TOMS RIVER, NJ – The Toms River Regional Schools District is taking legal action against Governor Phil Murphy and the state of New Jersey due to significant funding cuts that have drastically impacted the district’s financial health and educational services. Superintendent Michael J. Citta has outlined a harrowing scenario where the district, described as the most cost-efficient in New Jersey, faces bankruptcy due to a cumulative loss of $137 million over seven years attributed to the state’s funding formula and the S2 legislation.
According to Superintendent Citta, Toms River has exhausted all financial avenues to mitigate these cuts, including maximizing local taxes under the allowable 2-percent cap, cutting over 250 jobs, and even selling trees.
“We have continued to take the high road and work with local and state legislators and the Governor’s office directly toward a solution to our problem, all the way up until this past Friday when the budget was signed and Toms River was left to deal with the financial cliff the State of NJ created. Let me reiterate, in no uncertain terms, that the State of New Jersey has knowingly created this problem for our district as well as our neighbors in Brick, Jackson, Lakewood, Lacey, Plumsted and Stafford, just to name a few. Why? How can you do that to the 15,000 Toms River students who deserve the same opportunities as every child in this great state? The removal of $26.5 million from this budget would eliminate 368 more jobs, put class sizes in the hundreds, and eliminate all extra curricular and athletic programs from the district. It would also eliminate kindergarten completely. There is no way to even propose that,” Citta said.
“Despite these efforts, they are still $26.5 million short for the 2024-2025 school year, which could potentially lead to cutting 368 more jobs, eliminating all extracurricular and athletic programs, and even discontinuing kindergarten.”Despite these efforts, they are still $26.5 million short for the 2024-2025 school year, which could potentially lead to cutting 368 more jobs, eliminating all extracurricular and athletic programs, and even discontinuing kindergarten.
“We have used all of our surplus and reserves and monetized our assets, rented facilities and even sold trees to make up the shortfall. Even with all of those actions, there was no way to make up the $137 million cut with the allowable 2-percent tax levy increase over a seven-year period,” he added.
The district argues that the funding cuts are disproportionate and unfair, especially when compared to other districts that have received increases in aid, allowing for higher spending and salary raises. Superintendent Citta accuses the state of mismanaging school funding, prioritizing political projects over educational needs, and has called for urgent action to rectify what he terms as legislative “child abuse and neglect.”
The lawsuit aims to challenge the state’s decisions and seek a funding solution that ensures the sustainability of Toms River schools and equitable opportunities for its students.
The district is rallying community support to join the fight against what they see as unjust policies that jeopardize the education of 15,000 students and affect over 50,000 families in the region.
