Legislation sponsored by four Assembly Democrats to improve public transparency by making it easier for residents to review local government budgets on the Internet has been signed into law by the governor.
The law (A-2844) was sponsored by Pamela R. Lampitt (D-Camden), Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester/Camden), Nelson Albano and Matthew W. Milam (both D-Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland).
A 2007 law required local governments to post budgets on their websites, if they have one. The new law requires:
· The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to post on its website the budget of any municipality or county that does not maintain its own website.
· Municipalities and counties to post on their websites the last three adopted budgets.
· The DCA to provide on its website the last three adopted budget of any municipality or county that does not maintain its own website.
“With this law any taxpayer with access to the Internet can review these local budgets online at any time,” Milam said. “This will be a modern approach and a leap toward greater government transparency.”
“Making it easier to review public documents that help decide property taxes is a no-brainer,” Albano said. “We can do better, and with this law, we will make local budgets readily available to everyone.”
