Toms River Ordinance Aimed at Paring Down Debt

Toms River Township's debt will be reduced under an ordinance approved Tuesday that cancels unfunded debt authorizations, officials said.

An ordinance on the books from 2012 for past tax appeals authorized the township council to bond $6.9 million, but only about $5.2 million was expended, leaving a balance of $1,620,000.

The refunding ordinance cancels the $1.6 million balance so that the unexpended money may be credited to the township's capital surplus fund, and unfunded debt authorizations may be cancelled.

"Every time we meet as a governing body, we have an opportunity for further belt-tightening in our government," said Council President George Wittmann. "This will lower the overall municipal debt and anytime we can do that, we should."