Bill
Bill > A3686
NJ A3686
NJ A3686Permits board of county commissioners to establish "Sharing Resources" grant and loan program to encourage shared services and municipal consolidation.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill permits the board of county commissioners of any county to establish a "Sharing Resources" grant and loan program for local units within the county that plan to study the feasibility of a shared service agreement, a joint meeting contract, or municipal consolidation. Grant and loan monies may be used to fund studies, consultant costs and one-time start-up costs of a shared service agreement, joint meeting contract, or municipal consolidation. The board of county commissioners, in consultation with the Commissioner of Community Affairs, may promulgate rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the purposes of its program. The Commissioner of Community Affairs is required to provide common guidelines and procedures for the submission of grant applications to a county "Sharing Resources" grant program. Applications for one-time start-up costs are required to provide that local units may apply for financial assistance for the one-time start-up costs necessary to implement shared services. Costs that may be financed through the issuance of debt or capital lease agreements are excluded from this program. The board of county commissioners may set limits on aid awards and negotiate the various provisions, costs, payment provisions, and amounts of grants or loans to ensure that the proposed shared service is cost effective and in the public interest. The board of county commissioners may also provide technical support programs to assist local units in applying for grants or aid for studying shared services. The board of county commissioners may receive and expend moneys from the State, the federal government, or private individuals, corporations or associations thereof, to meet all or a portion of the expenses of the "Sharing Resources" grant and loan program, and may raise by taxation, pursuant to R.S.40:23-7, all or a portion of the money necessary to pay for the program.
AI Summary
This bill allows county boards of commissioners to create a "Sharing Resources" grant and loan program to help local governments, referred to as "local units," explore ways to work together more efficiently. This includes studying the possibility of shared service agreements (where different local governments share the cost and use of services like police or public works), joint meeting contracts (formal agreements to collaborate on specific projects or functions), or municipal consolidation (merging two or more towns or cities into one). The funds from this program can be used for feasibility studies, hiring consultants, and covering initial one-time costs to get these shared services or consolidations up and running, but not for expenses that could be covered by debt or capital leases. The Commissioner of Community Affairs will provide standardized guidelines for grant applications, and county commissioners can set limits on awards, negotiate terms, and ensure that proposed collaborations are cost-effective and beneficial to the public. Counties can also offer technical assistance to help local units apply for these grants. To fund the program, county commissioners can accept money from state and federal governments, as well as private sources, and can also raise funds through local taxes.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A3686 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A4000/3686_I1.HTM |
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