It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic South Toms River Silos gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Toms River, NJ is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“I have been working for Always Best care for 1.6 years and my experience has”
“A special shoutout to our primary caregivers: Marie C. and Florette P.. They were outstanding!”
“My working experience with Always best care has been a blessings and a life changing.”
“Terrific company. Management is tops. Very caring staff. I highly recommend them.”
“The dementia class was very helpful,I learned about it ,it was good to know.Thank you”
“I enjoyed learning and understanding the pros and cons of dementia How deal and coupe”
“Good”
“Always Best Care Senior Services in Princeton Junction exceeded our expectations. Their team was kind,”
“Could not have asked for a more caring group of professionals. From care giver to”
“ABC COULD NOT HAVE DONE BETTER IN A CHANGING SITUATION WITH TWO TERMINALLY PATIENTS HAVING”
“Always best care took care of my father for about 10 years..Though my father was”
“ABC and their amazing care givers enabled our Aunt to get her last wish was”
“Mom developed an infection in the afternoon that left her too weak and disoriented to”
“Faithful, Love, and Family.”
“Very professional organization and sent the right aide, Sam, to help me with my father”
“I had a great experience with the agency, Always Best Care! I am attending college,”
“Roberto took care of my husband like he was a member of his family. He”
“The aide's were respectful, reliable and friendly and staff responds timely to calls and needs”
“Everyone was great. I’ve come a long way due to the help of your aides.”
“You have a GEM in Mrs. Terry. She is worth so much more than she”
“Very very helpful, I was desperate when I called and that same day I had”
“We had an exceptionally good experience with Always Best Care during my mother's illness. The”
“Thank you Jahima, Esther, Satta, Myra, Kelly & Susan. Carmen should be pleased. Keep up”
“Words cannot express how grateful my family and I am for the kindness, care, and”
“Gimbert & Carmen were very accommodating and knowledgeable with the needs of my father. They”
“I have been working for Always Best care for 1.6 years and my experience has been nothing but amazing. Although there are some hiccups here and there with cancellation of confirmed shift but regardless, it’s been a pleasure and good experience working for the company.”
“A special shoutout to our primary caregivers: Marie C. and Florette P.. They were outstanding! And extra thanks to Carli, who always came through when we needed backup. Many thanks to the ABC team for all the care you gave to my husband Al H. through 3 years of Parkinson's suffering, and the support you gave me through a hard time.”
“My working experience with Always best care has been a blessings and a life changing. Always best care have been a blessings also to my friends have introduce to the company”
“Terrific company. Management is tops. Very caring staff. I highly recommend them.”
“The dementia class was very helpful,I learned about it ,it was good to know.Thank you”
“I enjoyed learning and understanding the pros and cons of dementia How deal and coupe with the everyday and new behaviors How to help assist respect and enjoy every day life with clients How to help and assist with maintaining their respect. Dignity individuality their purpose of life”
“Good”
“Always Best Care Senior Services in Princeton Junction exceeded our expectations. Their team was kind, attentive, and provided excellent care tailored to our family’s needs. Communication was clear and supportive throughout. We’re so grateful for their compassion and professionalism. Highly recommend them for anyone seeking trusted senior home care in the area!”
“Could not have asked for a more caring group of professionals. From care giver to support staff, they are exceptional”
“ABC COULD NOT HAVE DONE BETTER IN A CHANGING SITUATION WITH TWO TERMINALLY PATIENTS HAVING ALZ AND STAGE IV PANCREATIC CANCER. QUALITY OF CARE TAKER WAS SUPERB AND RESPONSIVENESS TO CHANGING NEEDS PERFECT.”
“Always best care took care of my father for about 10 years..Though my father was very lucid and managed his own care with the agency, I was at his house alot and participated in his care with the aids. They were all very caring and he kindly spoke of the owners being very attentive and offered very personalized care. They even visited him. I am very fond of many of the home health aids..they were loving and concerned. They took their job to another level. I even formed friendships with some of them. The golden years are a very delicate part of our lives. Always best care not only offered good physical care to my father, but unbounded love and compassion !!!! Thank you and he is looking down at us. I'm sure.”
