The state's public schools added more than 1,200 new positions in 2008, bringing the number of teachers and administrators to 143,733.
An analysis by the state's Gannett newspapers shows the total payroll topped $9.6 billion last year when contractual raises and other incentives are added. That's up $400 million from 2007.
School spending accounts for a major portion of how property taxes are distributed.
Information from: Asbury Park Press, http://www.app.com
