Letter To The Editor: $14M Toms River Firehouse Proposal 'Frivolous,' Council Candidate Says

The following is a letter to the editor from Justin Lamb, who is seeking the Ward 1 Township Council seat in Toms River:

"As a volunteer firefighter for over a decade, I feel more than qualified to discuss the Board of Fire Commissioners' frivolous proposal to purchase a new, and incredibly expensive, firehouse. It’s time to call out waste and to demand transparency from the present leadership, who continue to ignore the biggest problem facing our residents: higher taxes.

At the budget hearing on April 18th, the Township Council claimed they could not find a penny to spare, suggesting deep budget cuts and pay freezes – and now we’re hearing about the proposed purchase and construction of a new, $14 million firehouse. Is the Township Council really this tone deaf? Let’s quickly evaluate the spending proposal, and see if Mark Twain’s maxim holds true – that 'figures don’t lie, but liars figure.'

The first and most obvious concern is the project’s astronomical $14 million price tag. Such a proposal seems rather untimely, as the Township Council regularly reminds us of the gaping holes in the tax base. Early estimates, based on a rough architect’s sketch, indicate funding the project would cost the 'average' household an additional $40 in annual property taxes. Using the term 'average' household should be of great concern to taxpayers in Ward 1, as many of our homes, both on the barrier island and on the mainland, fall well above the 'average' home value in the township, resulting in a largely disproportionate tax impact for our homeowners.

The theoretical plans for this proposed firehouse present several more issues. Sure, the present firehouse on Water Street is exposed to flooding. But does that justify the preposterous square footage – 33,000 square feet, to be exact – in the proposal, including second and third floors? The second floor has been earmarked for “executive offices,” while there’s been no mention of plans for the third floor. However, they do propose a future plan of sleeping quarters should the township pivot to a paid fire service. As a proud volunteer firefighter, I find the talk of a paid fire service an insult to our dedicated and capable volunteers serving at present.

As a candidate for Toms River's Ward 1 council seat, I hope to fill the gaping hole which new projects can then be evaluated. We must take a stand against hypocrisy and higher taxes, and reject this wasteful expenditure."

Justin Lamb, Toms River