Saying his office has received numerous letters and emails from residents, Mayor Tom Kelaher joined the chorus of local officials decrying the state school funding formula that clipped $2.4 million from its budget this year, and an estimated $5 million next year.

School board officials said the cuts will continue over the next seven years, and amount to a $70 million negative impact.

The mayor’s office on Aug. 13 released the letter it has sent in response to those residents who’ve contacted his office. The school district has promised a fight against the cuts and is urging residents to contact their local and state legislators.

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Toms River Regional School Superintendent David Healy, in his own public letter, said residents need to tell legislators that “enough is enough.” School officials warned staffing and program cuts, elimination of courtesy busing and intramural sports, and larger class sizes are all possibilities in the coming school years.

“Remind them that our district leaders have not just highlighted a problem, but offered a solution in the form of a clear and feasible blueprint for fair funding. Ask them why they’ve ignored it. Tell them that we can no longer sustain these cuts and continue to provide the efficient, comprehensive education we are entrusted to deliver,” wrote Healy. “Tell them that enough is enough. Remind them that the future of our children and community is at stake. Demand that they restore our state aid in full and encourage them to, finally, fix the state education funding formula so that school aid is distributed fairly to all districts.”

In his letter response to the letter writing campaign, Kelaher said he and the township council condemn the school aid cuts, but that the solution lies with the state who needs to alter its funding formula. He urges residents to contact state legislators.