This bill mandates the Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs to create a grant program aimed at enhancing the efficiency of local government units in New Jersey. The program will provide financial assistance to municipalities, counties, and other political subdivisions to hire management enhancement review consultants who will conduct efficiency reviews and recommend ways to streamline operations and reduce costs. To qualify for the grants, local government units must submit detailed applications outlining their proposed use of the funds, including the amount requested, how the funds will facilitate an efficiency review, and potential sources of matching funding. The maximum grant amounts are set at $150,000 for county-based units and $100,000 for municipal-based units, with a requirement for the local government to contribute 25% of the grant amount.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that participating local government units must report back within a year of receiving the grant, detailing their expenditures, the efficiencies achieved, and any cost savings realized. The Director is tasked with compiling these reports into a comparative profile that will be publicly accessible online. The bill also appropriates $1.5 million from the General Fund to support the grant program, ensuring that local governments have the necessary resources to improve their operational efficiency.