Bill Text: NJ A5655 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Appropriates $87,783,515 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and various Green Acres funds to DEP for local government open space acquisition and park development projects, and for certain administrative expenses.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 29-9)
Status: (Passed) 2023-06-30 - Approved P.L.2023, c.88. [A5655 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-A5655-Chaptered.html
An Act appropriating $87,783,515 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues and various Green Acres funds to assist local government units to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and for certain administrative expenses and concerning open space preservation and recreational development.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. As used in this act:
"Constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues" means corporation business tax revenues dedicated pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution in the "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund" for the acquisition or development of lands by local government units for recreation and conservation purposes in accordance with the provisions of P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.).
"Densely or highly populated municipality" means a municipality with a population density of at least 5,000 persons per square mile, or a population of at least 35,000 persons, according to the latest federal decennial census.
"Densely populated county" means a county with a population density of at least 5,000 persons per square mile according to the latest federal decennial census.
"Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" means the fund established pursuant to section 19 of P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-19).
"Green Acres bond act" means P.L.2009, c.117, P.L.2007, c.119, P.L.1995, c.204, P.L.1992, c.88, P.L.1989, c.183, P.L.1987, c.265, and P.L.1983, c.354.
"Highly populated county" means a county with a population density of at least 1,000 persons per square mile according to the latest federal decennial census.
"Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund" means the fund established pursuant to section 6 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-48).
"Stewardship activity" means the same as the term is defined in section 3 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-45).
2. There is appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection the following sums for the purpose of providing grants or loans, or both, to assist local government units to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes pursuant to section 4 of this act and for the purpose of providing grants or loans, or both, to assist local government units to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes pursuant to section 5 of this act:
a. $81,361,250 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues. Of the amount appropriated pursuant to this subsection, the sum of $255,000 is available due to interest earnings on the constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues; and
b. $2,153,515 from the "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" and any Green Acres fund established pursuant to a Green Acres bond act, made available due to loan repayments and interest earnings.
3. a. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund" the sum of $85,630,000 to implement the provisions of this act.
b. Of the amount appropriated pursuant to subsection a. of this section, the sum of $4,268,750 is appropriated from the "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund" to the Department of Environmental Protection for the purposes of paying administrative costs associated with administering the applicable provisions of P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.).
4. a. The following planning incentive acquisition projects to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT COUNTY PROJECT APPROVED AMOUNT
Oakland Boro Bergen Boro of Oakland Open Space $700,000
& Recreation Plan
River Vale Twp Bergen Watershed Property Acquisition 66,650
Burlington County Burlington Planning Incentive 1,000,000
Evesham Twp Burlington Planning Incentive 1,000,000
Camden County Camden Open Space Plan 1,500,000
Livingston Twp Essex Open Space Acquisition 700,000
Verona Twp Essex Verona Open Space Acquisition 700,000
Gloucester County Gloucester Open Space Plan 1,400,000
Washington Twp Gloucester Open Space & Recreation Project 270,000
Bethlehem Twp Hunterdon Open Space Plan Implementation 400,000
Lebanon Twp Hunterdon Lebanon Twp 350,000
Preservation Priorities
Raritan Twp Hunterdon Land Acquisition Plan 700,000
Union Twp Hunterdon Union Twp Open Space Plan 700,000
Hamilton Twp Mercer Hamilton Township 1,050,000
Open Space Acquisition
Hopewell Twp Mercer Hopewell Open Space Acquisition 500,000
Lawrence Twp Mercer Open Space Plan Acquisition 272,167
Pennington Boro Mercer Pennington Greenbelt 300,000
Planning Incentive
Princeton Boro Mercer Princeton Open Space Acquisition 700,000
Robbinsville Twp Mercer Green Links Program 700,000
