Bill > A570

Introduced Session

This bill requires the "Local Unit Alignment, Reorganization, and Consolidation Commission" to study and produce a report, together with specific legislative recommendations to establish a process for the dissolution of county government in New Jersey. As has been demonstrated by Connecticut and Rhode Island, neither of which have county government, and also by Massachusetts, where most county governments have been abolished since the 1990s, all of the functions of county government can be performed by the State, municipalities, or other local units. Many of the functions of county government are redundant and duplicative. This results in an unnecessary and costly governmental layer that is no longer necessary for the taxpayers of this State. Determining the most appropriate approach to abolish county government for the purpose of reducing the property tax burden will be a complex task. This challenge should involve a careful, deliberative process, in which the individuals most recognized for expertise on the functions of government in New Jersey at the State, county, and municipal levels, should be closely involved. This bill requires the "Local Unit Alignment, Reorganization, and Consolidation Commission," established pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2007, c.54 (C.52:27D-503), to study and report on the structure, functions and funding sources of county government, the current relationship between the county and other units of government, the most appropriate approach to reallocating county debt and service responsibilities, and the most efficient process and timeline for the dissolution of county government. The bill requires the commission to produce a report, and recommend specific legislative changes that would abolish county government and allow for more efficient local government operation in the process. Within 18 months following the bill's effective date, the commission would submit its report and legislative recommendations to the Governor, the Legislature, and the public.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Bob Auth (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee (on 01/14/2020)