N.J. Stat. § 52:27D-508.2: Local government unit management enhancement review grant program established.

2. a. The Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs shall establish a local government unit management enhancement review grant program. The purpose of the program shall be to provide grants to local government units to contract with management enhancement review consultants to conduct local government unit efficiency reviews and to make recommendations to streamline operations and reduce costs. An individual management enhancement review consultant, or at least one member of the management enhancement review consultant team, that is contracted to complete a review pursuant to the program shall hold a professional license with the State of New Jersey as a certified municipal finance officer, qualified purchasing agent, certified public works manager, certified municipal clerk, certified tax collector, or another professional certification approved by the Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs.

b. To participate in the grant program established pursuant to subsection a. of this section, a local government unit shall submit an application to the division in a manner and on such forms as determined by the director. An application submitted pursuant to this subsection shall include information detailing the local government unit’s proposed plans for the grant funding, including, but not limited to:

(1) the amount of grant funding being sought by the local government unit;

(2) a description of how the grant funding will be used to conduct an efficiency review, including, but not limited to, plans to identify opportunities for shared services, identify cost savings through operating efficiencies, or improve the delivery of services; and

(3) the proposed sources of matching funding to be used by the local government unit to conduct the efficiency review, pursuant to subsection c. of this section.

c. (1) After reviewing the applications submitted pursuant to subsection b. of this section, the director shall select local government units to receive a management enhancement review grant. In selecting grant recipients, the director shall consider factors including, but not limited to: the local government unit’s contribution to the management enhancement review; and the cost effectiveness of any specifically identified opportunities for shared services, cost savings through operating efficiencies, or improvements to the delivery of services.

(2) The maximum grant award under the program shall be $150,000 for a county-based local government unit and $100,000 for a municipal-based local government unit. A local government unit that receives a grant under the program shall contribute 25 percent of the grant award amount to the management enhancement review.

L.2025, c.377, s.2.