TOMS RIVER – With scores of parents concerned that the district would cut extra-curricular activities or make them pay-to-play, there was some relief that these activities will be included in the district’s $252 million budget for 2020-2021. However, with this comes a cut of dozens of positions.
The total budget will be $252,338,909.
The amount of this to be raised in taxes will be $173,369,274. This is an increase of $8,852,772 over the 2019-2020 amount of $164,516,502.
For Toms River residents, with the average home value of $275,164, the average bill will be $3,385, an increase of $176 from the current year’s $3,209. The tax rate will increase by 6.41 cents to $1.23 per $100 of assessed valuation.
For South Toms River residents, with the average home value of $166,166, the average bill will be $1,672,89, an increase of $55.12 from the current year’s $1,617.77. The tax rate will increase by 3.32 cents to $1 per $100 of assessed valuation.
For Beachwood residents, with the average home value of $204,600, the average bill will be $2,273.32, an increase of $101.73 from the current year’s $2,171.59. The tax rate will increase by 4.97 cents to $1.11 per $100 of assessed valuation.
For Pine Beach residents, with the average home value of $270,100, the average bill will be $3,133.29, an increase of $146.40 from the current year’s $2,986.89. The tax rate will increase by 5.42 cents to $1.16 per $100 of assessed valuation.
The increase in the taxes is largely due to the restructuring of how the state gives out aid. The bill that changed this, S-2, redirected aid from districts losing enrollment to those gaining enrollment, and characterized districts like Toms River as not paying their fair share.
In Toms River schools (which include South Toms River, Beachwood and Pine Beach), S-2 will cut more than $110 million in state aid over the course of several years, including $2.8 million in the current 2019-2020 budget and $5.3 million in next year’s 2020-2021 budget.
This budget cuts 37 positions on top of positions that have been cut in the past, district officials reported. Among them are 12 positions on the elementary school level, 12 on the middle school level, and 12 on the high school level. Some of this is expected to be absorbed by attrition.
Officials pointed out that the district has cut 114 staff positions in the past two years.
The cost of afterschool activities in a district of this size is probably more than most people thought. Administration said the total cost is about $4.1 million.
Superintendent David Healy said the district anticipates losing an additional $6.6 million in state funding for the 2021-2022 school year.
