Lori Buckelew, Senior Legislative Analyst

New Jersey League of Municipalities

Ms. Buckelew, appearing on behalf of League Executive Director Bill Dressel, updated the mayors on issues involving the N.J. League of Municipalities, including these legislative concerns:

  • League representatives testified before an assembly committee in support of a bill that would have some energy taxes currently collected by the state paid directly to the municipalities involved. This a League priority for 2013.
  • The State Senate passed a bill that would compel municipalities to share services and impose penalties if local voters turn down initiatives. The Assembly is considering a companion bill. The League opposes this legislation.
  • The State Senate passed a bill that would require certain municipal user fees to be included in the 2% property tax levy. Similar measures are pending in the Assembly. The League opposes these bills.
  • The State Legislature continues to discuss bills to amend the Open Public Meeting Act. The League opposed the legislation currently being circulated.
  • A Senate bill would prohibit any municipality that accepts federal Sandy-related funding from charging beach fees and would require the provision of free public toilets during beach season. The League has criticized this proposal and opposed similar bills in the past.
  • The League is supporting bills that would clarify the obligation of certain corporations to continue paying Business Personal Property Tax to municipalities.
  • The League opposes bills that would exempt private colleges from local zoning requirements.

You can find more detailed information in the League update, which also includes updates on League concerns with regulatory and judicial issues. Click here for the update (note: this is an 11-page pdf file and may take some time to download).

Also, during the meeting, the mayors approved OCMA Resolution 2013-01OCMA Resolution 2013-01 in opposition to N.J. Senate Bill 2368, which could limit the ability of shore municipalities to fund future beach maintenance efforts.

The Ocean County Mayors’ Association has been found tax exempt by the IRS. Donations are deductible. Documentation of this determination and related financial disclosure documents are available for public examination. The Ocean County Mayors’ Association has been found tax exempt by the IRS. Donations are deductible. Documentation of this determination and related financial disclosure documents are available for public examination.

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