December 7, 2006
Toms River Citizens Alert Committee, Inc. - Immediate Press Release
December 12, 2006, Toms River Regional School District Referendum
   The Toms River Citizens Alert Committee is a citizens watchdog group concerned with taxation and quality of life issues in our community. We are most concerned with the health safety and education of our children. Although there may be a need for additional money, the Citizens Alert Committee is concerned about the lack of correct, prudent and viable information provided by the school district concerning the December 12th referendum. Until there is clarification and a comprehensive spending and capital plan by the School District, the Toms River Citizens Alert Committee is asking the residents of Toms River Township to VOTE NO on the December 12, 2006 school referendum.
The Citizens Alert Committee is requesting answers to the following questions.

Why were pamphlets supporting the referendum mailed, by the Toms River School District, to parents of students and some other organizations, but not all the voters and tax payers?

 
Why is the Referendum scheduled for December, the busiest month of the year, and a month when many residents are out-of-state and unable to participate?


Why are “health facilities” being built at High School South? What is the need for a new health facility? Are new health facilities the reason for the demolition of the J building?


Was notice given to the residents of Toms River regarding the change of location of the new indoor track facilities from Walnut St. to Hooper Ave? Was there a review conducted by the planning board on the change in location of the indoor track facilities?


Have revenues generated by the Poland Spring/Ritacco Entertainment Center, and the professional lease agreements at 1114 Hooper Ave. resulted in the State of New Jersey denying grants and other subsidies to the Toms River Regional School District?

 
One of the Major concerns of New Jersey residents is their property taxes, and the highest taxes are school taxes. Paying off one bond and replacing it with another bond will never reduce taxes. Property taxes for 500,000 Ocean County residents and 98,000 Toms River Township residents, when added together, are less than our school taxes for 18,000 Toms River Regional School students. The pamphlet supporting the school referendum, sent to some Toms River Township residents, said “No Tax Impact,” “NOT NOW AND NOT IN APRIL.” We do not have the whole story now, and many of the expenses included in the referendum are very questionable.
In the absence of straight answers about the next budget and capital plan, why not defeat this referendum now, and try to get comprehensive answers about the next expense budget, and a complete package of capital expenses to be on the budget with school board candidates in April?
TOMS RIVER CITIZENS ALERT COMMITTEE, INC.