Toms River approves $18.5 million in new debt to purchase school land, prep Downtown loop

Phil Stilton

TOMS RIVER, NJ – At a recent meeting of the Toms River Township Council, the township presented a grim scenario for residents. Sell school land for development or cut teachers and programs. The same night, the council also approved a massive, controversial bond ordinance that would prepare Downtown Toms River for hi-density, hi-rise expansion in the future.

First, the township approved a bond to purchase land owned by the school district on Silver Bay Road.

Facing a $4 million budget shortfall, a map of property owned by the district behind Silver Bay Elementary School showed a proposed housing development planned to be built on the site.

A fictional development map created by township officials to make the public think a development was planned for the land if not sold to the township. No such plan actually exists.


The only problem was that development was crafted by township and school officials, and no site plans or development plans were on record with the township. In fact, the land was not even at any imminent risk for development and likely would not have been sold.


Had that land been sold, the school board members would have likely been voted out of office in their next election for selling school land to a private developer.

Still, the dog and pony show at town hall went on, and the township agreed to spend $4.5 million to purchase the property because it’s for the children.

The one-time fix does not solve the long-term problem of school funding cuts in Toms River brought on by a drop in enrollment over the years and the state’s new S2 funding formula. The sale will not help future budgets of the Toms River school board and adds $4.2 million of additional debt to the township on top of a recent $14 million bond approved by the council the same night.

That $14 million bond will help the township prepare the roadways downtown for an anticipated influx of new residents once a currently planned 10-story twin-tower apartment building and other new high density structures are built downtown.

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Toms River Township plans to acquire 16.6 acres of land located at 100 Silver Bay Road for open space purposes. The Township Council of Toms River introduced and passed the bond ordinance on April 26, 2023. The governing body is set to further consider the bond ordinance for final passage on May 10, 2023. This will take place during a public hearing to be held in the Municipal Offices at 33 Washington Street, Toms River, New Jersey, at 6:00 p.m. All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the meeting.

The bond ordinance will provide for the appropriation of $4,500,000 towards the acquisition of land and authorizes the issuance of $4,285,000 in bonds and notes to finance a portion of the cost of the land. The land is designated on the municipal tax map as Block 233.24, Lot 36, and a portion of Block 233.24, Lot 238.

A copy of the ordinance has been posted on the bulletin board at the Municipal Complex of the Township during the week prior to and including the date of the meeting. Copies of the ordinance are available to the general public upon request at the office of the Municipal Clerk in the Township of Toms River.

If the bond ordinance is passed, the Township plans to use the land for open space purposes. The land will be preserved for public use, providing residents with access to open space for outdoor activities. The bond ordinance authorizes a useful life of 40 years and includes Section 20 costs of $100,000. Michael Cruoglio, the Municipal Clerk of Toms River Township, will oversee the implementation of the bond ordinance.

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