January 20, 2023

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.

Post Conference 

Your CEU certificates from the 2022 League Conference are available and can be accessed online through May 1, 2023. Please access instructions and the CEU certificate site via the 107^th Annual League Conference page. 

In addition, the 2021 tracking system has closed.  

Contact: Danielle Holland-Htut, Continuing Education/Special Programs Manager, dholland@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, Ext. 118. 

Also of Interest 

New Jersey Conference of Mayors 2023 Winter Summit 

On Thursday, February 2 the New Jersey Conference of Mayors will hold their 2023 Winter Summit at the Trenton Historic Mason Temple, 100 Barrack St., Trenton, NJ. Registration is now open. 

Please see the NJCM’s website or email  njcm@njcm.org for additional information.  

Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program Enrollment Has Open

The Department of Community Affairs announced earlier this week that the Division of Housing and Community Resources will be accepting Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program pre applications beginning January 17 until Friday, February 3 at 5:00 p.m. A total of 20,000 households will be randomly selected by a lottery system to be placed on the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program waiting list. For more information, please visit the Department of Community Affairs Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program.

Registration Open for Training to Promote Local Art

As we shared at the end of December, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, in partnership with Forecast Public Art, announced Making It Public, a free 5-week training series to strengthen local capacity to support, create, and promote public art. New Jersey municipalities, nonprofit organizations, local and regional arts councils, arts and entertainment districts, and arts administrators with an interest in creative placemaking are eligible to participate. The registration portal has now opened. 

Workshop dates are Thursdays from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. from March 2 to March 30. We encourage you to share this information with interested parties in your community.