the things you normally complain about?

Our taxes will be going up anywhere from 5-6 % this year based on past increases. This graph depicts what the average tax increase looked like from year 2000 to 2010 in $'s..

http://php.app.com/proptax/results.php?COUNTY=Sussex&MUNICIPALITY=Hopatcong+Borough&Submit=Search

Here it is in %...

http://php.app.com/proptax/results_perc.php?COUNTY=Sussex&MUNICIPALITY=Hopatcong+Borough&Submit=Submit

James asked me to keep quiet if "the schools were performing at a level I found acceptable". The problem is the schools will never perform at acceptable levels if reforms aren't put into place. It's NOT about the kids...it's about the teacher's pensions, salaries and benefits. The new contract will reflect that. The fixed costs right now are $17,050/student.

http://hopatcong.patch.com/articles/superintendent-new-student-spending-math-double-edged?ncid=following_comment

Teacher's complain the student to teacher ratio is high, they aren't paid well, etc.

Here's the facts in Hopatcong:

Student to Teacher Ratio (2009-10): 12.5
Ratio Ranking Within Group (2009-10): 32
Teacher Salary (2009-10): $71,390
Salary Ranking Within Group (2009-10): 65
Student to Teacher Ratio (2010-11): 13.9
Ratio Ranking Within Group (2010-11): 18
Teacher Salary (2010-11): $77,500
Salary Ranking Within Group (2010-11): 67

We need reform to increase performance. But the NJEA is denouncing it.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/03/christie_administrations_repor.html

Here's the link for the NJ state employees hand book for Pension and Benefits.

http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions/epbam/exhibits/handbook/persbook.pdf

It's loaded with up "dual" and "multiple" membership options, transfers, service credits, service credit purchases, etc.

If you want to see something that can really set you on fire, here's the link to the top "multiple" job holders in NJ...

http://php.app.com/NJpublicemployees/results2.php?tfm_order=DESC&tfm_orderby=salaryall2

There's a total of 3,856 public employees in NJ holding multiple jobs and this is the 2008 list. It starts with someone holding (8) jobs making $320,439/year.

Recognize any one on this link?.It's your very own Tax Assessor in Hopatcong, Therese DePierro.

http://php.app.com/NJpublicemployees/results.php?pageNum_Recordset1=1&totalRows_Recordset1=117&lastn=&firstn=therese&location=%25&fullname=%25&Submit=Search

Also, recognize anyone at this location? Your former Mayor and President of School Board Cliff Lundin

http://php.app.com/NJpublicemployees11/results.php?lastn=lundin&firstn=cliff&location=%25&countyname=%25&fundname=%25&Submit=Search

With 53% of the tax dollars going towards the schools and 28% going towards the borough we need to have fiscal responsibility.

http://php.app.com/proptax/results_pie.php?COUNTY=Sussex&MUNICIPALITY=Hopatcong+Borough&Submit=Search

I am requesting Cliff Lundin and Mayor Petillo to set up a Citizens Audit Committee.

Good reading for everyone...."How To Form a Citizens Audit Committee"

http://www.yankeeinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/YICAC.pdf

ESTABLISHING A CITIZENS AUDIT COMMITTEE (CAC)

Taxpayers can have a dramatic impact on local spending, ensuring that municipal government and educational services are delivered in the most cost-effective way, but only if they organize themselves into something we shall refer to as citizens audit committee, or CAC. This is a group of volunteers who can provide independent and objective oversight to budgeting and spending practices by assessing whether there is efficiency, effectiveness, and economy in the use of physical, human and financial resources – and whether elected and appointed officials are being accountable, transparent and responsive to the voting public.

A Citizens Audit Committee can do what school boards and town officials are either
unwilling to do for political reasons or unable to do because of a lack of skill, information, and time. This was suggested last year by me to the Mayor at a Council Meeting. She was given a copy. She said, "she'd look into it". NOTHING HAPPENED!!!!

Certain people are feeding off the supposedly never ending supply of taxpayer money to finance ever increasing benefits, pensions plus salary increases. The problem is now NOT only are we financing long term (capital expenditures) but short term debt (yearly expenditures) as well. Soon interest on that debt will be #1 expense.

I didn't ask you to keep quiet. I just asked a simple question. Thanks for all the helpful info

Hopefully the Board did not cater to the teachers union since they will now have pay more for their benefits..Hopatcong has low taxes? then I guess you call the sewer tax a "fee". Until the government in this town stops looking at their own self interest first, and realizes over taxing and feeing then, more homes will become empty...and for those who want to say private sector has entitlements, come work there for 1 year and see how wrong you are

Waaaaaaaaaaaaa..........

As the Governor would say......If you don't like it...MOVE!!!!

Those Damn public employees suck don't they?! Are you self employed??

Once again...Hopatcong has some of the LOWEST taxes in NJ. I was born & raised here, went thru the schools, left Hopatcong and came back...if you think it's going to be so much better somewhere else, then move...you'll see Hopatcong isn't that bad afterall! Taxes are an issue for ALL of NJ ans Sussex Co is the best place to be right now for that!! We'd have great schools if we could keep the amazing programs I had growing up...pass a budget and you'll see how much gets "re-instated"...and my Private Sector husband makes more than teachers, pays less into his Benefits, gets raises every year and makes his own hours...YES, those jobs exist so don't hate because teachers were able to get "into good jobs" becasue others have too!

Wow so many comments over one article...alot of you have valid points....Teacher of the year shouldnt have made that comment...it does sound that's all she was focusing on was the contract....hopefully she wasnt and she was focusing on her job...As far as benefits....I agree teachers should pay more into them then they do...My husband has his own business and pays for all his employees benefits...BUT not for his family....which seems very fair....employers are not required to provide benefits for families only an employee.....Taxes...I dont know what part of town some of you live in...but where I am....taxes are high...We dont have streetlights, or sewers!...As far as the budget...it has to be fixed....I noticed so much wasteful spending !...I really think someone needs to really look into on where the $ is going! (An outside audit should be done!) and here we have our kids still using books from when we were kids!...Things in this schools system need to be fixed! Maybe we wouldnt have so many issues w drugs if some of the programs we once had are brought back...not saying this is the cure all...but it just a thought....REMEMBER our kids should be first no matter what!

Need we say more about our schools. BOTH language and math proficiency we DOWN vs 2010. How can we give raises with this kind a performance? Dover (a good example) which is ranked among the poorest and lowest socioeconomic grouping in the state, posted impressive passing increases of 6.5 percent in language arts and 11.1 percent in math. Does more $ buy you better schools?????

http://hopatcong.patch.com/articles/high-school-test-scores-show-mixed-results-locally

When did teachers become the enemy? Parents should be held more accountable for their children like our parents were.

Teachers became the enemy when their own selfish monmetary interests became more important than the overall well being of the community and of course the children.

Bottom line- teaching is a JOB with MANY variables. You could have the most passionate teacher in the world but if there is no self-motivation or follow through at home results will not be the best. Let's compare it to a personal trainer. This trainer could could model, explain, review, practice, encourage their client to the top of their ability. However, when that client goes home they may not follow the plan. Maybe they have genetics that prevent them from reaching a particular goal. Does that make that trainer bad? Should that trainer not be paid due to variables out of their control? Are they a bad trainer who only cares about themselves? Seriosly get a grip. Teaching is a JOB! Teachers equip our children with the tools they can use. Bottom line, children have to use the tools.

Hopatcong resident...all I want to know is "how much my taxes are going up this year because of the new teacher's contract"?