The Toms River Township Council on Monday moved forward and adopted the township's amended calendar-year 2025 municipal budget after a public hearing in which residents asked whether the budget includes funding to replace retiring police officers and to pay for school protection.

The council voted to read the budget by title, then held the statutorily required public hearing. After public comment the council approved a resolution amending the introduced budget under NJSA 40A:4-9 and then adopted the calendar-year 2025 budget by roll call.

Residents at the hearing pressed the council on police and school funding. Christopher Raymond (111 Flag Street) asked whether the township will pay "their fair share" for Class 3 school officers and whether the budget will backfill the department's vacancies. He said he had been told the school-officer line item would cost "a little more money this year" and mentioned a figure of about $240,000.

Council members and administration representatives responded that the budget provides for replacement hiring and contains the funds necessary to reach full patrol staffing. A council member summarized the administration's position that the budget funds the replacement of officers and calls for "full employment and replacement of every officer in the Toms River Police Department." The administration also described a new patrol schedule that increases the number of officers scheduled on duty each day compared with the prior schedule.

At the hearing several residents also raised broader concerns about service changes tied to the 9% reduction in overall spending the council described as part of the proposed budget. One council member said she could not support the budget because she had not yet determined what services might have been cut as part of the savings.

Action: Motion to read the budget by title and adopt the amended 2025 municipal budget. Motion by Councilwoman O'Toole; seconded by Council Vice President Coleman; adopted by roll call. Recorded yes votes included Councilwoman O'Toole, Council Vice President Coleman, Council President Lam, Councilman Burn, Councilman Sikozi and Councilman Nivison. Councilman Quinlisk stated he would vote no. The record also shows at least one abstention during the roll calls.

Why it matters: The municipal budget determines how the township funds core services including police staffing, public works, and municipal programs. Residents at the hearing asked for specific line-item detail and for assurances that reductions would not reduce essential services.

Meeting context and next steps: The hearing followed statutory notice and an earlier presentation of the introduced budget. Council members who asked for more time to review said they will continue to seek line-item clarification from administration staff. The administration said it will provide additional detail on staffing implementation and the timing of academy classes for new officers.

Speakers quoted and sources quoted in this article are drawn from the public hearing portion of the Toms River Township Council meeting transcript.