An Act concerning the financing of airports operated by counties and municipalities and amending various sections of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. R.S.40:8-3 is amended to read as follows:
County airports; general powers.
40:8-3. a. The governing body of any county may acquire, by lease or purchase, and establish, construct, own, control, lease, equip, improve, maintain, operate, and regulate airports or landing fields for the use of airplanes and other aircraft within the limits of such counties, and may use for such purpose or purposes any property, owned or controlled by such county, suitable therefor, provided that the provision or performance of goods or services in connection with the operation, management, or administration of an airport shall be done pursuant to the "Local Public Contracts Law," P.L.1971, c.198 (C.40A:11-1 et seq.) and any supplements thereto.
b. A county may maintain, operate, and manage an airport or landing field as a public utility of the county and, for that purpose, shall keep the accounts of the airport separate and distinct from any other accounts of the county.
2. R.S.40:8-5 is amended to read as follows:
Condemnation, law applicable; bonds, law applicable.
40:8-5. Private property needed by any municipality for an airport or landing field shall be acquired by purchase if the municipality is able to agree with the owners on the terms thereof, and otherwise by condemnation, in the manner provided by the law under which the municipality is authorized to acquire real property for public purposes other than street purposes, or, if there be no such law, in the manner provided for and subject to the provisions of the “Eminent Domain Act of 1971,” P.L.1971, c.361 (C.20:3-1 et seq.). The purchase price or award for real property acquired for an airport or landing field may be paid for by appropriation of moneys available therefor or wholly or partly from the proceeds of the sale of bonds of the municipality, as the governing body of such municipality shall determine. Such bonds shall be authorized and issued in accordance with the provisions of the "Local Bond Law," (N.J.S.40A:2-1 et seq.).
3. R.S.40:28-4 is amended to read as follows:
Bonds for airport purposes; maturity.
40:28-4. a. A county of any class may issue bonds for the purpose of acquiring real estate and thereafter equipping, maintaining, and operating that real estate for airport purposes.
b. All bonds issued for airport purposes shall mature and be payable in accordance with the provisions of the "Local Bond Law," (N.J.S.40A:2-1 et seq.).
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
Approved August 5, 2022.