“ABC and their amazing care givers enabled our Aunt to get her last wish was to die in her home. I can’t say enough about how ABC was able to give her a quality of life that she valued as well as provide comfort to her family knowing that she was in good hands with ABC's Caregivers. From the caregivers that always went the extra mile to the fast response we got 24x7 from folks like Carli…you were there for us!”
“Mom developed an infection in the afternoon that left her too weak and disoriented to care for herself for that night. I called Always Best Care Senior Services (ABC) at the very end of the business day, asking if they could find someone for one night of 12-hour private duty care on pretty much an emergency basis. The ABC team went to work and secured a caregiver for mom within a matter of hours for an 8pm-to-8am care shift at mom's senior living community. We had worked with ABC in the past on a scheduled basis, but this experience was above and beyond the call of regular duty and it truly helped us get through a difficult and stressful episode. We would recommend ABC for any and all of your senior care needs.”
“Faithful, Love, and Family.”
“Very professional organization and sent the right aide, Sam, to help me with my father in day to day activities. Sam helps him with gait training and understands dementia care and how to handle care, the way the client needs it. I would not hesitate using this agency and Sam is excellent.”
“I had a great experience with the agency, Always Best Care! I am attending college, and they always provided me an aide that is helpful, considerate, and hardworking. Thank you for always providing me with an aide like Ms. Colleta!!”
“Roberto took care of my husband like he was a member of his family. He was God sent; thank God for him”
“The aide's were respectful, reliable and friendly and staff responds timely to calls and needs”
“Everyone was great. I’ve come a long way due to the help of your aides. Thank you again!”
“You have a GEM in Mrs. Terry. She is worth so much more than she is paid! I miss her. Her help was timely, professional, and invaluable”
“Very very helpful, I was desperate when I called and that same day I had professional help. Tremendous your service”
“We had an exceptionally good experience with Always Best Care during my mother's illness. The management met with us and assigned caregivers almost immediately. As our needs evolved and increased, they were responsive and flexible. The caregivers were well-trained, kind, hard-working, and truly fine people whom we enjoyed having in the house.”
“Thank you Jahima, Esther, Satta, Myra, Kelly & Susan. Carmen should be pleased. Keep up the good work, and be safe!”
“Words cannot express how grateful my family and I am for the kindness, care, and concern that was shown for my husband by the Always Best Care staff. Thank you for the exceptional attention to his comfort, as well as the wonderful insights, strength, knowledge, and emotional support you showed our entire family. Watching someone you love make the transition out of this life is a really difficult thing, and your wisdom and comfort helped us navigate this challenging time. I will always be thankful for the service you provided for him. I would also like to acknowledge the excellent care provided to my husband by Ms. Marie Louisjean. We thank Ms. Louisjean for her incredible patience, tenderness, and attention to his needs. We thank her for being such a dedicated caregiver. God has given her a very special talent and He has blessed her with a compassionate heart. I could not have asked for a more passionate group of people. May God continue to bless the Always Best Care staff as you continue to care for people in need.”
“Gimbert & Carmen were very accommodating and knowledgeable with the needs of my father. They came out to his house and offered suggestions so that he would be able to get around with his walker easily. Their person took great care of my Dad. It is such a relief to my sister and I that we had someone stay with my Dad that was so reliable. I highly recommend them.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Winding River Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Dina's Bistro or visit Barnegat Bay Maritime Museum, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Toms River, NJ, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Toms River, NJ understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Toms River, NJ 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
originally published: 07/21/2025(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- Return to the era when families gathered around the wireless set for "theater of the imagination." The Ocean County Library Toms River Branch is pleased to host a live presentation by WREP – When Radio Entertained People on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. The event begins at 7:00pm.Take a seat and enjoy musical entertainment, then test your memory in the trivia c...
originally published: 07/21/2025
(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- Return to the era when families gathered around the wireless set for "theater of the imagination." The Ocean County Library Toms River Branch is pleased to host a live presentation by WREP – When Radio Entertained People on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. The event begins at 7:00pm.
