Bill Text: NJ AR82 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Urges municipalities, counties, and boards of education to meet regularly to discuss shared services and efficiencies.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2011-05-10 - Filed with Secretary of State [AR82 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2010-AR82-Introduced.html

ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 82

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

214th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED MAY 13, 2010

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  JON M. BRAMNICK

District 21 (Essex, Morris, Somerset and Union)

Assemblyman  JOSEPH CRYAN

District 20 (Union)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Urges municipalities, counties, and boards of education to meet regularly to discuss shared services and efficiencies.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


An Assembly Resolution urging municipalities, counties, and boards of education to meet regularly to discuss opportunities for shared services and efficiencies in the funding of local government.

 

Whereas, It has come to the attention of the General Assembly that not all municipalities, counties and boards of education have established regular, working relationships focused on the need and the responsibility to serve the taxpaying public in the most efficient and cost-effective manner through the sharing of goods and services between units of local government; and

Whereas, The problem of high property taxes paid by New Jersey's residents is not easily solved, but the effects of those high property taxes can be ameliorated through economies of scale and the sharing of goods and services between units of local government; and

Whereas, Current State budget constraints have greatly diminished the State's capacity to provide financial aid to municipalities and boards of education to fund local programs and services cherished by local taxpayers; and

Whereas, Oftentimes, the sharing of personnel or capital equipment between municipalities, counties, and boards of education will enable these units of local government to provide local services in a cost-effective, efficient manner, and in many cases will make available for other uses tax dollars that local units of government had previously expended to fund a program or service on their own; and

Whereas, These difficult economic times and the concerns of property taxpayers at every level of local government demand that municipalities, counties and boards of education must work efficiently and cooperatively to provide necessary services and fulfill government mandates so that the public health, safety and welfare will not be compromised until economic conditions improve and the economy stabilizes; and

Whereas, Local property taxpayers would benefit from a concerted effort by municipalities, counties and boards of education to meet and communicate with each other on a regular basis about their needs, their problems and their challenges in providing local services and programs, and this communication would likely lead to a sharing of services or collaboration of efforts between these governmental entities that will ameliorate local budget pressures and serve the taxpayers well; now, therefore,

 

     Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    The State's municipalities, counties, and boards of education are urged to meet with each other regularly to discuss shared services and efficiencies.  Every county governing body should organize and host at least one annual discussion between the county and the municipalities and boards of education functioning within the county with the goal of formulating, and communicating to each other, shared service opportunities within the county.  The local units of government within a county should cooperate with the county and with each other in creating opportunities for the sharing of services and in providing notice to each other of shared services opportunities.  The Department of Community Affairs in consultation with the Department of Education should provide guidance and assistance, where requested, to foster the sharing of services and collaboration of efforts to address local needs.

 

     2.    Copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested to by the clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to each municipality, county and board of education in the State, and to the Commissioners of Community Affairs and Education.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This resolution urges the State's municipalities, counties, and boards of education to meet with each other regularly to discuss shared services and efficiencies.  The resolution expresses the General Assembly's sentiment that every county governing body should organize and host at least one annual discussion between the county and the municipalities and boards of education functioning within the county with the goal of formulating and communicating shared service opportunities within the county.  The resolution suggests that local units of government within a county should cooperate with the county and with each other in creating opportunities for the sharing of services and in providing notice to each other of shared services opportunities.  The resolution also suggests that the Departments of Community Affairs and Education should provide guidance and assistance, where requested, to foster the sharing of services and collaboration of efforts to address local needs.

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