Toms River passes school referendum

Voters in the Toms River Regional school district passed a $147 million school repair referendum tonight with nearly 58% of the vote.

With 88% of the districts reporting, the referendum passed by a margin of 1,814 votes — 6,641 to 4,827.

Toms River passed the bond issue with 56%.   Beachwood passed it with 69% , Pine Beach with 60%, and South Toms River with 73%.

The bond measure is expected to increase the average property tax bill by about $140 per year.

About 15% of voters turned out for the special school referendum election.

Ocean County Republican Chairman George Gilmore, indicted by a federal grand jury earlier this month on tax evasion charges, participated in a Board of Elections conference call this evening regarding the election.  Gilmore is chairman of the Board of Elections.