Toms River officials introduced the township's 2025 municipal budget Wednesday, telling the council the municipal tax rate remains unchanged and the township plans expanded capital work while paying down debt.

"The municipal taxes will remain flat in the budget," said Jerry Conedy, partner at the accounting firm that audits the township. Conedy told the council the township ended 2024 with just over $52,000,000 in fund balance and expects to end 2025 with about $67,000,000 in surplus, citing payroll reductions and health‑insurance savings as drivers of the change.

Conedy outlined several budget highlights: elimination of positions expected to save about $5,000,000 in 2025, roughly $1,400,000 in health‑insurance savings, and paying off about $12,057,000 in bond principal in fiscal 2025. He said the total municipal budgeted expenditures fell from about $146,000,000 to $135,000,000 compared with the prior year. "One of the most important things in the budget: the municipal taxes will remain flat," Conedy said.

The draft budget also identifies capital projects the administration intends to pay for from the general fund rather than issuing new debt. Conedy cited plans to pave twice as many roads as last year, extend the Ortley Beach pier, construct a Boatworks pier and build multiple spray parks. The auditor said the average assessed home in Toms River is about $448,400 and that the municipal share of a typical property tax bill is about $1,960.68.

Council President Lam moved to introduce the budget and Council Vice President Coleman seconded. The council then voted to introduce the budget; several members abstained because they said they had not reviewed the full paperwork. Council President Lam, Vice President Coleman and several other members voted yes; Councilman Sikosi said he abstained, citing that he had not seen the budget previously. The administration said the budget will be posted online and a public hearing is scheduled for the June 25 meeting, at which time residents may comment before the council adopts the budget.

Finance director Dottie Gallagher and administration staff will provide additional detail before the public hearing, officials said. The auditor and mayor urged residents to review the full budget once it is posted and to direct specific questions to the administration ahead of the June hearing.