Audit and Financial Assistance

Type of Assistance: Technical and Regulatory.
Description: Provides technical assistance as well as accounting and auditing rule promulgations of the Division of Local Government Services and Local Finance Board.
Assistance Provided To: Municipal and county financial officers, registered municipal accountants, public officials and interested residents.
Contact: (609) 292-4806
Website

Authority Audit, Financing and Accounting Assistance

Type of Assistance: Regulatory, Technical and Advisory.
Description: Provides information and advice to local entities, their representatives and the general public on auditing, project financing, financial reporting and accounting matters.
Assistance Provided To: Citizens, officials of local governments and their respective representatives.
Contact: (609) 943-4726
Website

Authority and Fire District Budget Assistance

Type of Assistance: Regulatory, Technical and Advisory.
Description: Provides assistance in the preparation, submission, amendment and adoption of authority and fire district budgets. Promulgates rules and regulations pertaining to preparation of local public authority and special district budgets and capital budgets for the review and approval by the Division of Local Government Services director.
Assistance Provided To: Citizens, officials of local governments and their representatives.
Contact: (609) 633-6238
Website

Best Practices Program

Type of Assistance: Technical and Advisory.
Description: Requires the Division of Local Government Services to determine how much of each municipality’s final 5% allocation of its municipal state aid will be disbursed based upon the results of a Best Practices Checklist to be completed by each municipality. The Checklist is a constructive way to encourage municipalities to consider and embrace a range of best practices that will help improve financial accountability and transparency.
Assistance Provided to: Officials of local governments and interested residents.
Contact: (609) 984-6625
Website

Budget and Cap Law Assistance

Type of Assistance: Technical and Regulatory.
Description: Assists municipalities and counties in complying with New Jersey’s Cap Law.
Assistance Provided To: Municipalities and counties.
Contact: (609) 292-4806
Website

Cooperative Purchasing

Type of Assistance: Provides assistance to local contracting units in the planning, development and implementation of cooperative purchasing programs.
Other Information: All cooperative purchasing systems are required to be registered with and approved by the Division of Local Government Services director.
Assistance Provided To: Any municipality, county, board of education, or other type of local
contracting unit interested in developing or participating in a cooperative purchasing system.
Contact: (609) 292-7068 or lpcl@dca.state.nj.us
Website

Data Services

Type of Assistance: Technical.
Description: Provides various financial and property tax data on all municipalities and counties in the State, including current and historical statistical information on Municipal State Aid, Property Tax Information, Fiscal Reports, and Municipal and County Financial Information (limited information).
Assistance Provided To: All local government units and the general public.
Contact: (609) 292-6110
Website 

Debt Statement Assistance

Debt Statement Assistance 
Type of Assistance: Regulatory and Technical.
Description: Provides assistance to municipalities and counties regarding the filing requirements for Annual Debt Statements and Supplemental Debt Statement Forms; receives and records their filings.
Assistance Provided To: Residents, officials of local governments and their respective representatives.
Contact: (609) 633-3712
Website

Deferred Compensation Program

Type of Assistance: Technical and Regulatory.
Description: Provides technical assistance to counties, municipalities and public authorities to establish deferred compensation programs and to ensure compliance with New Jersey statutes and laws. All local government (county, municipality, public authority) deferred compensation programs are required to be filed with and approved by the Division of Local Government Services. Approval is for an indefinite period, but all program amendments and modifications must be filed with and approved by the Division.
Assistance Provided To: Any municipality, county or public authority, and vendors of deferred compensation programs.
Contact: (609) 292-0827
Website

Emergency Resolutions

Type of Assistance: Technical.
Description: Assists municipalities and counties in filing emergency budget resolutions when necessary.
Assistance Provided To: Municipalities or counties.
Contact: (609) 292-4806

Length of Service Award Program

Type of Assistance: Technical and Regulatory.
Description: Provides tax-deferred income benefits to active members of all volunteer fire and first aid organizations.
Assistance Provided To: Municipalities, fire districts, fire companies, first aid organizations and interested residents.
Contact: (609) 292-6126
Website

Local Government Ethics Law

Type of Assistance: Regulatory, Technical and Advisory.
Description: Administers the provisions of the Local Government Ethics Law. This requires a wide range of local government officials to file Local Finance Board-promulgated Financial Disclosure Statements with the Local Finance Board and their local governments annually. The law sets a minimum ethical standard for local government elected officials, appointed officials and employees; empowers the Local Finance Board to investigate complaints and issue advisory opinions; and serves as the ethics board where no local board has been established.
Other Information: The Local Finance Board hears complaints against employees or officers for municipalities who have not appointed their own local ethics board, as well as appeals on decisions by local ethics boards. The Board’s staff also works with local government officials to assist in administering the law.
Assistance Provided To: Citizens, officials of local governments and their respective representatives.
Contact: (609) 292-0479
Website

