Dear Mayor:

Your CFO today received an important update on several matters from the Division of Local Government Services.

Here's your latest DLGS News Update about important information posted to the Division of Local Government Services web site.

1. BUDGET DEADLINES Local Finance Notice 2007-2
(http://www.state.nj.us/dca/lgs/lfns/07lfns/2007-2.doc): The Local Finance Board recently approved the Director's request to modify several statutory budget deadlines.  The changes modify the statutory dates for introduction (now March 12) and adoption (now April 24).  They also extend the date for holding a budget cap referendum and modify the dates for actions related to the referendum. (The budget must be introduced and the referendum authorized by March 7. Notice must be published by March 8. The budget must be published by March 15. And the vote will take place by March 27.)

2. IMPORTANT CHANGE TO EXTRAORDINARY AID APPLICATION:  The Division has re-released Local Finance Notice 2007-3 to change the application process. The Revised LFN 2007-3R and Word application form has been posted at http://www.nj.gov/dca/lgs/lfns/lfnmenu.shtml.  The Application form can be downloaded at www.nj.gov/dca/lgs/muniaid/07_aid/exaidapcy07.doc.

3. STATE AID CERTIFICATIONS based on Governor Corzine's proposed FY 2008 budgets have been posted.   LFN 2007-6   www.state.nj.us/dca/lgs/muniaid/07_aid/07-08_st_aid_cert.xls .

4. MARRIAGE AND CIVIL UNION CEREMONY FEES: Local Finance Notice 2007-5
provides guidance for local governments and mayors regarding State law and the practice of charging fees for conducting marriages and civil unions. This guidance results from ethics
concerns about the legality of charging for fees.  The Notice can be viewed at http://www.state.nj.us/dca/lgs/lfns/07lfns/2007-5.doc.   IMPORTANT CHANGE: In response to our request, regarding the necessary timing of meeting the March 15 deadline in the Notice, the "start date" has been extended to April 1.

5. LOCAL FINANCE NOTICE 2007-4 explains the impact of P.L. 2007, c. 4, the so-called "No-Bid Monday" law.  The law prohibits the receipt of bids on Mondays or any day following a State or Federal holiday.  The law took effect in mid-January.  Local officials should review the LFN at http://www.nj.gov/dca/lgs/lfns/07lfns/2007-4.doc and apply its contents to local circumstances.

6. APPLICATIONS FOR THE SENIOR CITIZEN PROPERTY TAX RELIEF program have been mailed.  Information on the program is available at http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation.

7. TAXPAYERS WILL HAVE UNTIL TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2007, TO FILE THEIR 2006 NEW JERSEY GROSS INCOME TAX RETURNS AND TO PAY ANY TAXES DUE. The deadline for State income tax returns and payments has been extended to correspond with the extension to April 17 for Federal income tax returns that was announced by the Internal Revenue Service.  A notice regarding the extension to April 17, which includes a list of those New Jersey forms affected by the extension, has been posted to the Taxation Web site at: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation

8. DCA Commissioner Susan Bass Levin recently mailed letters to the Mayor's concerning ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. There is one application for both the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Universal Service Fund (USF) which can be downloaded at www.nj.gov/dca/dcr/hea/index.shtml.  Applicants can also call DCA directly at 800-510-3102.

9. NEW AND IMPROVED SHARE PROGRAM: Increased maximum grants and reduced matches are some of the changes to the SHaring Available Resources Efficiently (SHARE) grant program announced in Local Finance Notice 2006-19 (www.nj.gov/dca/lgs/lfns/06lfns/2006-19.doc).  In addition, the DCA SAGE grant system is now used to apply for grants online!  Local officials thinking about studying or implementing shared services should review the Notice.

10. CERTIFICATION RENEWALS: The Division recently experienced technical difficulties in issuing renewal certificates for various certification programs. For this reason, licensees who submitted renewal applications within the last couple of months have not received their renewal certificates. Unless you recently received a letter from the Division notifying you that your certification was overdue for renewal, you should assume that the application was received and your certification has been renewed.  Those licensees who wish to check on the status of their renewal can contact the Division at bwolfe@dca.state.nj.us or by calling Bert Wolfe at 609-292-4656.  The situation is expected to be resolved in the next few weeks.

Very truly yours,

                                                                        William G. Dressel, Jr.
                                                                        Executive Director