The Division of Local Government Services (DLGS) has issued Local Finance Notice (LFN) 2025-04 regarding the 2025 annual Financial Disclosure Statements (FDS) and creating or updating of the online local unit roster.
The Local Government Ethics Law (LGEL) requires that local government officers file a financial disclosure statement on or before April 30 each year or within 30 days of taking office. DLGS requires local government officials to file the FDS online through the Local Finance Board’s online filing system.
LFN 2025-04 describes the requirement and online steps that the Local Government Entity (LGE) representative, usually the municipal clerk or other person with administrative responsibilities for the entity, must create or update the Local Government Entity Roster by March 31. LGE representatives who fail to create or update the local unit roster may subject some local government officers to a violation of the LGEL. LGE representatives should carefully review the local unit roster to ensure it is accurate. The LGEL does not require the LGE representative to file a FDS for a local government officer or impose upon them their statutory obligation to file, however, it is important that LGE representatives ensure that local government officers are made aware of the requirements.
While the LGEL applies to all local government employees and officers, not all local government employees are required to file an FDS. Local government officers who are required to file and are those serving as of April 30, 2025. Any local government officers who are elected or appointed after April 30 should file within 30 days. The LGEL (N.J.S.A.40A:9-22.3.g) defines a local government officer as any person, whether compensated or not, whether part-time or full-time:
1. Elected to any office of a local government agency.
2. Serving on a local government agency that has the authority to enact ordinances, approve development applications, or grant zoning variances.
3. Who is a member of an independent municipal, county, or regional authority; or
4. Who is a managerial executive employee of a local government agency, as defined in rules and regulations adopted by the Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L. 1968, c. 410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), but shall not mean any employee of a school district or member of a school board.
LFN 2025-04 further outlines specific positions required to file. Please be advised that “confidential employees” are no longer considered local government officers and are not required to file.
For municipalities with local ethics boards, the DLGS will be issuing a separate LFN with additional guidance in the near future.
The LFB will not send reminders to local government officers regarding the filing of their FDS. If a local government officer fails to file, the Local Finance Board will send a Notice of Violation and a fine will be assessed at a minimum of $100 and not to exceed $500.
For questions or additional guidance, please contact the LFB via email at LFB_FDS@dca.nj.gov.
Contact: Erin Knoedler, Legislative Analyst, eknoedler@njlm.org, x116.