40A:12A-57. Application for issuance of negotiable bonds, obligations secured by payments in lieu of taxes, special assessments

9. a. The municipality may, by resolution of the governing body, authorize the municipality to apply to the authority for the authority to issue negotiable bonds or other obligations secured by payments in lieu of taxes and special assessments. Bonds so issued shall be for the purpose of financing or refinancing the construction, reconstruction, repair, alteration, improvement, and development of any on-site or off-site infrastructure improvements, or parking or transportation facilities, or work that reduces, abates or prevents environmental pollution, or other improvements that provide a public benefit within or to a landfill reclamation improvement district.

b. A municipality that has created a landfill reclamation improvement district pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1995, c.173 (C.40A:12A-52) may, by resolution of its governing body, enter into contracts with the authority relating to any project or projects for the purpose of financing or refinancing the construction, reconstruction, repair, alteration, improvement, and development of any on-site or off-site infrastructure improvements, or parking or transportation facilities, or work that reduces, abates or prevents environmental pollution, or other improvements that provide a public benefit within or to a landfill reclamation improvement district. A resolution so adopted shall contain findings and determinations of the governing body: (1) that the project will result in the closure and remediation of a landfill and create employment opportunities in the municipality; and, (2) that the contract with the authority is a necessary inducement to the undertaking of the project in that the contract makes the financing thereof feasible. The contract or contracts may provide for the assignment, for the benefit of bondholders, of all or any portion of payments in lieu of taxes and special assessments. A contract may be made and entered into for a term beginning currently or at some future or contingent date, and with or without consideration, and for a specified or unlimited time, and on any terms and conditions which may be requested by the municipality and as may be agreed to by the authority in conformity with its contracts with the holders of bonds, and shall be valid and binding on the municipality. The municipality is hereby authorized and directed to do and perform any contract so entered into by it and to provide for the discharge of any obligation thereunder in the same manner as other obligations of the municipality.

Any contract, and any instrument making or evidencing the same, may be pledged or assigned by the authority, with the consent of the municipality executing the contract, to secure its bonds and thereafter may not be modified except as provided by the terms of the instrument or by the terms of the pledge or assignment.

c. The payments in lieu of taxes and special assessments may be assigned directly to the authority or the trustee for the bonds as payment or security for the bonds. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the assignment shall be an absolute assignment of all the municipality's right, title, and interest in the payment in lieu of taxes and special assessments, or portion thereof, along with the rights and remedies provided to the municipality under the agreement including, but not limited to, the right of collection of payments due. Payments in lieu of taxes and special assessments shall not be included in the general funds of the municipality, nor shall they be subject to any laws regarding the receipt, deposit, investment or appropriation of public funds and shall retain such status notwithstanding enforcement of the payment or assessment by the municipality or assignee as provided herein. The municipality shall be a "person" within the meaning of that term as defined in section 3 of P.L.1974, c.80 (C.34:1B-3); and the purpose described in this section shall be a "project" within the meaning of that term as defined in section 3 of P.L.1974, c.80 (C.34:1B-3).

d. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection g. of section 37 of P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-37), the bonds and notes issued pursuant to this section shall be non-recourse obligations, and shall not be direct and general obligations of the municipality, and the municipality shall not be obligated to levy and collect a tax sufficient in an amount to pay the principal and interest on the bonds and notes when the same become due and payable. The provisions of the "Local Government Supervision Act (1947)," P.L.1947, c.151 (C.52:27BB-1 et seq.) shall not apply to any bonds or other obligations issued or authorized pursuant to this section and those bonds or other obligations shall not be considered gross debt of the municipality on any debt statement filed in accordance with the "Local Bond Law," N.J.S.40A:2-1 et seq., and the provisions of chapter 27 of Title 52 of the Revised Statutes shall not apply to such bonds.

e. The proceeds from the sale of the bonds and any funds provided by any department of the State, authority created by the State or bi-state authority, shall not require compliance with public bidding laws, including the "Local Public Contracts Law," P.L.1971, c.198 (C.40A:11-1 et seq.), or any other statute where the redeveloper shall undertake the landfill closure, remediation, redevelopment and construction of the infrastructure improvements. The use of these funds shall be subject to public accountability and oversight by the municipality or agency providing the funds.

L.1996,c.73,s.9.