The Administration of Governor Phil Murphy Threatens to Remove Superindendent if Boad Does Not Raise Taxes Even Higher, or Sell Buildings
TOMS RIVER, NJ — The Toms River Regional School District has imposed a 9.9-percent tax increase on the Toms River community, despite the Toms River Regional Schools Board of Education’s previous rejection of the measure. This decision has sparked a strong response from Superintendent Michael Citta and School Board President Kathy Eagan.
Note: The Toms River School Board is a separate taxing authority from the Toms River Township Municipality. School boards are independently run and governed bodies that act as an individual entity outside of the municipal government. The municipal government has no authority or access to the school budget and financial crisis it is currently facing. In 2024, the Toms River Township Council and Mayor Dan Rodrick announced a 0% municipal tax increase.
Superintendent Citta addressed staff, parents, and families, emphasizing the continued budget shortfall of over $12 million for the current school year. “We are continuing the pursuit of liquidating assets,” Citta stated, noting the appraisal of non-essential properties such as the office building at 1144 Hooper Avenue and the transportation yard.
In recent months, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said school districts like Toms River will not be getting any further funding and if they are short, they need to either raise taxes or start selling off schools and other assetts. Murphy even suggested the distric fire teachers and cut staffing to make ends meet.
Toms River has several assetts it could sell including an office building on Hooper Avenue and an Indoor Track and Field bubble. Murphy had suggested selling elementary and middle schools in his statement earlier this year.
He reassured the community that all student programs remain intact for the 2024-2025 school year and called for unity in facing the funding challenges imposed by the NJDOE.
School Board President Kathy Eagan. who is also a member of the NJEA criticized the NJDOE’s actions, describing them as “dictatorial and iron-fisted.”
Eagan highlighted the contentious and hostile discussions with the state, which included threats to revoke the licenses of Superintendent Citta and Business Administrator William Doering if a balanced budget was not submitted.
Eagan condemned the NJDOE’s decision to override the board’s authority, calling it “taxation without representation” and a contradiction of the principles of local control.
Eagan stressed that the state-imposed budget fails to provide a thorough and efficient education for students, as required by the constitution. She noted that even with the tax increase, the district remains nearly $80 million underfunded due to state aid cuts. “Our students are enrolled in a district that is underfunded by almost $80 million because of state aid cuts,” Eagan stated.
The Toms River community is urged to support the board’s efforts to address the funding shortfalls and ensure a quality education for all students.
