Toms River school leaders present $269.5M budget, warn of $22.3M shortfall and program cuts if state aid isn’t restored

TOMS RIVER, N.J. — The Toms River Regional School District on Monday presented a proposed $269.5 million general‑fund budget and warned the district faces a $22.3 million structural shortfall for 2025–26 unless additional state relief arrives or the district pursues extraordinary measures.

“After reducing our state aid by nearly 60% over the last seven years, we are looking at a $22.3 million issue in the 2025–26 school year,” Superintendent Mr. Sitta said in a presentation to the Board of Education’s citizens budget advisory meeting.

That shortfall stems from multiple pressures, administrators said: special‑education enrollment and costs have surged, health‑insurance and pension expenses are rising, transportation and utilities are up, and state aid has fallen from about $68.3 million in 2017–18 to roughly $29.8 million in the district’s revenue projection. Property taxes make up about three‑quarters of the district’s revenue; Doering reported property levy funding of roughly $201.6 million for the general fund.

“The budget maintains most of our programs, but we are having to abolish some positions and consolidate administrative roles to get as close to balanced as possible,” Mr. Sitta said, adding that the proposed plan includes eliminating an assistant‑superintendent position and other director posts through attrition and consolidation.

Why special education is driving costs

Special‑services director Thomas Sidha said…