I. State Issues
a. State Shutdown Averted, SFY 2019 Budget Adopted
Late Sunday, Governor Phil Murphy signed into law the State’s FY 2019 budget after reaching a compromise the day before with Senate President Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Coughlin.
For more on this, please see the League’s July 2 Urgent Alert.
Contact: Michael F. Cerra, Assistant Executive Director, mcerra@njslom.org, 609-695-3481 x120.
b. S-5 Concerning PFRS Governance Signed into Law
On Tuesday, Governor Murphy signed S-5, regarding the governance of the Police and Fire Retirement System (PFRS.)
If you recall, the Governor previously conditionally vetoed this bill and this new law reflects his recommendations, which include a number of taxpayer protections such as the independent actuarial review, the setting of the rate of return by the State Treasurer and the maintenance of the Treasurer as the custodian of funds.
Please click here for the League’s May 10 Urgent Alert for a summary of the changes to S-5.
The League will continue its involvement as the new board organizes and convenes, regulations are proposed and adopted to help protect the public’s interests.
Contacts:
c. DLGS Certification of Calendar Year Municipal Budgets
We would like to call your attention to the Tuesday GovConnect notice, sent by the Department of Community Affairs, Division of Local Government Services (DLGS), to your municipal clerk, CFO and Tax Collector. This notice states that as a result of the change in school funding associated with the State’s newly adopted FY 2019 budget, that certain school districts will be receiving increased aid. Since the Department of Education has yet to name these districts, the DLGS will delay the certification of municipal budgets to the County tax boards.
Unfortunately, this could delay property tax bills across the state, extending the payment date while increasing administrative costs to municipalities. This is happening at the same time that municipalities have mandatory payment of the county and schools for the levy collection. The League is communicating these concerns to the respective state agencies and we would suggest advising your Legislators of the same.
Contact: Michael F. Cerra, Assistant Executive Director,
mcerra@njslom.org, 609-695-3481 x120.