The bill amends Section 3 of P.L.1976, c.68 (C.40A:4-45.3) to exclude salaries and wages for emergency response personnel from the municipal appropriations cap. This category of personnel includes police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and members of ambulance teams, rescue squads, or mobile intensive care units. Currently, municipalities are required to limit budget increases to 2.5% or the cost-of-living adjustment, whichever is lower, but there are exceptions for certain expenditures. The bill adds the salaries and wages of emergency response personnel to this list of exceptions, allowing municipalities to allocate funds for these essential services without being constrained by the appropriation cap.

The bill's provisions will take effect immediately and will apply to municipal budgets adopted after the effective date. By including emergency response personnel salaries as an exception, the bill aims to ensure that municipalities can adequately fund these critical services, which are vital for public safety and emergency management.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 40A:4-45.3