LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 3121

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: NOVEMBER 12, 2024

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Requires certain local authorities to inspect, maintain, and repair fire hydrants in planned real estate developments.

Type of Impact:

Annual expenditure and revenue increase to local governments.

Agencies Affected:

Certain municipal authorities.

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Annual 

 

Local Expenditure Increase

Indeterminate

 

Local Revenue Increase

Indeterminate

 

 

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) finds that the bill would result in an indeterminate increase in annual expenditures to certain municipal authorities associated with the cost of the inspection, maintenance, repair, and cost of operation of fire hydrants located on streets and roads in planned real estate developments.

·         The OLS cannot estimate the number of fire hydrants that exist within the service borders of each municipality or within the State that would be subject to the provisions of the bill.  The OLS also cannot estimate the annual cost of water, materials, and labor to operate, inspect, maintain, and repair fire hydrants pursuant to the bill.  Therefore, the amount of the increase in annual expenditures is indeterminate.

·         The OLS expects the bill to result in an indeterminate increase in annual local revenue as a result of an increase in water service charges authorized pursuant to existing law related to the responsibility of a municipal authority concerning fire hydrants located within its service borders.  The amount of this revenue is related to the amount of the expenditure, and the amount of the revenue is therefore also indeterminate.

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill would require that every municipal authority created pursuant to the municipal and county utilities authorities law assume the same responsibility for the inspection, maintenance, repair, and cost of operation of fire hydrants located on streets and roads in planned real estate developments within its service borders, regardless of whether those roads or streets are dedicated to the municipality in which the planned real estate development is located, as it exercises over fire hydrants located along public streets and roads.  Under the bill, these authorities are to inspect, maintain, repair, and pay the cost of operation of fire hydrants located on streets and roads in planned real estate developments within their service borders in the same manner and to the same extent as fire hydrants that are not located in planned real estate developments are inspected, maintained, and repaired by that authority.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS finds that the bill would result in an indeterminate increase in annual expenditures to certain municipal authorities associated with the cost of the inspection, maintenance, repair, and cost of operation of fire hydrants located on streets and roads in planned real estate developments.  The OLS cannot estimate the number of fire hydrants that exist within the service borders of each municipality or within the State that would be subject to the provisions of the bill.  The OLS also cannot estimate the annual cost of water, materials, and labor to operate, inspect, maintain, and repair fire hydrants pursuant to the bill.  Therefore, the amount of the increase in annual expenditures is indeterminate.     

      The OLS expects the bill to result in an indeterminate increase in annual local revenue as a result of an increase in water service charges authorized by current law.  The amount of this revenue is related to the amount of the expenditure, and the amount of the revenue to be generated is therefore also indeterminate.

 

 

Section:

Local Government

Analyst:

Grace Ahlin

Assistant Fiscal Analyst

Approved:

Thomas Koenig

Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

 

 

This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

 

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).