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Toms River board sets April 1 citizens budget advisory meeting; tentative budget schedule unchanged
Summary
Board staff told members the tentative 2026 budget is expected by March 19 with the public presentation aligned to the March 18 board meeting; the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee was scheduled for April 1 at 5:30 p.m. at Toms River High School North Media Center. Staff said state aid is assumed flat and a $1 million one-time levy incentive from last year will not recur.
The Board of Education of the Toms River Regional Schools set the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee meeting for April 1 at 5:30 p.m. in the Toms River High School North Media Center to review the district’s tentative 2026 budget and take public questions on funding and taxes.
District staff told the board the tentative budget deadline is March 19, with the district’s public presentation timed to the board’s March 18 meeting to allow review and concurrent submission to the county. Staff described the district’s current baseline assumptions: state aid is being treated as flat for planning purposes, and a $1.0 million, one-time tax-levy incentive that the district received last year will not recur, leaving roughly a $1.0 million shortfall that the budget process must address.
Finance staff also summarized recent rental income that partially offsets costs: the district reported roughly $16,500 for the month (April line on the packet) and $449,410 year to date (July 1, 2025–Jan. 2026). Board members noted benefits to local businesses when school facilities host events and supported continued transparency about rental revenues.
Board members discussed whether to schedule the advisory committee on March 25 or April 1. Several members raised timing concerns tied to the state aid notice schedule; the board confirmed April 1 to allow time for any late state aid communications and to maximize member participation.
Next steps: staff will finalize and post the tentative budget materials in advance of the March meeting and distribute details for the April 1 advisory session so taxpayers can bring questions about line items, funding sources, and tax impacts.
