NJ A5649

Counties and municipalities may use their existing open space trust funds for remediation of collapsed mine shafts and sinkholes on property they own, without requiring new voter approval

Governing bodies must hold at least one public hearing with 45 days notice before adopting an ordinance to authorize this new use of funds, with written notice to clerks, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, and Secretary of Agriculture

Expenditures exceeding $100,000 for any single mine shaft or sinkhole remediation project require an additional public hearing and separate ordinance authorizing the specific expenditure

Upon adoption, existing trust funds are dissolved and reconstituted as new funds with expanded purposes (adding "Mine Remediation" to the fund title)

Counties and municipalities cannot increase the tax levy rate previously approved by voters for these trust funds without submitting a new proposition to voters