Take a seat and enjoy musical entertainment, then test your memory in the trivia contest, all before episodes of My Friend Irma, Our Miss Brooks and Flywheel, Shyster and Flywheel, complete with sound effects.
WREP consists of 8 talented performers who re-enact scripts from radio’s “Golden Age” of the 1940s and 1950s. Michael Glenn Miller, who has entertained local audiences since 1972, leads the cast of professionals with backgrounds in television, film, and live theater.
The troupe has performed regularly at the Ocean County Library since its inception in 2008. Fans follow WREP on Facebook.
Please register at tinyurl.com/WREPOcl for this free program, generously sponsored by the Friends of the Ocean County Library – Toms River.
The Friends are volunteers who support the Library as a community resource through fundraising, programs and advocacy. New members are always welcome. Applications are available at all OCL branches and reading centers and on the OCL website.
For more information, visit the OCL Toms River Branch, 101 Washington Street, or call 732-349-6200. See the full schedule of library programs in the online Calendar of Events.
OCL turns 100 this year and you’re why they're celebrating! See details on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, Spotify, Pinterest and theoceancountylibrary.org.
Facing what it describes as a state-created financial crisis, the Toms River Regional School District says it plans to file for bankruptcy.The announcement came Monday night after the school board rejected a warning from the state Department of Education that the district must approve a 2025-26 budget or cease all operations.Toms River Regional has lost...
Facing what it describes as a state-created financial crisis, the Toms River Regional School District says it plans to file for bankruptcy.
The announcement came Monday night after the school board rejected a warning from the state Department of Education that the district must approve a 2025-26 budget or cease all operations.
Toms River Regional has lost a total of $175 million in state aid in recent years due to New Jersey’s revised school funding formula, according to district officials.
To stay afloat, the district has had to lay off 250 staff members, sell buildings, increase class sizes and hike taxes.
State officials told the district it would need to raise taxes again, this time by nearly 13% to balance next year’s budget — a move school leaders said they were unwilling to make.
“We cannot and will not acquiesce to the State Department of Education’s direction without severely undercutting an educational system that our taxpayers deserve,” Toms River Regional Board of Education President Ashley Lamb said in a statement.
“Our district has already endured devastating cuts — we’ve lost over 250 teacher and staff positions and seen class sizes increase to critical levels. Enough is enough," Lamb said.
The state Department of Education did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
The bankruptcy plan comes as the district continues to feud with state officials over school funding. Last year, Toms River Regional officials said they would sue the state, the Department of Education and the acting education commissioner for causing “a revenue crisis” that school officials describe as child abuse.
Toms River Regional is one of the largest school districts in New Jersey, serving about 14,500 students across 18 schools.
The district’s financial crisis has been building since 2018, when New Jersey overhauled its school funding formula — shifting aid away from “overfunded” districts to those historically underfunded. The change left districts like Toms River facing deep cuts.
On Monday night, the district’s financial crisis reached a breaking point. For the second time, the Toms River Board of Education unanimously voted to not pass a budget for the upcoming school year.
The decision came in direct defiance of a warning from the state Department of Education, which sent a letter to Toms River Regional Superintendent Michael Citta ahead of the meeting.
In the letter, obtained by the Asbury Park Press, the department said if the board failed to pass a budget, the district would be barred from spending any money or running educational programs starting July 1.
Despite the state’s warning, school officials said summer programs will begin this week and schools will continue to operate as planned.
And instead of raising taxes, the board voted to start the process of filing for Chapter 9 bankruptcy — a legal step that would give the district protection from creditors while it works on a debt adjustment plan, officials said.
“We will continue to attempt to engage the DOE in finding a solution that best serves our community,” Lamb said. “But make no mistake — we will not abandon our students or compromise their education while the state refuses to address the crisis they created."