West Windsor Twp Mercer West Windsor Planning Incentive 700,000
Middlesex County Middlesex Middlesex County 1,280,000
Open Space Acquisition
North Brunswick Twp Middlesex North Brunswick Plan 1,050,000
Monmouth County Monmouth Planning Incentive Acquisition 1,750,000
Millstone Twp Monmouth Millstone Planning Incentive- 700,000
Project Evergreen
Madison Boro Morris Madison Boro 500,000
Open Space Acquisition
Ocean County Ocean Planning Incentive Grant 1,400,000
Brick Twp Ocean Open Space & Recreation Plan 1,200,000
Manchester Twp Ocean Planning Incentive 1,050,000
Passaic County Passaic Open Space Plan Acquisitions 1,750,000
Somerset County Somerset County Open Space Acquisition 1,400,000
TOTAL $25,788,817
b. The following standard acquisition projects to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT COUNTY PROJECT APPROVED AMOUNT
Wood-Ridge Boro Bergen Wood-Ridge Recreation $750,000
Complex Acquisition
TOTAL $750,000
c. The following site-specific incentive acquisition projects to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT COUNTY PROJECT APPROVED AMOUNT
Mansfield Twp Burlington Land Acquisition $700,000
TOTAL $700,000
GRAND TOTAL $27,238,817
5. a. The following projects to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, located in municipalities eligible to receive State aid pursuant to P.L.1978, c.14 (C.52:27D-178 et seq.) either as of June 30, 2021 or the effective date of this act, or sponsored by densely populated counties, are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT COUNTY PROJECT APPROVED AMOUNT
Pleasantville City Atlantic Bayview Avenue $1,190,000
Waterfront Park
Bergenfield Boro Bergen PAL Field Lighting 455,000
Improvement Project
Cliffside Park Boro Bergen Honor Park 621,460
Redevelopment Project
Garfield City Bergen Columbus Park Improvements 1,260,000
Hackensack City
Bergen Columbus & Carver Park 843,416
Improvements
Mount Holly Twp Burlington Iron Works Park Improvements 900,000
Gloucester City Camden Johnson Park Improvements 830,000
Gloucester Twp Camden Playground Improvements 586,521
Pennsauken Twp Camden Pennsauken Pool Complex 654,000
Vineland City Cumberland Romano Complex Improvements 1,400,000
Essex County Essex Weequahic Park Improvements 1,807,550
Bloomfield Twp Essex Clarks Pond South & 396,381
Vassar Field Improvements
Irvington Twp Essex Center Playground Civic 276,310
Square Park Improvements
Newark City Essex Broadway Park 1,400,000
Nutley Twp Essex Monsignor Owens 528,755
Park Improvements
Orange City Twp Essex Metcalf Park Improvements 481,590
Woodbury City Gloucester Francis Avenue 597,200
Park Improvements
Hudson County Hudson Laurel Hill Park Phase IV 1,500,000
Harrison Town Hudson Cape May Street Waterfront Park 1,400,000
Hoboken City Hudson Southwest Park Development 1,400,000
Jersey City Hudson Leonard Gordon Park 600,000
Improvement Project
Weehawken Twp Hudson Weehawken Recreation Pier 997,988
& Bridge Project
Trenton City Mercer Assunpink Greenway 1,400,000
Park Development
Carteret Boro Middlesex Arthur Kill River Walk North 1,400,000
Old Bridge Twp Middlesex Cottrell Farm Park Development 1,400,000
Perth Amboy City Middlesex Raritan Riverfront Park 1,300,000
Woodbridge Twp Middlesex Dog Park & Marina Improvements 1,285,113
Clifton City Passaic Nash Park Improvements 1,400,000
Passaic City Passaic Third Ward Veterans 1,400,000
Memorial Park Improvements
Paterson City Passaic Westside Park Improvements 1,400,000
Salem City Salem Salem City Pool 46,203
Recreational Area
Plainfield City Union Rushmore Ave. Rec. Complex 1,400,000
- Phase II
Roselle Boro Union Warren Street Park Development 1,011,408
TOTAL $33,568,895
b. The following projects to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, located in densely or highly populated municipalities or sponsored by highly populated counties, are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT COUNTY PROJECT APPROVED AMOUNT
Egg Harbor Twp Atlantic Tony Canale $1,050,000
Park Improvements
Bergen County Bergen Riverside County Park South 1,750,000
Edgewater Boro Bergen Edgewater Dog 172,068
Park Improvements
Elmwood Park Boro Bergen Elmwood Drive Park 269,619
Improvement Project
Englewood City Bergen Mackay Park 364,300
Revitalization Project
Fairview Boro Bergen Columbus Park 330,000
Improvements Project
Fort Lee Boro Bergen Inwood Terrace Park 475,000
Improvements Project
North Arlington Boro Bergen Allan Park Improvements 222,813
Teaneck Twp Bergen Herrick Park 750,000
Improvements Project
Riverside Twp Burlington Spring Garden Park Upgrade 340,500
Mercer County Mercer Fields and Lighting at 1,750,000
Mercer County Park
Freehold Boro Monmouth Musgrave Park 115,883
Improvements Project
Keyport Boro Monmouth Fireman's Park Improvements 900,000
Prospect Park Boro Passaic Hofstra Park 754,250
Playground Improvements
Union Twp Union Bill Kilb Park Improvements 297,280
TOTAL $9,541,713
c. The following standard park development projects are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT COUNTY PROJECT APPROVED AMOUNT
Hamilton Twp Atlantic Liepe Recreation $700,000
Complex Expansion
Burlington Twp Burlington Improvements at 700,000
Green Acres II Park
Morris Twp Morris Collinsville Playground 562,000
Tucker Field
TOTAL $1,962,000
