COUNTY REORGANIZATION MEETINGS On December 7th, NJAC testified before the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism, and Historic Preservation Committee in support of S-4081 (Beach D-6/Diegnan D-18), which would allow boards of county commissioners to hold annual reorganization meetings at additional locations other than the Superior Court. NJAC commends senators Beach and Diegnan for their leadership in introducing this legislation on behalf of the Association as one of our top legislative priorities to close the 2022/23 legislative session. Under current law, county governments must hold ...

Over the past few months, NJAC has been meeting with State leaders to discuss our legislative goals for the remainder of the 2022/23 session with the following two matters concerning online legal notices and county reorganization meetings as our top priorities. ONLINE LEGAL NOTICES ISSUE: NJAC is urging State leaders to pass legislation that would provide local governing bodies with the opportunity to electronically publish legal notices in a newspaper’s website or digital publication. In general, current law requires purchasing officials, clerks of the boards, planning departments, improvem...

BAN ON THE SALE OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is accepting comments on Governor Murphy’s plan to prohibit the sale of vehicles with internal combustion engines by 2035. You may review the proposed rules in their entirety by visiting  https://dep.nj.gov/rules/notice-of-rule-proposals/20230821a/ and may submit comments  by the close of business on October 20, 2023. In general, the proposed rules would incorporate by reference California’s Advanced Clear Car II (ACC II) regulation, which will require manufacturers of passenger cars an...

NJAC is advocating for the following legislative goals during the remainder of the 2022/23 session as they would help county governments across the State operate in a more efficient and effective manner. LEGAL NOTICES ISSUE: NJAC is urging State leaders to pass legislation that would provide local governing bodies with the opportunity to electronically publish legal notices in a newspaper’s website or digital publication. In general, current law requires purchasing officials, clerks of the boards, planning departments, improvement authorities, and several others to publish onerous written in...

HEALTH BENEFITS INCREASES Late yesterday, AON released its “Plan Year 2024 Rate Setting Recommendation Analysis” for local governments participating in the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP), which includes a total premium rate change increase of 7.4% as follows: “The recommended rate change for Local Government Actives is a 7% increase for medical and a 19.9% increase for the prescription drug premium rates, for a total increase of 7.3%. The recommended rate change for Local Government Early Retirees is a 2% increase for medical and a 20.8% increase for the prescription drug prem...

PROHIBITION OF PRIVATIZATION CONTRACTS On June 15th, NJAC testified before the Assembly Labor Committee in opposition to A- 5430 ((Reynolds-Jackson D-15/Wimberly D-35), which would establish procedures and standards concerning public services privatization contracts. NJAC is primarily concerned with the fact that this legislation would effectively prohibit the use of privatization contracts by requiring county governments to pay new employees’ wages and benefits at a rate not less than the wages and benefits paid to displaced employees. As noted below, counties enter into privatization contr...

PFRS BENEFIT ENHANCEMENT On May 15th, Governor Murphy conditionally vetoed S-3090 (Gopal D-11/Lagana D- 38)(DeAngelo D-14), which would provide for a retirement allowance after 20 years of service regardless of age for members of the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS). NJAC along with the New Jersey State League of Municipalities (NJLM) and the Government Finance Officers Association of New Jersey (GFOA) oppose this legislation and appreciate the Governor taking steps to protect the long-term health and viability of the pension system. The Governor’s conditional veto states in part...

Earlier this week, NJAC testified before the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee concerning Governor Murphy’s proposed Fiscal Year 2024 State Budget where the Association noted its support for full funding of the State’s retirement systems along with monies to offset health benefit premium increases imposed on local governments participating in the State Health Benefit Program (SHBP) and 911 funding for all 21 counties. HEALTH BENEFITS The Association contends that the $200.0 million in federal pandemic relief funds included in the Governor’s proposed budget and intended to mitigate t...

PFRS BENEFIT ENHANCEMENT On March 20th, NJAC, the New Jersey State League of Municipalities (NJLM), and the Government Finance Officers Association of New Jersey (GFOA) testified in opposition to S- 3090/A-4498 (Gopal D-11/Lagana D-38)(DeAngelo D014) before the Senate Budget and Appropriations and Assembly State and Local Government committees. In summary, this legislation would provide for a retirement allowance after 20 years of service regardless of age for members of the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS). NJAC is primarily concerned with the facts that this legislation would ...

HEALTH BENEFIT INCREASES In light of the fact that the Administration and State Legislature have yet to agree on providing any immediate financial relief or long-term structural reforms to address the 24% increase in health benefit expenses imposed by the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP), NJAC is exploring the possibility of establishing county health insurance funds in the northern, central, and southern regions of the State as permitted under current law. According to information shared by PERMA Risk Management Services, the advantages of health insurance funds include: the ownership a...