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NEW JERSEY Jersey. Townships, to which the term “municipalities” is applied by New Jersey New Jersey ranks 24th among the states in statutes, are counted for census purposes as number of local governments, with 1,383 as of township rather than municipal governments October 2007. (see below). All cities, towns, boroughs, and villages exist outside the area of any COUNTY GOVERNMENTS (21) governmentally active township. Cities are divided according to population size and There are no areas in New Jersey lacking location as follows: county government. The counties are divided into the following six classes: First class—more than 150,000 inhabitants

Counties not bordering on the Atlantic Ocean: Second class—12,000 to 149,999 inhabitants

First class—more than 550,000 inhabitants and Third class—fewer than 12,000 inhabitants, a population density of more than 3,000 excluding seaside resorts bordering on the persons per square mile Atlantic Ocean

Second class—all other counties with more Fourth class—resort cities bordering on the than 200,000 inhabitants Atlantic Ocean

Third class—50,000 to 199,999 inhabitants Township Governments (242)

Fourth class—fewer than 50,000 inhabitants Townships, although not differing in legally authorized powers from the types of municipal Counties bordering the Atlantic Ocean: governments described above, are classified for census purposes as a separate type of Fifth class—more than 125,000 inhabitants government. All areas of the state are encompassed by township governments Sixth class—not more than 125,000 inhabitants except areas within the boundaries of a borough, city, town, or village. The county governing body is called the board of chosen freeholders. PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS (606)

SUBCOUNTY GENERAL PURPOSE School District Governments (549) GOVERNMENTS (566) School district governments in New Jersey are The subcounty general purpose governments the Type 2 school districts. An elected board in New Jersey consist of municipal (borough, of education governs each Type 2 school city, town, and village) governments and district. Each district may determine the township governments. These two types of amount of local school tax levies and issue governments are distinguished primarily by the bonds with the approval of the voters. historical circumstances surrounding their Consolidated school districts are special types incorporation. In New Jersey, borough, city, of Type 2 school districts. town, village, and township governments have similar powers and perform similar functions. Regional school districts, also type 2 school districts, are created upon referendum. Municipal Governments (324) Regional school districts are further classified as “all purpose regional districts” that may The term “municipality,” as defined for census provide all school services within their area statistics on governments, applies only to the and, thus, replace the basic school districts, boroughs, cities, towns, and villages in New and “limited purpose regional districts” that provide only one or a limited number of school director of the board of chosen freeholders with services for their constituent districts. the consent of the board. Fiscal requirements are determined by a board of school estimate School districts may convert between a Type 1 and are provided by the county and state to a Type 2 school district with voter approval. governments. Type 1 school systems are described under “Dependent Public School Systems,” below. County colleges are established by the board of chosen freeholders with the consent of the Dependent Public School Systems (57) state commission on higher education and voter approval. Each county college is New Jersey statutes provide for the following governed by a board of trustees consisting of types of dependent public school systems: eight members representing the county and two members appointed by the Governor, plus Systems dependent on county governments: the county superintendent of schools and the college president. In addition, the student body County vocational school systems elects one representative. For junior colleges County special services school districts serving more than one county, the board is County colleges enlarged and apportioned among the counties Community college agencies based on the latest federal census. The Jointure commissions county governments may appropriate funds and issue bonds for the benefit of county Systems dependent on municipal colleges. governments: Community college agencies may be Type 1 school districts in boroughs, cities, established in any county that has not towns, or villages established a county college. These agencies are similar in formation, board, and powers to Systems dependent on township governments: county colleges.

Type 1 school districts in townships County colleges may also be formed by any private institution of higher education and any Systems dependent on the state government: postsecondary institute of a county board of vocational education. The Union County State-operated school districts College was established under this law.

