This bill amends various sections of New Jersey law to enhance local unit budget processes and operations. Key changes include extending the deadline for mayors and municipal managers to submit their recommended budgets from January 15 to February 28, and for local governing bodies to introduce and adopt annual budgets from January 26 to March 31 for counties and February 10 to March 31 for municipalities. The bill also increases the time frame for annual audits from six months to eight months after the fiscal year ends and raises personal penalties for governing body members who fail to comply with budget responsibilities from $25 to $100 per day. Additionally, it allows for the adoption of annual budgets to be extended to April 30 for both counties and municipalities, and it increases the permissible amount of a temporary budget from 26.25% to 35% of the previous year's total appropriations.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a 90-day deadline for filling vacancies in key budget-related positions, with provisions for extensions by the Director of the Division of Local Government Services. It emphasizes transparency by requiring that adopted budgets be made available for public inspection online, including budgets from the previous three years. The bill also grants the director authority to initiate reviews of local unit professionals and to extend deadlines for mailing estimated property tax bills under certain circumstances. Overall, these amendments aim to improve the efficiency, accountability, and transparency of local government budget processes in New Jersey.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 40A:5A-15, 40A:9-28.4, 40A:9-133.5, 40A:9-140.10, 40A:9-145.5, 40A:9-154.6, 40A:11-9, 54:4-66.3, 54:4-66.4