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We wish you and your loved ones a joyous holiday season and a prosperous New Year.
We anticipate the upcoming week to be a very quiet week in Trenton and Washington D.C., therefore we will not be issuing a Weekly Roundup on December 30. If an issue or matter does arise, we will send out an alert.
State Issues
SHBP Municipalities: Reach Out to Governor & Your Legislators
In less than two weeks, the 379 municipalities participating in the State Health Benefits system, along with their employees, and ultimately their taxpayers, will have to fund a 22% increase in health benefits costs. It is imperative that the Governor and your legislators hear directly from you about the negative impacts this increase will have on your budget, your employees, and your taxpayers. Even with the 19.6% levy cap and 17.6% appropriation cap exemptions for the increased cost to health benefits, municipalities must fund this increase.
The New Jersey League of Municipalities, the New Jersey Conference of Mayors, the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association, and the New Jersey Association of Counties continue to work with other interested stakeholders, including the major public sector union representatives, to address the unsustainable 22% increase in 2023 for the State Health Benefits Plan (SHBP) municipalities.
Recognizing that the increase over the previous plan year is $350 million, we are seeking immediate financial relief by providing local governments with grants to fully off-set the increase, with savings shared with the public employees. Further, we call on the Plan Design Committee and State Health Benefits Commission to implement long-term and permanent savings.
It is rare that unions and management are completely on the same page. However, this unprecedented coalition representing both labor and management has come together as one because the stakes are so high.
Please take action immediately. With so little time remaining, it is critical for Mayors and elected officials in municipalities that participate in the SHBP to directly reach out to your Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA) contact in the Governor’s office and reiterate to your Legislators the need for an acceptable resolution of these newly imposed costs on municipal and county governments, our public employees, and taxpayers. If you have already reached out, please do so again–we need their attention and action.
Contacts: - Mike Cerra, Executive Director, mcerra@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x120.
- Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director & Director of Government Affairs, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112.
Division Issues Guidance on CY 2023 Budget Matters
The Division of Local Government Services issued Local Finance Notice 2022-22 regarding calendar year 2023 budget matters.
The statutory deadlines for budget introduction and adoption have been revised. Municipal budgets must be introduced by March 31, instead of February 10, and adopted by April 28, instead of March 20. The Mayor/Council Faulkner Act budget transmission to governing body must be by February 27, instead of January 17. Regardless of the revised dates, a budget may be adopted anytime within 10 days of receiving the Director’s certification of approval of the budget. The Division has cautioned that “municipalities and counties that fail to timely adopt their budget risk imposition of statutory penalties.”
If your municipality deferred charges for COVID Special Emergencies adopted in 2020 and 2021, the 2023 budget must include the second installment. The deferred charge can be excluded from both the appropriation and levy caps.
For 2023 the health insurance levy cap is 19.6% and the appropriation cap is 17.6%. As a reminder, the health insurance cap is based upon an average State Health Benefits increase which is 21.6% for 2023.
We suggest you review this Local Finance Notice with your chief financial officer and administrator.
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director & Director of Government Affairs, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112.
LEAP Grants Now Available
The Division of Local Government Services and the Shared Services Czars recently announced that LEAP Challenge Grants and LEAP County Coordinator Fellowship Grants are due no later than March 15, 2023.
LEAP Challenge Grants allocates funds to the most compelling projects that supports efficiency-generating shared services. The grant program is designed to promote innovation among peer communities and counties and challenges local governments to collaborate on more extensive partnerships. The grants provide reimbursement for qualifying expenses incurred in the study or development of shared services programs and services under the Uniformed Shared Services and Consolidation. For more information on the LEAP Challenge grant we suggest you review the guidelines and application.
LEAP Implementation Grants, which provide for funding to assist in covering the cost associated with shared services implementation, are on a rolling application process. However, applicants are reminded that limited funding is available under the applicable FY2023 budget appropriation, and awards under the FY2023 funding cycle must be made on or before June 30, 2023. Applicants are encouraged to submit a completed application package by March 15, 2023 to ensure consideration for awards under the FY 2023 funding cycle. The grant is also available for reimbursement of costs associated with school consolidation and countywide school district studies that support the creation of meaningful and implementable regionalization plan.
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director & Director of Government Affairs, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112.
Senate Judiciary Committee Hears Testimony on Car Theft Prevention
On December 19, the Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony from invited guests concerning the increase in motor vehicle thefts in New Jersey over the last two years and consider a package of legislation.
