Tax Levy, Spending, and Surplus Usage All on the Rise in Toms River
TOMS RIVER — Mayor Daniel Rodrick has repeatedly assured residents that taxes are not going up — but the numbers in his own municipal budget tell a very different story.
According to public records, the tax levy in Toms River — the amount the township collects from residents in property taxes — has risen steadily every year since 2020. At the same time, overall spending (appropriations) has increased by more than $10 million in just two years. And perhaps most troubling of all, Mayor Rodrick is now using $3 million more in surplus this year than last — a tactic often used to cover up the true impact of rising costs.
The Tax Levy Has Gone Up — Every Single Year
| Year | Tax Levy |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $82,690,095.02 |
| 2021 | $87,468,599.23 |
| 2022 | $88,115,061.65 |
| 2023 | $88,536,066.71 |
| 2024 | $88,998,245.15 |
Despite public claims to the contrary, these figures show that Toms River taxpayers are contributing $6.3 million more in 2024 than they did in 2020.
Township Spending Also Up Sharply
Rodrick’s administration has also presided over a surge in total municipal spending. Appropriations — the amount Toms River plans to spend in a given year — have ballooned:
| Year | Total Appropriations |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $139,298,694.72 |
| 2021 | $141,130,151.18 |
| 2022 | $139,249,399.06 |
| 2023 | $147,437,688.67 |
| 2024 | $149,373,395.18 |
That’s $10 million more in spending in just two years — raising serious questions about fiscal discipline and long-term planning.
A Dangerous Reliance on Surplus Funds
In an attempt to make his budget appear balanced, Mayor Rodrick is dipping deeper into the township’s surplus fund — using $20.3 million this year compared to $17.3 million last year.
| Year | Surplus Used |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $18,089,973.10 |
| 2021 | $18,260,416.89 |
| 2022 | $17,384,410.35 |
| 2023 | $17,338,750.00 |
| 2024 | $20,320,150.00 |
This $3 million spike in surplus usage is not just a budget maneuver — it’s a warning sign. Once that surplus is gone, residents could be hit with steep tax hikes to make up the difference.
The $5.5 Million “Cut” That Doesn’t Exist
Mayor Rodrick has also claimed that he “cut $5.5 million” from the budget. But that claim doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. The township’s own financial records show that spending is going up, not down. There is no $5.5 million reduction — just the opposite. This supposed cut is nothing more than political theater, designed to distract from the truth that the budget is growing and the burden on taxpayers is increasing.
Rodrick’s “No Tax Increase” Narrative Falls Apart
Mayor Rodrick’s repeated insistence that he is not raising taxes is not only misleading — it’s demonstrably false. The tax levy is up. Spending is up. Surplus usage is up. What’s not up? Transparency.
Instead of confronting these facts, the Rodrick administration continues to deflect, deny, and distort the financial reality facing taxpayers. Residents deserve better — and they deserve the truth.
As one local taxpayer put it: “You can’t say taxes aren’t going up when we’re all paying more. That’s not leadership. That’s spin.”
