Ocean County Braces for 4.5% Tax Levy Increase in 2026

TOMS RIVER, NJ – Energy bills, gas prices, food prices and insurance premiums aren’t the only new increased expenses for Ocean County residents in 2026. As local Republican leaders rail against the Democrat party’s influence on the latter, they are also raising taxes in Ocean County and in such a difficult time, they are massively expanding the county’s public information office, something far from a necessity.

First, let’s get something straight. They will tell you there is no tax increase and that the tax rate remained stable. Local governments always try to confuse taxpayers with two terms, tax rates and tax levies.

Tax Rate vs. Tax Levy

The ter...