Invited guests included Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella and Chief Detective Jason Love, New Jersey State Police Major Larry Williams, Deputy Attorney General Joseph Giordano, and Alexander Shalom, ACLU Senior Supervising Attorney and Director of Supreme Court Advocacy.
During their testimony, Prosecutor Musella and Detective Love shared the car theft encounters law enforcement have dealt with in Bergen County. They noted that the total number of auto theft cases has decreased to under 1,000 cases from the previous year, but the crimes have become more violent. They expressed their support for all the bills that were heard in committee aimed at curbing automotive theft.
Williams, Deputy Attorney Giordano, and Shalom all gave similar testimony points when before the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee. For more information on their testimony please our blog post.
Contact: Andrew LaFevre, Legislative Analyst, alafevre@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x116.
Department of Treasury Releases Russia-Belarus List
P.L. 2022, c. 3, which prohibits government dealings with businesses associated with Belarus and Russia, requires the New Jersey Department of Treasury to develop a list of companies it determines engage in prohibited activities associated with Russia or Belarus. The list must be updated at least every six months. On December 8 the Department issued an updated list of the 157 entities engaged in prohibited activities under the law.
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director & Director of Government Affairs, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112.
NJ Receives Federal “Internet for All” Grant from BIL
This week, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that New Jersey received its first “Internet for All” grants for deploying high-speed internet networks and developing digital skills training programs. New Jersey is receiving $6.09 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to plan for the deployment and adoption of affordable, equitable, and reliable high-speed internet service throughout the state.
New Jersey’s Planning Grants
Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD)
The BEAD Program provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment, and adoption programs. New Jersey will receive $4.92 million to fund various activities including:
Research and data collection, including initial identification of unserved locations and underserved locations. Publications, outreach, and communications support. Technical assistance to potential subgrantees, including through workshops and events. Surveys of unserved, underserved, and underrepresented communities to better understand barriers to adoption.
Digital Equity
The Digital Equity Act provides $2.75 billion to establish three grant programs to ensure that all people and communities have the skills, technology, and capacity needed to reap the full benefits of our digital economy. The first part of NTIA’s execution of the Digital Equity Act is to fund digital equity planning efforts. New Jersey will receive $1.17 million to fund various activities including:
Closing the digital equity gap and the development of a Statewide Digital Equity Plan. Staff recruitment and development. Community and stakeholder engagement.
Internet for All
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes a $65 billion investment to expand affordable and reliable high-speed internet access in communities across the U.S. NTIA recently launched a series of new high-speed internet grant programs funded by the law that will build high-speed internet infrastructure across the country, create more low-cost high-speed internet service options, and address the digital equity and inclusion needs in our communities.
Additionally, the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households. Visit AffordableConnectivity.gov to learn more. For more information on the high-speed internet service programs, please visit InternetforAll.gov
We will advise once more information on the programs become available.
Contact: Paul Penna, Senior Legislative Analyst, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110. |
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Federal Issues
Federal Budget Update
On Thursday, the Senate, by a vote of 68-29 passed the FY2023 federal budget. As of this writing on Friday morning, the House is expected to pass the budget bill. The $1.7 trillion document funds all governmental departments through September 2023, the end of the federal fiscal year. Also passed by both chambers was another short-term Continuing Resolution to allow enough time for the Omnibus bill to be sent to President Biden for his signature so that funding for the government does not lapse.
Items of municipal interest included in the budget are $770 million in federal grants for local law enforcement and approved Community Directed Spending that individual congressional members requested. The full list of included projects will be forthcoming in the next few days.
Also, the ARPA Flex legislation, which the League and our federal partners at the National League of Cities (NLC) advocated for, passed the Senate, and may be considered in the House. It provides technical assistance to municipalities in filing their Project and Expenditure Reports in the State and Local Fiscal Relief Fund (SLFRF) in the American Rescue Plan Act. The League wants to thank the municipalities that reached out to their members of the New Jersey U.S. House delegation that advocated for the ARPA flexibility.
Contact: Paul Penna, Senior Legislative Analyst, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110.
RAISE Grant Funding and Upcoming Webinars Set
The next round of U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program is now open. $1.5 billion in competitive grant funding is available for a broad range of infrastructure projects and planning activities.
This program helps communities around the country carry out road, rail, transit, and port projects with significant local or regional impact. Projects should improve safety, equity, climate, and sustainability.