County vocational school systems are Jointure commissions are established by two governed by a vocational school board or more school districts to provide for appointed by the chief elected executive officer education of the handicapped. These of the county or by the director of the board of commissions consist of representatives from chosen freeholders. The county the constituent school district boards. Their superintendent of schools also serves as an ex fiscal needs are apportioned to the establishing officio member. The fiscal needs of county districts. vocational school systems are determined by and provided for by the county governments. Each Type 1 school district is governed by a board of education appointed by the mayor or County special services school districts are other chief executive officer of the borough, established by resolution of the county board of city, town, township, or village it serves. Its chosen freeholders for the education and fiscal requirements are subject to review and treatment of handicapped children. Each final determination by a board of school district is governed by a board of education estimate consisting of members of the board of consisting of the county superintendent of education from its own membership and schools plus six members appointed by the members of the municipal governing body. The parent government may issue bonds on behalf County Bridge Commissions of the school district. County bridge commissions build, improve, and State-operated school districts are established maintain highway bridges. One or more by administrative order of the state board of counties may establish a commission. The education upon a finding by the commissioner commissions are appointed by the county of education that a local public school system board of chosen freeholders. Each is in need of reorganization in order to provide commission may fix tolls and issue bonds. efficient schools. A district board of education, appointed by the state board of education, County bridge commissions that serve only administers each state-operated school district. one government are not counted as separate The school districts are funded by local governments. See “Subordinate Agencies and property taxes. Upon completion of the Areas,” below. reorganization, the district is restored to local control. Voters decide whether the County Improvement Authorities reorganized district is to be a Type 1 school district or a Type 2 school district. These authorities, which finance, construct, and operate public buildings and facilities for Other Educational Activities various purposes, including public transportation, aviation, solid waste disposal, Educational services commissions are created financing of low income housing, and by the state board of education upon petition of redevelopment projects, may be established by five or more boards of education in one or resolution of the county governing body. A more counties. These commissions conduct board of five members appointed by the county programs of education research and provide governing body governs the authority; in some educational and administrative services. The counties, by ordinance, the county executive or establishing districts contribute to the support a county supervisor serves ex officio as a sixth of educational services commissions. For nonvoting board member. The authority may census reporting, these commissions are fix and collect rents, fares, tolls, and charges; classified as joint educational service agencies make loans; and issue revenue bonds. There of the participating school districts and are not were no joint improvement authorities reported counted as separate governments. in operation as of October 2007.

The Educational Information and Resource County improvement authorities that serve only Center was established by special act to one government are not counted as separate provide services to school districts in Glouster governments. See “Subordinate Agencies and County. The center is classified as a joint Areas,” below. educational service agency of the participating school districts and is not counted as a Delaware River and Bay Authority separate government. This authority is counted under County parental schools for juvenile “Delaware—Special District Governments.” delinquents (known as county youth houses) are also authorized in counties of the first Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge class. Commission

SPECIAL DISTRICT GOVERNMENTS (247) This commission is counted under “Pennsylvania— Special District New Jersey statutes authorize the creation of a Governments.” variety of special districts or authorities that are counted as governments. These are discussed in detail below. Delaware River Port Authority authorities may be known as environmental authorities. There were no joint incinerator This authority was established by special acts authorities reported in operation as of October of the New Jersey and Pennsylvania 2007. legislatures to operate and maintain brides, tunnels, ferries, railroads, and rapid transit Incinerator authorities that serve only one systems and to improve and develop ports in government are not counted as separate and near Philadelphia and Camden. A board governments. See “Subordinate Agencies and of commissioners consisting of 16 members Areas,” below. governs the authority; eight members are appointed by the Governor of New Jersey with Joint Water Commissions the consent of the senate and six members are appointed by the Governor of Pennsylvania, The governing bodies of two or more cities, plus the auditor general and the state treasurer boroughs, towns, townships, or villages for of Pennsylvania serve in an ex officio capacity. which the water supply is provided by privately The authority may issue revenue bonds and owned waterworks may apply to thestate may fix and collect tolls and other charges for superior court to appoint a commission to use of its facilities. acquire such waterworks by condemnation or purchase. Election or appointment of The Port Authority Transit Corporation, succeeding commission members is specified established to operate the interstate rail transit by agreement between the participating facilities, is classified for census reporting as a governments except that the composition of dependent activity of the Delaware River Port certain boards are specified by law. The Authority. It is not counted as a separate commissions may fix rates and charges for government. water and issue bonds. In addition, the participating municipalities may issue bonds on Fire Districts—1971 Law behalf of the water commissions. Similar provisions apply to the Passaic Valley Water A 1971 general law authorizes the creation of Commission. fire districts by ordinance of the governing body of any borough, city, town, township, or village Municipal and County Utilities Authorities that does not have a paid fire department, upon petition and after voter approval. An These authorities may be established by elected board of commissioners governs each resolution or ordinance of a county or of one or district. The district may, after voter approval, more city, borough, town, township, or village set ad valorem taxes and issue bonds. governments to provide water or sewerage facilities or for solid waste disposal. Members Greenwood Lake Commission of the authority board are appointed by the governing body of the establishing This commission is counted under “New government. Each authority may issue York–Special District Governments.” revenue bonds and set rates and charges for services. These authorities may be known as Incinerator Authorities water reclamation authorities.

