TOMS RIVER, NJ – Toms River Regional School District Superintendent Michael Citta asked the township council on Wednesday to buy land owned by the school district to balance the 2023-24 school budget.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy cut that budget after the district saw a significant decrease in enrollment over the past five years since the governor’s new S2 funding was implemented.
In the 2017 school year, the district had 15,622 students. Now, 14,700 students, which under the state’s new funding formula, means the district qualified for less aid. That funding formula has been questioned by local leaders as the district also gained about 1,000 private school students during that same time.
Citta proposed that the township council buys land from the school district to help offset the current $3.8 million budget deficit. It is unsure how that purchase would affect Toms River Mayor Maurice Hill’s 0% budget increase for 2023.
Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill unofficially agreed to the purchase, saying the town will now appraise a parcel of land adjacent to Silver Bay Elementary School for purchase to provide a one-time fix for the school budget.
Next year, as the district loses more students, state aid will be reduced again under Murphy’s funding formula.
The township council will still have to pass an ordinance to approve potential land deals between the township and the school district.
Last week, Governor Phil Murphy approved an additional $9.5 million in state aid to Toms River, leaving the district short of meeting its proposed budget.
The town did not say how much money it will spend to purchase the land currently owned by the school district.
