$12 Million in Bond Ordinances Up for Vote Tonight

Several bond ordinances before the council tonight will help repair aging bulkheads, buy new public works vehicles, and complete other capital projects, but the measures would also add a combined $12 million in bond debt to the township.

Toms River Township Council will decide whether to approve the series of ordinances at its meeting tonight, 6 p.m. in .

There’s multiple bond ordinances up for vote:

• $350,000 for golf course utility improvements at Municipal Golf Course.
• $450,000 for Skating Rink parking lot improvements.
• $4.669 million for drainage and bulkhead  projects.
• $3.369 million for various equipment purchases.
• $3.469 million for capital improvements.

While several residents took issue with the spending, calling for leaner measures and less debt load, council members said they supported the measures.

Council President Mo Hill said the projects are needed, and that as the township adds more debt it is also retiring $8 million in higher-interest bonds, which will cushion the debt load the township faces, he said.

Township Administrator Paul Shives said two of the ordinances — Bey Lea and Winding River — address issues at the two authorities, which are self-liquidating authorities in the township.

However, the other ordinances address issues that are long term and necessary, Shives said.
“These are one-hit, once-every-20-years projects,” Shives said. “They have a long life.”

Though the council heard public comment in a hearing for each of the ordinances, the council tabled the vote until tonight’s meeting because the state Department of Community Affairs had failed to provide its stamp of approval on the bond ordinances in time for the meeting.

Township Clerk Mark Mutter said after the meeting that the delay has happened often in his time as clerk, saying that the DCA often requires extra time between first reading of the ordinance and the second reading.

As a result, the council will vote tonight on the ordinances.