These authorities may be established by one Municipal and county utilities authorities that or more borough, city, town, township, or serve only one government are not counted as village governments to acquire, operate, and separate governments. See “Subordinate maintain garbage and refuse disposal Agencies and Areas,” below. facilities. A board appointed by the governing body of the establishing government governs Passaic Valley Sewerage District each authority. The authority may fix service charges and issue revenue bonds. Incinerator This district was created by a special act to provide sewerage facilities in the lower governments. See “Subordinate Agencies and drainage basin of the Passaic River. A board Areas,” below. of commissioners appointed by the Governor with the consent of the senate Soil Conservation Districts governs the district. The district may issue bonds and receive payments from participating New Jersey statutes provide for the division of governments in proportion to the the state into soil conservation districts amount of sewage flowing in from each comprising one or more counties. A board of participating government. supervisors appointed by state soil conservation committee governs each district. Port Authorities—1948 Law The district boards may require contributions from benefitted landowners and may charge These authorities may be established to fees for development permits. provide port facilities by ordinance of one or more city, borough, town, township, or village Solid Waste Management Authorities governments. Authority board members are appointed by the governing body of the These authorities, created for the collection establishing government. Port authorities may and disposal of solid waste, may be collect rates and charges for services and established by ordinance of one or more city, facilities and issue revenue bonds. There were borough, town, village, or township no joint port authorities reported in operation as governments. Authority members are of October 2007. appointed by the governing bodies of the establishing governments. Each authority may Port authorities that serve only one issue revenue bonds and fix rates and government are not counted as separate charges. There were no joint solid waste governments. See “Subordinate Agencies and management authorities reported in operation Areas,” below. as of October 2007.

Municipal port authorities created under a 1960 Solid waste management authorities that serve law are not counted as separate governments. only one government are not counted as See “Subordinate Agencies and Areas,”below. separate governments. See “Subordinate Agencies and Areas,” below.

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Water Districts (Township)

