December 30, 2020

I. President Signs Omnibus Funding and COVID-19 Relief Legislation
II. Print Your CEU Certificates from the 2020 NJLM Virtual Conference
III. Online Opportunities for Education for Your Licensed and Elected Officials

Municipal Clerks: Please forward to your Mayor, Governing Body and Department Heads.

To assist in providing guidance and information we have created a Covid-19 resource page. We will continue to update the page as we get pertinent information and include announcements in our Daily Updates.

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I. President Signs Omnibus Funding and COVID-19 Relief Legislation

Despite his previous requests that Congress amend the Omnibus Spending and COVID-19 Relief Bill to increase stimulus payments from $600 to $2,000, President Trump signed the bill on Sunday night with no changes, after many features of the CARES Act law expired on Christmas Day and averting a government shutdown beginning Monday evening.

As previously reported, there is no direct state and local relief in this package, but the funding in the relief package includes:

$25 billion for rental assistance,
$325 billion in small business aid ($284 billion of which is another round of modified PPP loans, along with $20 billion in Economic Injury Disaster Loan Advance Program funding and $15 billion to support closed performance and entertainment venues),
$45 billion for transportation, including $14 billion in additional transit support, $10B in additional surface transportation block grant funding that can be used directly by communities above 200,000 and across the state, as well as an additional $2 billion for primary and general aviation airports,
$54.3 billion for public K-12 schools, $10 billion for childcare (funding the Child Care & Development Block Grant and Head Start),
$13 billion for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,
$7 billion for broadband ($3.2 billion of which is dedicated to a low-income broadband emergency subsidy for households, and another $300 million for rural broadband), and
$4.25 billion to provide increased mental health and substance abuse services and support, including $1.65 billion for the Substance Abuse and Prevention Treatment Block Grant.

The deadline to utilize existing CARES funding will be extended by a year from December 2020 to December 2021 and an extension of unemployment benefits of up to $300 per week.

Contact: Paul Penna, Legislative Analyst, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, ext.110

II. Print Your CEU Certificates from the 2020 NJLM Virtual Conference

The tracking system from the 2020 NJLM Virtual Conference is now open. To print your certificates visit the Tracking System webpage.

The system will be available until May 1, 2021.

III. Online Opportunities for Education for Your Licensed and Elected Officials

a. An Online Orientation for Municipal Officials That are Newly Elected, Reelected, or Experienced

Saturday, January 9, 2021 or Saturday, January 23, 2021
9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location: Your Computer

This orientation for municipal officials who are newly elected, reelected, or experienced is fast-paced and designed to quickly bring officials up-to-date on important municipal issues. Elected officials will get a thorough overview of their major areas of responsibility, key contacts at the State level, and important sources of information and assistance.

Registration Information for January 9 Newly Elected Orientation or January 23 Newly Elected Orientation

b. Budgeting for the Elected Official: Everything you Need to Know to Create, Balance, and Approve Your Municipalities’ Budget

Saturday, March 6, 2021
8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
The Conference Center at Mercer
1200 Old Trenton Road
West Windsor, NJ 08550

Creating and approving a feasible budget is one of the most important tasks of an Elected Official. It is also one of the most complex and time-consuming tasks. To aid in this endeavor, the League has created a special half-day program geared towards Elected Officials to help them in understanding the Municipal Budgeting Process.

COVID-19 may force us to alter this program to meet Health Guidelines. Keep checking the League website for more details.

Registration Information for Budgeting For Elected Officials

c. 29^th Annual Mayors Legislative Day

Friday, April 16, 2021
8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
The State House Annex
Committee Room 4
West State Street
Trenton, New Jersey

The Mayors' Legislative Day is a unique occasion for local leaders to interact with individuals who are responsible for setting the agenda for the Covid-19 pandemic, Property Tax Reform, Affordable Housing, Pension and Health Benefits Reform, Transportation, and Utility Issues. It is also a great way to hear, first hand, about the State’s legislative agenda from Administration officials and key members of the Senate and Assembly. Following the Panel Discussion and Hall of Fame Inductees Ceremony, local leaders will have an opportunity to ask State Leaders questions that directly impact their municipalities.

Covid-19 may force us to alter this program to meet Health Guidelines. Keep checking the League website for more details.

Registration Information for Mayors Legislative Day

More programming to come! Continue to check the League seminar page!