40:43-66.76. Joint service program grant; application; limitations

Within 3 months from the date of consolidation, the governing body of the consolidated municipality shall, in accordance with the provisions of this section, file an application with the department for a joint service program grant to be paid out of the appropriations made pursuant to the "Interlocal Services Aid Act." The application shall include a 2-year schedule of anticipated expenses and such other information as may be required by the commissioner. State financial assistance shall be, insofar as adequate funds are available therefor, rendered for not more than 2 successive years for any extraordinary administrative and operating expenses incurred in the first 2 years of the consolidation by the applicant municipality for joint services compensable under that act, that would not have otherwise been incurred if the consolidation had not taken place; except that, such expenses shall not include costs which are considered capital costs as set forth in N.J.S. 40A:2-22.

The amount of the grant of assistance made pursuant to this section shall not exceed, for any 12-month period, $150,000.00 or, one-fourth of the appropriation made pursuant to the "Interlocal Services Aid Act" in the fiscal year in which said grant is to be made, whichever is the lesser amount. In addition, the commissioner may, at the end of the fiscal year, allocate to said municipality any unexpended and uncommitted moneys from the sums appropriated under the "Interlocal Services Aid Act" in order to provide such additional financial assistance for which the consolidated municipality would have been eligible if the aforesaid limitations were not in effect. Any such consolidated municipality shall have first claim on any moneys appropriated under the "Interlocal Services Aid Act" which have not been committed at the time of application. The commissioner shall reserve the necessary moneys for meeting the certified expenses of any such consolidated municipality. Reservation of moneys shall also be made at any time after the consolidation plan has been approved by the electorate and prior to the filing of an appropriate application, provided that a written request for such reservation is made by the concerned governing body or bodies.

Within 30 days of the receipt of an application from the consolidated municipality, the commissioner shall certify to the State Treasurer the amount of financial assistance to be provided hereunder to the consolidated municipality, and said amount shall thereupon be paid to the consolidated municipality. Payments of aid moneys shall be paid on a quarterly basis for the 2-year period by the State Treasurer in the manner set forth in section 8 (C. 40:8B-8) of the "Interlocal Services Aid Act," and all such moneys expended by the consolidated municipality shall be certified by the commissioner in accordance with paragraph (3) of section 7 (C. 40:8B-7d(3)) of said act.

L.1977, c. 435, s. 42, eff. March 1, 1978.