State Issues
State Health Benefits Increase Unresolved
As recently reported in the news, talks regarding relief for raising healthcare premium costs remain unresolved. The League, along with our partners with the Conference of Mayors and Associations of Counties, remains actively engaged in seeking relief and encourage you to continue to your outreach to the Governor’s Office and your Legislators. It is important that your voices are heard in Trenton.
Contacts:
- Mike Cerra, Executive Director, mcerra@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x120.
- Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director & Director of Government Affairs, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112.
Federal Government Approves Plan to Assist Those Impacted by Hurricane Ida
This week, Governor Phil Murphy announced that the federal government approved New Jersey’s plan to spend $228 million of federal Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds to assist households and communities that were impacted by Hurricane Ida in 2021. For more information, please read the League’s recent blog post.
Contact: Paul Penna, Senior Legislative Analyst, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110
Division Issues Guidance on LOSAP Annual CPI Adjustment
The Division of Local Government Services has issued Local Finance Notice 2023-01, providing general information regarding the Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP) along with the annual cost of living adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to the maximum award amounts. The increase in CY 2022 for use in CY 2023 is 7.8% for municipal programs and 7.3% for fire districts. If your municipality has a LOSAP, please review the Local Finance Notice with your chief financial officer.
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director & Director of Government Affairs, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112.
Division Issues Guidance on Levy Cap Referendums
The Division of Local Government Services has issued Local Finance Notice 2023-02 providing specific instruction and direction to municipalities considering holding a public referendum on exceeding the 2% Levy Cap or the 2.5% Appropriation Cap. For more on the Local Finance Notice and referendum process please see the League’s recent blog post. If your municipality is considering a public referendum, we suggest that you review this Local Finance Notice with your professional staff.
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director & Director of Government Affairs, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112.
Governor Announces Planning for New 2024 Energy Master Plan
Today Governor Murphy announced plans to begin planning for the development of a new Energy Master Plan (EMP) to be released in 2024. The new EMP will include New Jersey’s updated climate goals and the impacts of recent state and federal practices that will accelerate the state’s transition to a 100% clean energy economy. The 2024 EMP will update and expand upon the 2019 EMP.
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director & Director of Government Affairs, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112.