Local Government Professional Certification Program

Type of Assistance: Technical and Regulatory.
Description: Administers certification and examination programs for local government professionals as provided by law; maintains database of certified individuals; approves continuing education programs; and monitors certification renewals.
Assistance Provided To: Municipal and county officials or interested residents.
Contact: (609) 292-9757
Website

Local Finance Board, Executive Secretary

Type of Assistance: Regulatory and Technical.
Description: Administers the provisions of the Local Bond Law, Local Fiscal Affairs Law, Local Budget Law, Local Authorities Fiscal Control Law, and other respective statutes. These laws require the filing of applications to appear before the Local Finance Board with subsequent action by the Board. The Local Finance Board is a statutorily created body with the overall responsibility for promulgating rules and regulations on the fiscal operations, fiscal reporting and fiscal conditions of all New Jersey municipalities, counties, local authorities and special districts. It has specific statutory authority to approve or make recommendations on various agency financing and debt matters, create or dissolve local authorities or special districts, assume fiscal control over local governments, and assist their governing bodies in financial and operational matters.
Other Information: The director of the Division of Local Government Services serves as the Local Finance Board’s chairman. Other members are nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the State Senate.
Assistance Provided To: General public, officials of local government and professionals representing them.
Contact: (609) 292-0479
Website

Local Finance Board, Liaison

Type of Assistance: Technical and Advisory.
Description: Reviews, prepares analysis and provides testimony on applications submitted to the Local Finance Board.
Assistance Provided To: Citizens, officials of local governments and their representatives.
Contact: (609) 292-0479
Website

Local Finance Notices, Email and DLGS News

Type of Assistance: Regulatory and Technical.
Description: Provides guidance, information and directives to local municipalities, agencies and officials concerning legal and regulatory aspects of various functional areas and programs. Email subscriptions are free and include email copies of all Local Finance Notices.
Assistance Provided To: Municipalities, counties, authorities, fire districts, local officials and interested citizens.
Contact: (609) 292-0827
Website

Mortgage Escrow Transaction Program

Type of Assistance: Technical.
Description: Maintains bank codes for all mortgage lenders, servicers and property tax processors; ensures delivery of tax bills to the proper parties; and administers the provisions relating to mortgage escrow accounting transactions.
Assistance Provided To: Tax collectors, mortgage lenders, servicers and tax processors.
Contact: (609) 984-4185
Website

Municipal Law and General Assistance

Type of Assistance: Technical and Advisory.
Description: Assists local officials with questions concerning the application of local government law to various public issues.
Assistance Provided To: Local government officials.
Contact: (609) 984-6625
Website

Public Insurance Management Assistance (Joint Insurance Fund Approval)

Type of Assistance: Technical, Advisory and Regulatory.
Description: Provides technical assistance to local governments regarding joint insurance.
Assistance Provided To: Any municipality, county, authority or other interested party.
Contact: (609) 984-7765
Website

Purchasing Assistance

Type of Assistance: Technical, Advisory and Regulatory.
Description: Provides general assistance to municipal, county and authority agencies or school districts in the area of purchasing goods and services and in developing procedures for acquiring and verifying the receipt of goods and services to improve efficiency and coordination of any purchasing system.
Assistance Provided To: Local government and school officials.
Contact: (609) 292-7068
Website

Qualified Bonds

Type of Assistance: Regulatory and Technical.
Description: Strengthens the credit status of municipalities and school districts by pledging state aid to guarantee debt service payments on qualified bond issues.
Other Information: The municipality or school district files an application with the Local Finance Board. If the findings are favorable, the Board may authorize the issuance of qualified bonds.
Assistance Provided To: Residents, officials of local governments and their respective representatives.
Contact: (609) 292-0479
Website

Shared Services

Type of Assistance: Technical.
Description: Provides general technical assistance on the joint or shared provision of services by local units of government. Division of Local Government Services staff provides guidance on conducting feasibility studies and other issues.
Other information: Among the services local units can consider for shared services technical assistance are assessment and collection of taxes, public safety services, solid waste collection, code enforcement, public works and recreation.
Assistance Provided To: All local government units.
Contact: (609) 292-6858
Website

Single Audit Review

Type of Assistance: Technical and Regulatory.
Description: Reviews single audit reports of local units to ensure compliance with the Single Audit Act of 1984.
Assistance Provided To: Qualified auditors and chief financial officers of local units of government.
Contact: (609) 292-4806
Website

Tenant Property Tax Rebate Program

Type of Assistance: Technical and Regulatory.
Description: Requires landlords of qualified residential rental properties to rebate or credit tenants with property tax reductions. Responds to telephone inquiries and written referrals.
Assistance Provided To: Tax collectors, rent leveling clerks, landlords and tenants.
Contact: (609) 984-4185
Website