This authority is counted under “New Township governments may establish, by York—Special District Governments.” ordinance, these districts to provide water supply systems. An elected board of Sewerage Authorities—1946 Law commissioners governs each district. Fiscal needs, met by assessments, are determined These authorities to build, operate, and by the voters at the annual district meeting. maintain sewerage facilities may be The water districts may issue bonds backed by established by ordinance of two or more the assessments. There were no joint county, city, borough, town, village, or township township water districts reported in operation governments. Authority board members are as of October 2007. appointed by the governing body of the establishing government. Sewerage Water districts that serve only one township or authorities may issue revenue bonds and fix for which the board is ex officio are not counted service charges. as separate governments. See “Subordinate Agencies and Areas,” below. Sewerage authorities that serve only one government are not counted as separate Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor board of seven members, five of whom are appointed by the Governor with the consent of This commission is counted under “New the senate, plus the chair of the commission on York—Special District Governments.” higher education and the state treasurer governs the authority. The authority may fix SUBORDINATE AGENCIES AND AREAS rates, rents, fees, and charges and issue revenue bonds. Shown below are various governmental designations in New Jersey that have certain New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure characteristics of governmental units but that Trust (state). This trust (formerly the New are classified in census statistics as Jersey Wastewater Treatment Trust) was subordinate agencies of the state or local established by 1985 legislation to finance governments and are not counted as wastewater treatment and storm water governments. Legal provisions for some of the management facilities. A board of seven larger of these are discussed below (see members governs the trust, including four “Public School Systems,” above, regarding members appointed by the Governor, plus the educational agencies of this nature). commissioner of community affairs, the commissioner of environmental protection, and Housing authorities (county, borough, city, the state treasurer. The trust may fix fees and town, village, or township). New Jersey charges and issue revenue bonds. statutes authorize the creation of local housing authorities, serving one county, city, borough, New Jersey Sports and Exposition town, township, or village, by ordinance of the Authority (state). This authority was creating government. The governing board of established by act of the legislature to build, a local housing authority consists of five operate, and maintain stadiums, race tracks, appointed commissioners, five selected by the and related facilities, including the governing body of the creating government, meadowlands sports complex and the Garden and one by the chief executive of the creating State Racetrack. A board of 14 members, 11 government, except in certain counties where of whom are appointed by the Governor with special acts designate the board composition. the consent of the senate, plus the state New Jersey housing authorities may issue treasurer, the president of the authority, and a bonds and fix and collect charges for use of member of the New Jersey Meadowlands authority facilities. Development Commission (also appointed by the Governor), governs the authority. The New Jersey Building Authority (state). This authority may fix rents, tolls, fees, and charges authority was created by 1981 legislation to and may issue revenue bonds. construct office buildings for use by state agencies. A board of 12 directors governs the New Jersey State Building Authority (state). authority, including nine members appointed by This authority was established by 1950 the Governor, plus the state treasurer, the legislation to finance the construction of comptroller of the treasury, and the buildings for state agencies and institutions. chairperson of the commission on A board of three members appointed by the capital budgeting and planning. The authority Governor with the consent of the senate may receive revenue from rentals and may governs the authority. The authority may fix issue revenue bonds. This authority is rents and charges and issue revenue bonds. separate from the New Jersey State Building This authority is separate from the New Jersey Authority created under 1950 legislation. Building Authority created under 1981 legislation. New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority (state). This authority was established by act New Jersey Transit Corporation (state). of the legislature to finance the construction of This corporation was established by 1979 facilities for institutions of higher education. A legislation. The corporation provides ferry, bus, and rail transportation systems. A board of New Jersey Natural Lands Trust seven members, of whom four are appointed New Jersey Public Broadcast Authority by the Governor with the consent of the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority senate, plus the commissioner of (Formerly the New Jersey Urban Development transportation, the state treasurer, and one Corporation) other member of the executive branch chosen New Jersey Turnpike Authority by the Governor, governs the corporation. The New Jersey Water Supply Authority corporation receives revenue from fares, North and South Jersey District Water Supply rentals, and other charges. Commissions Palisades Interstate Park Commission (joint New Jersey Transit Bus Operations and New with New York) Jersey Transit Rail Operations are agencies of Pinelands Commission New Jersey Transit Corporation and are not Pinelands Development Credit Bank counted as separate governments. South Jersey Food Distribution Authority South Jersey Port Corporation New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund South Jersey Transportation Authority Authority (state). This authority was formed State Lottery Commission by act of the legislature to finance state State Public Housing and Development highway and transit facilities. A board Authority consisting of the commissioner of Tax Lien Financing Corporation transportation, the state treasurer, and five Transportation development districts other members appointed by the Governor, governs the authority. The authority may County receive proceeds from state motor vehicle registration, motor fuel taxes, and from tolls Boards of health and may issue revenue bonds. Burlington County Pinelands Development Credit Exchange Other examples include: County bridge commissions (single county) County food distribution authorities State 1 County improvement authorities (single county) County mosquito extermination commissions Atlantic City Convention Center Authority County park commissions Casino Control Commission County pollution control financing authorities Casino Reinvestment Development Authority County utilities authorities (serving one county) Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund Joint agreements for planning and land use Commission Joint flood control commissions Hackensack Meadowlands Food Distribution Joint meetings (nonutility services) Center Commission Parking authorities Historic New Bridge Landing Park Commission Sewerage authorities (serving one county) Lake Hopatcong Commission Shade tree commissions New Jersey Development Authority for Small Solid waste management districts Business, Minorities’, and Women’s Enterprises Municipal New Jersey Economic Development Authority New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Boards of health Authority Environmental commissions New Jersey Higher Education Student Incinerator authorities (single municipality) Assistance Authority Intermunicipal park commissions New Jersey Historic Trust Joint agreements for planning and land use New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance control Agency Joint flood control commissions New Jersey Meadowlands Commission Joint meetings (nonutility services) Joint meetings for construction of sewers and Joint meetings for construction of sewers and drains drains Joint public libraries Joint public libraries Municipal hospital authorities Municipal port authorities—1960 law Municipal port authorities—1960 law Municipal utilities authorities (serving one Municipal utilities authorities (serving one township) municipality Parking authorities Parking authorities Port authorities - 1948 law (single township) Port authorities - 1948 law (single municipality) Redevelopment agencies (township) Redevelopment agencies (municipal) Regional health commissions Regional health commissions Seaquarium authorities Seaquarium authorities Sewerage authorities (serving one township) Sewerage authorities (serving one municipality) Solid waste management authorities (single Solid waste collection districts—1990 law township) Solid waste management authorities (single Solid waste collection districts—1990 law municipality) Special improvement districts Special improvement districts Tourism improvement and development Tourism improvement and development authorities (sixth class counties) authorities (sixth class counties) Water districts (single township) Water districts with ex officio boards Township Other Boards of health Environmental commissions New Jersey laws also provide for various types Incinerator authorities (single township) of local areas for election purposes and Intermunicipal park commissions administration of justice. Joint agreements for planning and land use control 1 Legislation authorizing the New Jersey Joint flood control commissions Highway Authority was repealed in 2003. Joint meetings (nonutility services)