18A:64A-17. Method of fixing amounts necessary for operation and capital outlay expenses of college; certification; apportionment between participating counties

18A:64A-17. On or before February 1 in each year, the board of trustees of the county college shall prepare and deliver to each member of the board of school estimate an itemized statement of the amount of money estimated to be necessary for the operation and capital outlay expenses for the ensuing year. Said board of trustees shall, at the same time, fix a date, place and time for the holding of a public hearing by the board of school estimate with respect to said itemized statement of the amount of money estimated to be necessary for the operation and capital outlay expenses for the ensuing year and with respect to the various items and purposes for which said money is to be appropriated, which date shall be between February 1 and February 15 and which date shall be not less than seven days after the publication of said itemized statement as herein provided and shall cause notice of such public hearing and said statement to be published at least once in at least one newspaper published in the county not less than seven days prior to the date fixed for such public hearing, and said notice shall also set forth that said itemized statement will be on file and open to examination of the public, between reasonable hours to be fixed therein, and, at a place to be named therein, from the date of said publication until the date of the holding of said public hearing and said board of trustees shall cause said itemized statement to be on file and open to the examination of the public accordingly and to be produced at said public hearing for the information of those attending the same.

On the date and at the time and place so fixed by the board of trustees for such public hearing, the board of school estimate shall at a public hearing grant the taxpayers and other interested persons an opportunity to present objections and to be heard with respect to said itemized statement of the amount of money estimated to be necessary for the operation and capital outlay expenses for the ensuing year and with respect to the various items and purposes for which said money is to be appropriated and at or after said public hearing but not later than February 15 of each year, the board of school estimate shall fix and determine, by official action taken at a public meeting of the board, the amount of money necessary for the operation and capital outlay expenses of the college for the ensuing year, exclusive of the amount to be received from the State and from other sources.

The board of school estimate shall, on or before February 15 of each year, make a certificate of such amount signed by at least a majority of its members. Copies thereof shall be delivered to the board of trustees of the college and to each participating board of chosen freeholders.

In the case of a county college established by more than one county, the amount to be raised for the annual operation and capital outlay expenses shall be apportioned among the participating counties upon the basis of apportionment valuations, as defined in R.S.54:4-49. In the case of a county college joinder created pursuant to N.J.S.18A:64A-24 subsequent to the enactment of P.L.1998, c.140, the amount to be raised for the annual operation and capital outlay expenses may be apportioned among the participating counties upon the basis of apportionment valuations, as defined in R.S.54:4-49; or, upon the basis of unweighted student credit hours; or upon the basis of any combination of apportionment valuations and unweighted student credit hours. The certificate of the board of school estimate shall certify the proportioned part of the total to be raised by each participating county. In the case of a county college joinder created pursuant to N.J.S.18A:64A-24 subsequent to the enactment of P.L.1998, c.140, operational expenses shall include any facility use fee or other charge which may be agreed upon by the participating counties and the board of trustees upon the approval of a majority of the members of the board of school estimate.

L.1967, c.271; amended 1994, c.48, s.130; 1998, c.140, s.1.