Bill > A5538

This bill amends existing New Jersey law to prohibit municipal utilities authorities from charging water service fees to fire districts for fire protection systems when those same fire districts' taxpayers are already customers of the water authority. Specifically, the bill prevents a municipal utility from imposing duplicate charges for fire protection water services, ensuring that a ratepayer who is both a taxpayer of a fire district and a customer of the water authority is not charged twice for the same water supply service. The legislation modifies an existing statute governing municipal authorities' ability to set water service charges, adding language that explicitly bars charging fire districts for water service related to fire protection systems if the authority is already collecting water service charges from customers who are taxpayers of that fire district. This change aims to prevent what could be considered a form of double taxation, protecting fire districts and their taxpayers from redundant fees for essential water services used for fire protection purposes. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Budget and Finance, Military Affairs and Security

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/A5538