NJ S409

Authorizes county and municipal sewerage authorities, municipal authorities, and local units operating water/sewer facilities to establish reduced rates for water, sewer, and stormwater fees for low-income residents in New Jersey.

Eligibility requires the applicant to be an owner or tenant residing in the dwelling unit with household income at or below a percentage of federal poverty guidelines set by the authority, not exceeding thresholds used for the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program.

Participating authorities must adopt eligibility procedures, advertise the reduction program in utility bills or mailings, and require applicants to document identity, income, household composition, and ownership/tenancy status.

Reductions may only be implemented if the authority has sufficient unrestricted fund balance to offset revenue losses, or obtains approval from the Director of the Division of Local Government Services based on a rate study demonstrating no unreasonable rate increases or infrastructure funding shortfalls.

Households consisting entirely of students who are tax dependents of another household are ineligible, as are persons already receiving other fee reductions or abatements from the same authority.