Bill Text: NJ A2759 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Authorizes special emergency appropriations for the payment of certain expenses incurred by municipalities and counties to implement municipal consolidation, the sharing of services, and the creation of a joint meeting under certain circumstances.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-05-10 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee [A2759 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-A2759-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JACK M. CIATTARELLI
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman O'Scanlon
SYNOPSIS
Authorizes special emergency appropriations for the payment of certain expenses incurred by municipalities and counties to implement municipal consolidation, the sharing of services, and the creation of a joint meeting under certain circumstances.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning expenses related to the consolidation of municipalities, the sharing of services among municipalities and counties, and the creation of joint meetings by municipalities and counties, and amending N.J.S.40A:4-53 and P.L.2007, c.63.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. N.J.S.40A:4-53 is amended to read as follows:
40A:4-53. A local unit may adopt an ordinance, or resolution, as appropriate, authorizing special emergency appropriations for the carrying out of any of the following purposes:
a. Preparation of an approved tax map.
b. Preparation and execution of a complete program of revaluation of real property for the use of the local assessor, or of any program to update and make current any previous revaluation program when such is ordered by the county board of taxation.
c. Preparation of a revision and codification of its ordinances.
d. Engagement of special consultants for the preparation, and the preparation of a master plan or plans, when required to conform to the planning laws of the State.
e. Preparation of drainage maps for flood control purposes.
f. Preliminary engineering studies and planning necessary for the installation and construction of a sanitary sewer system.
g. Authorized expenses of a consolidation commission established pursuant to the "Municipal Consolidation Act," P.L.1977, c.435 (C.40:43-66.35 et seq.).
h. Contractually required severance liabilities resulting from the layoff or retirement of employees. Such liabilities shall be paid without interest and, at the sole discretion of the local unit, may be paid in equal annual installments over a period not to exceed five years.
i. Preparation of a sanitary or storm system map.
j. Non-recurring expenses incurred by a municipality to implement a consolidation with another municipality, or municipalities, pursuant to the "Municipal Consolidation Act," P.L.1977, c.435 (C.40:43-66.35 et seq.); the sparsely populated municipalities law, P.L.1995, c.376 (C.40:43-66.78 et seq.); sections 25 through 29 of the "Uniform Shared Services and Consolidation Act," P.L.2007, c.63 (C.40A:65-25 through C.40A:65-29); or N.J.S.40A:7-1 et seq., in the case of a consolidation effectuated through the annexation of land comprising an entire municipality or entire municipalities, to another municipality.
k. Non-recurring expenses incurred by counties and municipalities to implement shared service agreements pursuant to sections 4 through 13 of the "Uniform Shared Services and Consolidation Act," P.L.2007, c.63 (C.40A:65-4 through C.40A:65-13), or joint meeting agreements pursuant to sections 14 through 24 of the "Uniform Shared Services and Consolidation Act," P.L.2007, c.63 (C.40A:65-14 through C.40A:65-24.
l. Non-recurring expenses incurred by counties and municipalities that participate in a joint meeting agreement, to implement the agreement, pursuant to sections 14 through 24 of the "Uniform Shared Services and Consolidation Act," P.L.2007, c.63 (C.40A:65-14 through C.40A:65-24).
A copy of all ordinances or resolutions as adopted relating to special emergency appropriations shall be filed with the director.
(cf: P.L.2010, c.46, s.1)
2. Section 21 of P.L.2007, c.63 (C.40A:65-21) is amended to read as follows:
21. The cost of acquiring, constructing, and operating any public improvements, works, facilities, services, or undertakings, or any part thereof, or implementing a joint meeting agreement, as determined by the management committee, shall be apportioned among the participating local units as provided by the joint contract. Each local unit shall have power to raise and appropriate the funds necessary therefor in the same manner and to the same extent as the local unit would have if it were acquiring and constructing the same for itself, including the power to authorize and issue bonds or other obligations pursuant to the "Local Bond Law," N.J.S.40A:2-1 et seq., and the power to issue special emergency notes for non-recurring expenses incurred by the local units to implement joint meeting agreements as authorized by subsection l. of N.J.S.40A:4-53. The management committee shall certify to the participating local units the cost of the acquisition or construction, as well as the apportioned shares thereof, within 15 days after its action thereon.
(cf: P.L.2007, c.63, s.21)
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would authorize counties and municipalities, by ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, to authorize special emergency appropriations for the payment of non-recurring expenses incurred by that municipality or county to:
· implement a consolidation with another municipality, or municipalities, pursuant to the "Municipal Consolidation Act," P.L.1977, c.435 (C.40:43-66.35 et seq.); the sparsely populated municipalities law, P.L.1995, c.376 (C.40:43-66.78 et seq.); or sections 25 through 29 of the "Uniform Shared Services and Consolidation Act," P.L.2007, c.63 (C.40A:65-25 through C.40A:65-29); or N.J.S.40A:7-1 et seq., in the case of a consolidation effectuated through the annexation of land comprising an entire municipality or entire municipalities, to another municipality;
· to implement shared service agreements pursuant to sections 4 through 13 of the "Uniform Shared Services and Consolidation Act," P.L.2007, c.63 (C.40A:65-4 through C.40A:65-13), or joint meeting agreements pursuant to sections 14 through 24 of the "Uniform Shared Services and Consolidation Act," P.L.2007, c.63 (C.40A:65-14 through C.40A:65-24);
· or to participate in a joint meeting agreement to implement the agreement, pursuant to sections 14 through 24 of the "Uniform Shared Services and Consolidation Act," P.L.2007, c.63 (C.40A:65-14 through C.40A:65-24).
The bill would also require that the cost to municipalities and counties of implementing a joint meeting agreement shall be apportioned among the participating local units by the management committee. The bill further authorizes the issuance of special emergency notes for non-recurring expenses incurred by counties and municipalities to implement joint meeting agreements as permitted by subsection l. of N.J.S.40A:4-53.
Under current law, special emergency appropriations are paid for through the issuance of "special emergency notes," which must be paid off in five years. The use of special emergency appropriations, and the issuance of special emergency notes to fund the non-recurring costs and expenses associated with the consolidation process, the sharing of services, or the creation of a joint meeting for the provision of a service, will allow municipalities and counties to more quickly begin to experience the financial savings of those actions by spreading the effect of the non-recurring costs associated with those actions over a five-year period.
