27:15-1.14. Additional amount annually from motor vehicle revenues for construction and reconstruction of municipal roads

A. Exclusive of the sum set aside in accordance with the provisions of section 27:15-1 of the Revised Statutes, there shall be set aside annually on October first, as soon thereafter as available from the net receipts of the motor vehicle revenues in the General State Fund the sum of two million one hundred thousand dollars ($2,100,000.00), which shall be used to meet the State's share of the cost of the work hereinafter in this section prescribed during the calendar year next ensuing the setting aside of such sum. Payments from these amounts shall be made in the same way as other payments from the motor vehicle revenues.

B. The State Highway Commissioner shall reserve from the sum set aside in accordance with the provisions of subsection A of this section the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) to meet the State's share in each county during such ensuing calendar year. The sum so reserved shall be made available by the State Highway Commissioner to the several municipalities in such county in the manner prescribed in this section, for the construction or reconstruction of municipal roads.

C. Any municipality may on its own motion apply to the State Highway Commissioner for aid in construction or reconstruction under this section. The application shall be on such form as the commissioner shall prescribe and may be passed by resolution of the governing body of the municipality at any meeting. It shall set forth the road or roads on which it is proposed that the work shall be done and the beginning and ending points of such work, and the amount of money the governing body may be authorized to spend on such work, including contributions thereto. The State Highway Commissioner shall decide which of such applications in any county will best serve the interests of the municipality, county and State. He shall, upon approval of any such application, notify the governing body of the municipality of the same and shall thereupon enter into a written agreement with such municipality for the necessary planning and surveying and for the actual work and the inspection thereof.

D. The total of all sums made available to all municipalities in any county under the provisions of this section shall in no calendar year, except as otherwise provided in subsection G of this section, exceed the said sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) reserved to meet the State's share in such county during such year.

E. All work undertaken by any municipality in which all or any part of the State aid provided for in this section is used shall be performed in accordance with such standards as the State Highway Commissioner shall prescribe.

F. The State's share of the cost of any work undertaken pursuant to the provisions of this section shall not exceed ninety per centum (90%) of the total cost of such work.

G. If in any calendar year any part of the said one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) reserved to meet the State's share in any county during such year remains uncommitted, the sum so remaining at the expiration of such calendar year shall be reserved by the commissioner for application by the municipalities within such county, in accordance with the provisions of this section, during any of the three calendar years next ensuing; and the sum so reserved shall, unless distributed to the municipalities in such county in accordance with the provisions of this section within such three calendar years, lapse and become part of the motor vehicle revenues in the General State Fund.

H. When an application and agreement for State aid under the provisions of this section have been submitted to the commissioner, and work or services contemplated under the provisions of this section have been authorized by the governing body of the municipality, and part of the work has been done or services have been rendered and estimates or bills covering the cost thereof have been submitted to said governing body and to the commissioner and approved by the commissioner, the commissioner shall, within the limits prescribed in this section, pay the proportionate share of the cost of the estimate or bill as set forth in the application and agreement; provided, the application and agreement for State aid to the municipality have been approved by the commissioner and funds have been allotted to the proposed work. No estimate or bill shall be paid until the work or services are first approved by the commissioner.

I. Upon notification by the State Highway Commissioner of approval of its application for State aid under the provisions of this section, as provided for in subsection C hereof, the municipality may request the board of chosen freeholders of the county wherein such municipality is situated to perform any or all of the work proposed to be performed on the part of such municipality with the allotment of State aid to be available to such municipality pursuant to such approved application, whereupon such board of chosen freeholders shall, if it agrees to so perform such work, enter into a written agreement with such municipality. Such agreement shall set forth the work to be performed by such board and the amounts, exclusive of State aid available to such municipality for such work pursuant to such approved application, to be borne by the board and municipality respectively. The amount required to be so borne by the municipality shall be paid by it to the board prior to the commencement of such work. Upon receipt by such municipality of any amounts of State aid disbursed by the State Highway Commissioner for such work, pursuant to the provisions of this section, such municipality shall thereupon pay the same forthwith to said board of chosen freeholders. Any such agreement entered into between said board and municipality pursuant to the provisions of this subsection, shall become effective only upon approval thereof by the State Highway Commissioner, whereupon the work of said board required pursuant to such agreement shall be performed by it in accordance with such regulations as the State Highway Commissioner shall prescribe.

L.1947, c. 62, p. 210, s. 15. Amended by L.1948, c. 460, p. 1889, s. 1.