Tag: New Jersey referendums

Legislation Authorizing Electronic Public Notices Advances

Executive Order Allows Electronic Submission of Referendum Petitions

COVID-19 continues to change the way local government business is conducted in New Jersey. On April 29, Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order allowing county and municipal clerks to accept initiative and referendum petitions electronically. Executive Order 132 also authorizes signatures for these petitions to be collected electronically. The measure aims

NJ Appeals Court Enjoins City of Orange Referendum Over Deficient Interpretative Question

In City of Orange Township Board of Education v. City of Orange Township, the Appellate Division granted the City of Orange Board of Education’s application for an injunction to prevent the City of Orange from acting on a voter-approved referendum to change from a Type I to Type II school

NJ Appeals Court Clarifies Time of Application Rule

Levy Cap Referendum Deadlines for NJ Municipalities

New Jersey municipalities that are considering holding a public referendum to exceed either the two percent levy cap or the zero percent appropriation cap should be mindful of approaching deadlines. In a recent notice, the Division of Local Government Services (DLGS) provided guidance for scheduling elections and managing the New

Bill Would Eliminate Five Percent Down Payment for Bond Ordinances

NJ Court Rules “Cap Bank” Ordinance Not Subject to Referendum

A New Jersey trial court recently held that the City of Wildwood’s “cap bank” ordinance, which allows the municipality to bank and utilize permitted appropriations in future years, is not subject to referendum. The case is Baltuskonis v. City of Wildwood.  The Facts of the Case In 2014, the Wildwood

Key Deadlines for Municipal Levy Cap Referendums Quickly Approaching

Key Deadlines for Municipal Levy Cap Referendums Quickly Approaching

Key deadlines are approaching for New Jersey municipalities, on a calendar fiscal year, that are considering holding a public referendum to exceed either the two percent levy cap or the one and a half appropriation cap. In a recent notice, the Division of Local Government Services provided guidance for managing

Gov. Murphy Signs NJ Voter Registration Bill

NJ Court Allows Nonbinding Referendum Question Over School Board Matter

The case of Harrison Board of Education v. Netchert, which was recently approved for publication, presented what the court deemed an “interesting conundrum”: whether a referendum question that plaintiff concedes has no actual legal effect on the relationship between the parties nonetheless should be barred. The court ultimately answered no.

SCOTUS to Decide If the Government Can Challenge Patents

Year in Review: Key Decisions Impacting New Jersey Municipalities

In 2014, New Jersey state and federal courts issued several important decisions that impacted municipalities and local agencies. In case you missed our posts, below is a brief summary: Open Public Records Act: In O’Boyle v. Borough of Longport, the New Jersey Supreme Court held that the common interest rule

NJ Supreme Court Rules Faulkner Act Violation Warrants Award of Attorneys Fees

The New Jersey Supreme Court recently addressed the role of the clerk in determining whether referendum petitions meet the requirements of the Faulkner Act, as well the repercussions for exceeding that authority. In a precedential ruling, the panel held that the City of Hoboken Clerk lacked the discretion to prevent