d. The following projects for stewardship activities are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT COUNTY PROJECT APPROVED AMOUNT
Oradell Boro Bergen Lotus Woods Nature $80,213
Walk Improvements
Saddle River Boro Bergen Rindlaub Park Trail & 291,964
Streambank Restoration
Evesham Twp Burlington Passive Park 71,252
Improvements
Belleville Twp Essex Rifle Range 141,750
Preserve Project
Harrison Town Hudson Cape May Street 1,400,000
Waterfront Park
Hamilton Twp Mercer Sayen Gardens 310,364
Restoration Project
Morristown Town Morris Burnham Park Lower 900,000
Pond Restoration
Passaic County Passaic Lambert Castle 500,000
Landscape Restoration
Fanwood Boro Union Fanwood Nature Center 82,672
Rescue Initiative
TOTAL $3,778,215
e. The following projects for completely inclusive playgrounds, pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2018, c.104 (C.13:8C-27.1), are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act:
COUNTY PROJECT APPROVED AMOUNT
Bergen County Riverside County Park South $1,000,000
Inclusive Playground
Burlington County Nature Playground 1,000,000
Camden County Jake's Place at New Brooklyn Park 1,000,000
Cumberland County Completely Inclusive Playground 1,000,000
at County Library
Hudson County Inclusive Playground at JJ Braddock 1,000,000
Middlesex County Inclusive Playground at 750,000
David B. Crabiel Park
Ocean County Eno's Pond County Park 771,750
Inclusive Playground
Passaic County Camp Hope Inclusive Playground 903,375
TOTAL $7,425,125
GRAND TOTAL $56,275,948
6. a. Any transfer of funds, or change in project sponsor, site, or type, listed in section 4 or 5 of this act shall require the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor.
b. To the extent that moneys remain available after the projects listed in section 4 or 5 of this act are offered funding pursuant thereto, any project of a local government unit that previously received funding appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, or the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund for recreation and conservation purposes, or that receives funding approved pursuant to this act, shall be eligible to receive additional funding, as determined by the Department of Environmental Protection, subject to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor.
7. a. There is reappropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection the unexpended balances, due to project withdrawals, cancellations, or cost savings, of the amounts appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, or the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund to assist local government units to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, for the purposes of providing:
(1) grants or loans, or both, to assist local government units to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, for projects approved as eligible for such funding pursuant to this act; and
(2) additional funding, as determined by the Department of Environmental Protection, to any project of a local government unit that previously received funding appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, or the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund for recreation and conservation purposes or that receives funding approved pursuant to this act, subject to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor. Any such additional funding provided from a Green Acres bond act may include administrative costs.
b. There is appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection such sums as may be, or may become, available on or before June 30, 2023, due to interest earnings or loan repayments in any "Green Trust Fund" established pursuant to a Green Acres bond act or in the "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund," for the purpose of providing:
(1) grants or loans, or both, to assist local government units to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, for projects approved as eligible for such funding pursuant to this act; and
(2) additional funding, as determined by the Department of Environmental Protection, to any project of a local government unit that previously received funding appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, or the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund for recreation and conservation purposes or that receives funding approved pursuant to this act, subject to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor. Any such additional funding provided from a Green Acres bond act may include administrative costs.
8. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law or regulation to the contrary, amounts appropriated from the General Fund in State Fiscal Year 2024 for payments to municipalities in lieu of taxes for lands acquired by the State and non-profit organizations for recreation and conservation purposes shall be provided only to municipalities whose payments received in fiscal year 2010 exceeded $5,000 and shall be provided at 83 percent of the payment amount provided in fiscal year 2010, subject to the approval of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting.
9. This act shall take effect immediately.
Approved June 30, 2023.
