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Toms River administration warns of $22.3 million shortfall; proposes administrative cuts and asset sale options
Summary
District leaders told the Board that a roughly $22.3 million structural shortfall — driven by a more-than-56% decline in state aid and rising special-education and insurance costs — forces proposed administrative eliminations and consideration of asset sales or state aid programs to balance a legally required budget.
Toms River Regional Schools administrators presented a proposed 2025–26 general fund budget of about $269.5 million and said the district faces a structural revenue gap of approximately $22.3 million.
"This budget consists of a $269,500,000 general fund expenditure, which is a 5.6% increase," said Mr. Sittick, the district's lead presenter. He later summarized the funding shortfall by saying the district is "$22,300,000 away from running a bare bones budget," and listed cuts that such a shortfall would force, including elimination of full-day kindergarten, most electives and extracurricular activities.
Administration attributed the gap primarily to a steep decline in state aid since 2017–18 and to growing costs for special education, health insurance and utilities. Mr. Dohring, the business administrator, told the board that property taxes now account for roughly 75% of the general fund while state aid comprises roughly 13% of revenues.
To present a balanced budget while maintaining the state's definition of a "thorough and efficient" education, administrators outlined three legally available options: seek a state advanced-aid payment or loan, pursue legislative/formula relief to restore prior adjustment aid guardrails, or explore a state tax-levy incentive program (an application the district plans to review in executive session next week). Officials also said they would consider asset liquidation (the planned sale of building "1144") as part of short-term balancing, while warning that selling active school buildings would create space and program problems.
