The Community Disaster Loan Program, operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is providing budget relief for New Jersey municipalities that are experiencing, or projected to experience, revenue losses greater than 5 percent of annual collections due to the impacts of Superstorm Sandy. However, the deadline, February 1, 2013, to notify the Division of Local Government Services of an intent to apply is quickly approaching.
As detailed in a recent Local Finance Notice, to be eligible for aid, applicants must be able to reasonably project annual revenue losses from sources including, but not limited to: property taxes due to lost ratables; beach or parking fees due to reduced use; sewer or water billings due to disruption in service; court fees and fines due to lessened activity; local hotel taxes (where applicable) due to actual or anticipated decreases in occupancy; and any other revenue sources impacted by Sandy.
Municipalities must also notify DLGS to begin the application process, as state endorsement of the application is required. In addition, municipalities will also need the approval of the DLGS to include federal assistance as revenue in budgets.
Local governments seeking to apply for the program are instructed to send an email to Jason Martucci, the Division’s Community Disaster Loan Coordinator, at jason.martucci@dca.state.nj.us by February 1, 2013. The email must include “Community Disaster Loan” in the heading of the email and should identify: the interested applicant; a primary contact (including phone and email); and the name and contact (including phone and email) of the CFO or Finance Director. The DLGS, it will then provide additional information to potential applicants and arrange for a meeting with appropriate federal officials and a representative of DLGS.
For more information about how the program may aid your municipality, we encourage you to contact a member of Scarinci Hollenbeck’s Public Law Group.