Bill Text: NJ S3133 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Prohibits municipal library trustees from transferring donated funds to municipality.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-12-01 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee [S3133 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-S3133-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JOSEPH F. VITALE
District 19 (Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Prohibits municipal library trustees from transferring donated funds to municipality.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning certain surplus municipal free library funds, amending R.S.40:54-15 and R.S.40:54-19.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. R.S.40:54-15 is amended to read as follows:
40:54-15. a. The board of trustees shall make an annual report to the chief financial officer of the municipality which shall include a statement setting forth in detail all public revenues received by the library, all State aid received by the library, all expenditures made by the library and the balance of funds available. Notwithstanding the requirements of R.S.40:54-8 pertaining to the amount required to be raised and appropriated for library purposes, the annual report shall identify excess funds that the board is required to approve and transfer to the municipality as miscellaneous revenue. The excess funds transferred shall be any amount that exceeds the sum of the amount of the audited operating expenditures of the library for the most recent available year, plus an additional 20% of those operating expenditures, excluding: (1) funds restricted for capital projects and grants; and (2) any devise, bequest, or donation made to establish or maintain the free public library, to be maintained as surplus. The annual report shall also include an analysis of the state and condition of the library and shall be sent to the municipal governing body and to the State Library. The State Librarian shall prescribe by regulation the form of all such reports.
b. (1) Except as limited in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the board of trustees of a municipal free library shall adopt a resolution of its intent to transfer excess funds to the municipality, as identified in its annual report pursuant to subsection a. of this section.
(2) The board of trustees of a municipal free library established after the effective date of P.L.2008, c.8 shall not adopt a resolution of intent pursuant to this subsection before the eighth budget year following its establishment.
c. Once the board of trustees has adopted a resolution of intent pursuant to subsection b. of this section, it shall forward the resolution to the State Librarian for approval, along with any other information required by the State Librarian and in accordance with procedures and forms promulgated by the State Librarian in consultation with the Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs. The State Librarian shall approve any resolution upon a determination that all of the following provisions are met:
(1) the municipal free library will still retain a sum equal to the amount of the audited operating expenditures of the library for the most recent available year plus an additional 20% of that amount, excluding: (a) funds restricted for capital projects and grants; and (b) any devise, bequest, or donation made to establish or maintain the municipal free library, to be maintained as surplus;
(2) the municipality and the municipal free library are in compliance with all conditions imposed by rule or regulation promulgated by the State Librarian for per capita library aid to public libraries according to the "state library aid law," N.J.S.18A:74-1 et seq., and pertaining to appropriations for the maintenance of a municipal free library according to R.S.40:54-8 or section 2 of P.L.1959, c.155 (C.40:54-29.4) in the case of a joint free public library;
(3) there are sufficient funds remaining in the municipal free library's operating budget for the maintenance of the library for the balance of the fiscal year in which the transfer of funds to the municipality occurs; and
(4) the library board of trustees has a written plan of at least three years that reflects that the long-term funding needs of the library will be met, and that any capital expense will contribute to the provision of efficient and effective library services, and that the written plan has been approved by the State Librarian.
d. Upon approval of its resolution of intent by the State Librarian pursuant to subsection c. of this section, the board of trustees shall cause the amount of the excess funds identified in its resolution to be transferred to the municipality.
(cf: P.L.2010, c.83, s.1)
2. R.S.40:54-19 is amended to read as follows:
40:54-19. The board of trustees may receive, hold and manage any devise, bequest or donation heretofore made or hereafter to be made and given for the establishment, increase or maintenance of a free public library within the municipality. Any devise, bequest, or donation made pursuant to this section shall not be deemed surplus or transferred by the board of trustees, pursuant to the provisions of R.S.40:54-15, to the municipality.
(cf: R.S.40:54-19)
3. This act shall take effect immediately and be retroactive to October 27, 2010.
STATEMENT
This bill would prohibit the board of trustees of a municipal free library from transferring funds donated to the library to the municipality served by the library. P.L.2010, c.83 admirably sought to provide property tax relief to the overburdened New Jersey property taxpayer by requiring a municipal free library to turn over any excess funds to the municipality for use by the municipality for municipal purposes. Excess funds are currently defined as any funds in excess of 120% of the funds necessary to meet the library's operating expenses, excluding funds restricted for capital projects.
Many residents of New Jersey have had their lives touched by libraries and the hard work of the dedicated librarians who serve the people of this State. Some of these residents generously choose to donate or bequeath money to a library as thanks for the multitude of services the library provides. These funds should be dedicated solely for the use by which they were intended by the donor, the support and maintenance of the municipal free library. This bill would ensure that the benevolent intentions of the donor are respected and the funds they donate continue to be used exclusively for library purposes.
The provisions of this bill are retroactive to October 27, 2010, the effective date of P.L.2010, c.83.
