TOMS RIVER, NJ – As the Ocean County Justice Complex undergoes a $92 million expansion, Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy wants out. Mastronardy has successfully lobbied the Ocean County Board of Commissioners to build himself a new office, but not within the new $92 million building.
Mastronardy wants a home of his own, away from the courthouse complex he and his officers are sworn to protect.
Instead, the sheriff will be getting his own building at the cost of $250,000…just to design it.
At least that’s the price today. The commissioners approved the expense and are now seeking bids just to design the facility. The actual cost of the facility could cost the county millions of dollars.
The Ocean County Board of Commissioners has passed Ordinance #2023-25 to appropriate the sum of $250,000 from the Capital Improvement Fund. This fund allocation is intended to cover the cost of designing a Sheriff facility to be located in Toms River Township, Ocean County, New Jersey.
The decision to fund the design of the Sheriff facility comes from the recognition by the Board of Commissioners of the County of Ocean of the need for such a facility in Toms River Township.
The ordinance was passed with a majority vote of not less than two-thirds of all members of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners concurring.
With this funding in place, the county aims to address the requirements and best interests of the community by ensuring adequate facilities for the Sheriff’s operations and services.
The existing justice complex was designed to house the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, which is tasked with maintaining security at the facility. The new site will not be connected to the existing facility, according to statements made previously by the Board of Commissioners.