Paul Shives

Republican Don Guardian who lost handily in the November election to Democrat Frank Gilliam Jr. and failed to retain his seat as mayor of Atlantic City now comes to Toms River Township to succeed Paul Shives as business administrator as of January 1, 2018.

Despite a $600,000,000.00 ratable deficit on the coast, taxpayers in Toms River Township can find some solace in this year's proposed budget set to be introduced next week.

The budget is nearly 2.5 million dollars less than it was last year at $126,265,083.43 where this years introduced budget is $123,853,514.56.

Assembly Budget Panel Chair Gary Schaer (D-36) has proposed legislation that would allow towns to exceed the 2% cap on property tax increases -- IF the money is needed as matching funds to hire more police officers.  But what would it really mean in our area...

With more tax appeals than ever coming in, the Toms River Council is approving a hybrid re-assessment for the entire township.

Toms River's proposed 2012 budget falls under the two percent cap and with a minimal tax rate increase, but the Township Administrator worries with all the cutting they’ve done there isn’t much left.