40A:4-55 Special emergency notes.
After the adoption of an ordinance or resolution for special emergency appropriations, the local unit shall by 2/3 vote of the full governing body adopt a resolution setting forth:
a. The amount appropriated.
b. (1) Provision for the borrowing of money and the issuance of "Special Emergency Notes" which may be renewed from time to time, but at least 1/5 of all such notes, and the renewals thereof, shall mature and be paid in each year, so that all notes and renewals shall have matured and have been paid not later than the last day of the fifth year following the date of the emergency resolution.
(2) In the case of special emergency appropriations authorized pursuant to subsection m. of N.J.S.40A:4-53, a local unit shall appropriate one-fifth (1/5) of the portion of the special emergency directly attributable to COVID-19 in each year beginning in the year after the year in which the resulting deferred charge appears in the local unit's unaudited annual financial statement, such that, for example, a deferred charge included in the 2021 unaudited annual financial statement would have its first one-fifth (1/5) appropriation in the 2022 budget, with the final one-fifth (1/5) portion of the special emergency fully appropriated by no later than the last day of the sixth fiscal year following the end of the fiscal year that is the subject of the application. If a local unit's application for certification of the special emergency under subsection m. of N.J.S.40A:4-53 demonstrates that full appropriation of the COVID-19 related special emergency appropriation by the last day of the sixth fiscal year will cause significant fiscal distress, including, but not limited to, if it would directly cause an increase in the tax levy greater than 2%, an increase of greater than $50 per average assessed home in each year deferred charges appear in the local unit's budget, or in the case of a utility, at least a 5% increase in user fees or charges, the Local Finance Board may permit the local unit to extend the repayment period up to a total of ten years on a schedule determined by the Board.
(3) A local unit shall not borrow moneys under this section that may be considered duplicative of financial assistance provided to the local unit from the federal government, the State, or other sources, to address the COVID-19 deficit in operations or COVID-19 emergency appropriations. As used in this section, "COVID 19" means the coronavirus disease 2019, as announced by the World Health Organization on February 11, 2020, and first identified in Wuhan, China.
The provisions of this chapter relating to tax anticipation notes shall apply to special emergency notes.
c. A local unit may finance such appropriation from surplus funds available or borrow money in the manner prescribed above. Where any appropriation is financed from surplus funds available, at least 1/5 of the amount thereof shall be included in each annual budget until the appropriation has been fully provided for. In the case of special emergency appropriations authorized pursuant to subsection m. of N.J.S.40A:4-53, a local unit shall appropriate one-fifth (1/5) of the portion of the special emergency directly attributable to COVID-19 in each year beginning in the year after the year in which the resulting deferred charge appears in the local unit's unaudited annual financial statement, such that, for example, a deferred charge included in the 2021 unaudited annual financial statement would have its first one-fifth (1/5) appropriation in the 2022 budget, with the final one-fifth (1/5) portion of the special emergency fully appropriated by no later than the last day of the sixth fiscal year following the end of the fiscal year that is the subject of the application. If a local unit's application for certification of the special emergency under subsection m. of N.J.S.40A:4-53 demonstrates that full appropriation of the COVID-19 related special emergency appropriation by the last day of the sixth fiscal year will cause significant fiscal distress, including, but not limited to, if it would directly cause an increase in the tax levy greater than 2%, an increase of greater than $50 per average assessed home in each year deferred charges appear in the local unit's budget, or in the case of a utility, at least a 5% increase in user fees or charges, the Local Finance Board may permit the local unit to extend the repayment period up to a total of ten years on a schedule determined by the Board.
amended 2020, c.74, s.3.