Although the district received a $1.69 million increase in state aid this year, officials say it has still lost about 60% of its total state funding since 2018, when the revised formula began phasing in.
In April, the district proposed selling a district-owned building on Hooper Avenue, formerly used as an early learning center, for $15 million to help close budget gaps.
New Jersey’s school funding formula, fully implemented for the first time this year, was created to achieve what the state calls “full fairness.” But across the state, some districts have resorted to drastic measures to fill budget gaps caused by steep aid cuts — including raising property taxes, laying off staff and closing schools.
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TOMS RIVER, NJ — The Toms River Regional Board of Education is defying an order from the New Jersey Department of Education to shut down after the school board rejected the state's demand that it approve a budget for the 2025-26 school year.The state order came in a letter to Superintendent Michael Citta and board President Ashley Lamb dated June 30, hours before a special meeting Monday night, that demanded the board approve a budget immediat...
TOMS RIVER, NJ — The Toms River Regional Board of Education is defying an order from the New Jersey Department of Education to shut down after the school board rejected the state's demand that it approve a budget for the 2025-26 school year.
The state order came in a letter to Superintendent Michael Citta and board President Ashley Lamb dated June 30, hours before a special meeting Monday night, that demanded the board approve a budget immediately or "it is prohibited from expending any funds or operating any educational programs past today's date until a budget for FY26 is approved."
"Accordingly, the Board and Administration must initiate closure procedures and activities to ensure no funds are expended until a budget for FY26 is approved," according to the letter signed by David Corso, the assistant education commissioner and head of the department's Division of Financial Services.
Citta on Tuesday said the district is not halting its operations.
"Starting tomorrow (Wednesday) are the extended school year programs," Citta said. "We are not shutting down." Those programs are critical pieces of individualized education plans for special education students and are federally funded as well as receiving state funding.
A request for comment from the state Department of Education was not immediately answered.
Instead, the Toms River Regional School District will be filing for Chapter 9 federal bankruptcy protection and plans to continue its summer education programs, district officials said.
The board has refused to approve a budget for the 2025-26 school year due to its ongoing battle over state aid that has resulted in severe cuts to programs since the 2017-18 school year under S2, which was put into place to address what were alleged to be inequities in the distribution of state aid.
Initially imposed to remove so-called "adjustment aid" that a number of districts, including Toms River, had received in the wake of the introduction of the School Funding Reform Act of 2008, S2 resulted in deep cuts to districts across the state. In Toms River, the district has seen a cumulative loss of $175 million in state aid for student programs, while cutting more than 250 positions and selling off property, including the district's administration building at 1144 Hooper Ave.
For 2025-26, while the district received a 6 percent increase in aid over 2024-25, it was still left with a $22.5 million budget gap. In April districts with large gaps were informed they could obtain additional state aid if they agreed to exceed the state's 2 percent cap on property tax levies. Toms River applied to participate in that program, and while the state approved its measure that would increase the levy 12.9 percent, the Toms River school board later rejected its finalized budget, declining to impose that levy.
On Monday night in a statement read into the record, Lamb called the state's orders to cease operations and impose a 12.9 percent tax increase on top of the 9.3 percent increase in 2024-25 "illegal and immoral directives."
"This is unconscionable, especially when the state's own flawed funding formula has created this crisis by underfunding our district by $107 million," Lamb said.
The rejected budget of $293 million included $271 million in general fund spending — the part that funds the day-to-day educational activities of the district — along with debt service. The overall tax levy was $222,945,373, up from $193,201,141 for the 2024-25 budget. Those figures include the debt service payments from the bonds for the $147 million in capital projects throughout the district approved by voters in January 2019.
"We cannot and will not acquiesce to the State Department of Education's direction without severely undercutting an educational system that our taxpayers deserve," Lamb said. "Our district has already endured devastating cuts – we've lost over 250 teacher and staff positions and seen class sizes increase to critical levels. Enough is enough."
