Toms River Mayor Announces 0% Tax Increase Despite Financial Challenges
TOMS RIVER, NJ – Mayor Dan Rodrick announced a 0% tax increase for 2024, despite rising costs and the end of federal funding from the American Rescue Plan.
While the Toms River Regional Schools Board of Education just recently proposed a 9% increase with a $12 million shortfall, that budget is independent of the Toms River Township municipal budget. The mayor and council have no authority or jurisdiction over the school board tax increase.
“It wasn’t easy,” Mayor Rodrick said.
Upon taking office, Mayor Rodrick faced a $3 million shortfall, which was compounded by the loss of $10.2 million in federal funding used to balance the previous two budgets under former Mayor Maurice Hill. Rodrick’s administration tackled this deficit by canceling overpriced contracts, eliminating duplicative jobs, and consolidating departments.
For the first time in decades, the township is seeking a new health insurance carrier on the open market, a move projected to save $2 million in the first year.
“I promised to end wasteful spending, eliminate no-show, political patronage jobs, and deliver a budget with no new taxes,” Rodrick stated. “Today, we are one step closer to making that a reality.”
Rodrick highlighted that the previous administration used $6 million of President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 funds to avoid a tax increase in 2023. In total, the administration received over $10 million in federal funds between 2021 and 2022, which were used to balance the budgets.
“With those funds evaporating, I had to cut a lot more fat to fulfill my campaign promise of keeping down,” Rodrick explained.
Among the budget cuts, Rodrick cited the elimination of the unconstitutional and costly CCO ordinance, which had already consumed more than half of its allocated funds. He also announced the decision not to replace two retiring police captains, saving nearly $700,000 in salary and benefits, and to consolidate animal control services with the county, saving nearly $1 million.
Rodrick emphasized his commitment to improving public safety by hiring eight new EMTs to ensure an additional ambulance is available 24/7, reducing emergency response times.
“At the end of the day, that’s what the government has to do first and foremost,” Rodrick said.
