52:27D-162. Legislative findings and declaration
The Legislature finds, determines and declares:
a. That within this State are many small municipalities, formerly centers of commerce, trade and cultural life in surrounding rural areas, which have suffered chronic economic decline because of changes in the patterns of transportation, commerce and land development;
b. That many of the said municipalities, with near-urban population densities in the midst of rural areas, have experienced and are experiencing declining property values, loss of tax ratables and potential tax ratables, diminishment of local commerce and increased unemployment and underemployment among their populations, so that they have become pockets of economic depression within the areas of which they were formerly centers;
c. That most such municipalities cannot, without external aid, maintain adequate municipal services by their own taxing capacity, nor have they the resources to expand and develop that taxing capacity;
d. That it is the purpose of this act to provide State aid supplementary to the taxing capacity of such municipalities, for the purpose of assisting them to maintain adequate municipal services.
L.1977, c. 260, s. 1, eff. Oct. 12, 1977.