Local government in New Jersey

The forms of municipality in New Jersey are more complex than in most other states, though, potentially leading to misunderstandings regarding the governmental nature of an area and what local laws apply.

All local general purpose governments have equivalent legal powers, with the different forms and types reflecting the historical circumstances of the municipality's incorporation, similar to New England towns.

For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau treats only boroughs, cities, towns, and villages as "municipalities", and townships as "townships"; the Census Bureau's classification does not reflect the underlying state law that draws no distinction among the five types.

Unlike other parts of the United States, New Jersey does not have different tiers of power or legal standing for its municipal governments.

This form comprises a five-member Board of Trustees elected for staggered three-year terms.

Loch Arbour was the last to do so, but on December 20, 2011, its residents voted to change to the Walsh Act form of government, with a three-member board of commissioners.

Any type of municipality that chooses to do so can adopt one of the six standard optional forms of government listed below, with some exceptions.

Municipalities may also adopt non-standard forms of government by having the state legislature enact a special charter.

Under this form of government, a municipal council composed of three, five, seven, or nine members is elected at-large with a term of office typically of four years.

The council appoints several key officials, namely the municipal manager, tax assessor, auditor, clerk, treasurer, and attorney.

The manager is the chief executive of the municipality and is responsible for appointing other officials and preparing the budget for council consideration.

[citation needed] In 1950 the state legislature passed the Optional Municipal Charter Law, more familiarly known as the Faulkner Act.

Under the Faulkner Act, municipalities can choose one of four different options for their form of government.

A community that finds all optional forms unsuitable may request a special charter from the state legislature.

[citation needed] A Charter Study Commission is one of two options available to residents of New Jersey to pursue a change in their form of government.

[citation needed] A charter study commission can be formed by a vote of the governing body.

Some of the communities have official recognition as a census-designated place, such as Somerset, New Jersey which is part of Franklin Township.

Other communities were once single-owner large farms that were later incorporated into a neighboring township such as Middlebush, New Jersey.

Some smaller communities are incorporated into larger urban areas, such as when Greenville was merged into Jersey City as a neighborhood.

[citation needed] New Jersey distinguishes between regional, consolidated, and countywide districts and those serving single municipalities.

[8] State law authorizes school districts:[8] The state Commissioner of Education has the power of "state intervention", to intervene in governance of a local public school district (and to intervene in the areas of instruction and program, operations, personnel, and fiscal management) if the Commissioner has determined that a school district has failed, or is unable, to take corrective actions necessary to establish a thorough and efficient system of education.