Examples of projects that local governments may consider include:
Bridge and road projects Intermodal transportation projects Stormwater prevention, including replacing/rehabilitating culverts Planning and pre-construction activities
While no dates have been set, DOT will be hosting a series of webinars in the coming weeks.
We also highly recommend discussing your potential projects with the Metropolitan Planning Organization, which can be a critical partner in getting your project added to the State Transportation Improvement Plan and are an excellent resource for technical assistance and planning as well. In New Jersey according to the US DOT the Metropolitan Planning Organizations are the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), North Jersey Transportation Authority (NJTPA), and South Jersey Transportation Organization (SJTPO).
The application deadline is February 28, 2023.
Contact: Paul Penna, Senior Legislative Analyst, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110.
FCC Grant Opportunity and National Broadband Map Challenge Deadlines Approaching
Recently, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced a funding opportunity for the Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program and the process to challenge the FCC’s National Broadband Map.
Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program
The FCC announced two separate notices of funding opportunities for the Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program (ACP). The Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program expands innovative outreach efforts to increase ACP awareness and enrollment specifically to reach historically unserved and underserved populations. The League wrote a blog post about this funding opportunity earlier this year. As a reminder, the application deadline is January 9.
FCC National Broadband Map: Challenge Process for Local Governments
On November 18, the FCC released the first iteration of the National Broadband Map. This map is an important tool that will impact targeted funding and other efforts to bring broadband to unserved and underserved communities. Therefore, the need for accurate data where broadband service is available and not available has never been of greater importance. Of note, the release of the map also kicks off the public fixed availability challenge process, which will play an important role in ensuring the map's data is accurate across local communities.
The League’s federal partner, the National League of Cities, wrote a blog post about submitting a challenge. A key data tool (dashboard) is linked in the blog where local leaders can look up their municipal data compared to other metrics specific to their individual community. NTIA announced the deadline to submit challenges to be incorporated into the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) allocations is January 13.
Contact: Paul Penna, Senior Legislative Analyst, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110.
White House Releases Inflation Reduction Act Clean Energy Guidebook
Last week, the White House released the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Guidebook of Clean Energy provisions in the law. This guidebook provides an overview of the clean energy, climate mitigation and resilience, agriculture, and conservation-related tax incentives and investment programs in the IRA, including who is eligible to apply for funding and for what activities.
League staff reviewed the 183-page guidebook and created a condensed version that highlights programs for which municipalities are eligible to apply.
We encourage you to review the League’s condensed version and the full IRA Guidebook with your municipal manager.
Contact: Paul Penna, Senior Legislative Analyst, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110. |
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Also of Interest
Show Off Your City Contest Deadline Feb. 3
The Annual Show Off Your City Contest is accepting entries through February 3. Municipalities are invited to send us photos of their tourist attractions, downtown areas, economic development initiatives, parks, city halls, community groups, special moments, and new projects.
Entries will be posted on the League’s Facebook page, website, and some will be featured in the April issue of NJ Municipalities, and possibly other issues. The winner will also receive a free League publication of their choice!
Photos can be submitted via the form on the league website, email to aspiezio@njlm.org, or mailed on a flash drive to 222 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608.
For full details, visit the Show Off Your City Contest webpage
Contact Amy Spiezio, Ext.123, or aspiezio@njlm.org
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Post Conference
Continuing Education Unit (CEU) Tracking System
How to Print Your 2022 CEU Certificates
Session Certificates are accessible online until May 1, 2023. Access your certificates here.
System Procedures for 107th Annual NJLM Conference
Printing Instructions:
Login to the CEU Tracking System. Enter your Registrant ID or your last name and zip code. When prompted Enter in Your License Number (if applicable). Complete the evaluation form for the first session you attended by clicking “Take Eval.” Once you have completed the evaluation form hit “submit.” This will take you back to the main session page. Once you have taken the evaluation, you can print your certificate by hitting “Print.” Once on the print screen, you have the option to “Print My Certificate” or “Email My Certificate.”
8. After you print or email your certificate the screen should return to the session list.
If it doesn’t, simply click the “View Credits” tab at the top right of your screen. 9. Repeat steps 3-7 for each session you have attended.
PACLE Credit Form (PDF)
2021 Conference CEUs
The 2021 Annual League Conference Tracking System has closed. If you have any questions, please contact Danielle Holland-Htut at 609-695-3481, Ext. 118. |
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