"While other districts received loans and state aid advancements, Toms River has been consistently denied such funding," Lamb said. "We've been forced to sell $20 million in assets just to keep our doors open while providing what we can only describe as 'survival' education to our students."
The Chapter 9 federal bankruptcy protection will provide the district protection from creditors while developing a debt adjustment plan, board attorney William Burns said.
"We will continue to attempt to engage the DOE in finding a solution that best serves our community," Lamb said. "But make no mistake – we will not abandon our students or compromise their education while the state refuses to address the crisis they created."
Additional reporting:
There is a growing mystery off Atlantic City Boulevard in Toms River, and I'm really hoping that you can help me out.Driving home from the radio station every day to my home in Ocean Gate, the drive gets kind of monotonous.I pass the same dispensaries, the same beer stores, the same restaurants, and watch the same aggressive drivers day in and day out.T...
There is a growing mystery off Atlantic City Boulevard in Toms River, and I'm really hoping that you can help me out.
Driving home from the radio station every day to my home in Ocean Gate, the drive gets kind of monotonous.
I pass the same dispensaries, the same beer stores, the same restaurants, and watch the same aggressive drivers day in and day out.
Thank God it's only a ten-minute commute, or I may snap!
But the other day, something caught my eye, and for the life of me, I can't figure out what this thing is going to be.
Located right in the middle of Mathis Plaza, a structure has been being erected over the past few days.
At first glance, it just looks like a wall... nothing too crazy, right?
But when you look at the picture a little more closely, you can see that there are indents in the side, almost like windows and doors are going to be cut out of it.
But the structure doesn't look wide enough for it to have anything or anyone inside, right?
Then I thought that since there's that farmers market in Mathis Plaza throughout the summer, maybe it's going to be a place for vendors to set up, or maybe store their items in between farmers' markets?
I see people throughout the week there working on whatever this mystery wall is, so I guess only time will tell what the purpose of this thing is.
If you have any idea what this is and can quench my thirst for knowledge, feel free to reach out at [email protected], because I'm at a loss.
TOMS RIVER -- An application for the township's first Orthodox Jewish high school is scheduled to be heard June 26 by the zoning board.Shia Weber/NJ Home Care has proposed converting the existing 9,500-square-foot building at 105 Sunset Avenue into a high school. The application needs a use variance as schools are not allowed in the rural residential zone where the 8.5-acre property is located.Toms River lawyer Robert C. Shea is representing Shia Weber/NJ Home Care.Use variances are the most difficult for an application ...
TOMS RIVER -- An application for the township's first Orthodox Jewish high school is scheduled to be heard June 26 by the zoning board.
Shia Weber/NJ Home Care has proposed converting the existing 9,500-square-foot building at 105 Sunset Avenue into a high school. The application needs a use variance as schools are not allowed in the rural residential zone where the 8.5-acre property is located.
Toms River lawyer Robert C. Shea is representing Shia Weber/NJ Home Care.
Use variances are the most difficult for an application to obtain as a developer or property owner must show that the proposed use is "inherently beneficial" to the town in order for such a change in zoning laws to be granted.
A healthcare facility for seniors is located on the property, which is set back from the road at the end of a long driveway. The property was purchased for $2,080,000 in February 2024, according to Ocean County Tax Records.
The property owner paid $26,127 in taxes on the land and building last year.
There are more than 2,000 Orthodox Jewish families in Toms River, and the community continues to grow, Orthodox leaders say. Last year, the zoning board approved the first two Orthodox Jewish synagogues, or shuls, on Stevens Road and on Whitesville Road, in the North Dover section of town.
Before the shuls' approval, Orthodox residents were worshipping in approximately 30 locations, mainly in private homes.
The Township Council agreed to change Toms River's religious zoning after entering into a consent decree with the Justice Department that ended a two-year federal investigation into Toms River's zoning laws regarding houses of worship.
Jean Mikle covers Toms River, Seaside Heights and several other Ocean County towns. She's also passionate about the Shore's storied music scene. Contact her: @jeanmikle, [email protected]
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