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Office of Legislative Services Background Report Initiative and Referendum in New Jersey’s Counties and Municipalities OLS Background Report No. 162 Prepared By: Local Government Date Prepared: October 12, 2007 New Jersey State Legislature Office of Legislative Services State House Annex, P.O. Box 68 Trenton, NJ 08625-0068 http://www.njleg.state.nj.us

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Page 1: Office of Legislative Services Background Report ... · 12/10/2007 · Office of Legislative Services Background Report Initiative and Referendum in New Jersey’s Counties and Municipalities

Office of Legislative Services Background Report Initiative and Referendum in New Jersey’s Counties and Municipalities OLS Background Report No. 162 Prepared By:

Local Government Date Prepared:

October 12, 2007 New Jersey State Legislature Office of Legislative Services State House Annex, P.O. Box 68 Trenton, NJ 08625-0068 http://www.njleg.state.nj.us

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OLS Background Report On Initiative and Referendum in New Jersey’s Counties and Municipalities

INTRODUCTION

This background report discusses the powers of initiative and referendum in New Jersey counties and municipalities.1 These powers grew out of the reform movement of the early 20th century as an effort to enable the voters of a community to play a direct role in their local government. Initiative is the power enabling the voters to propose ordinances by petitioning their governing body and to enact them by a referendum vote if the governing body declines to act. Referendum is the power enabling the voters to veto the implementation of ordinances enacted by the governing body.2 These powers are referred to as binding initiative and referenda, because their use results in binding decisions of whether or not ordinances are adopted, and to distinguish them from non-binding referenda, which is the power governing bodies may utilize to submit advisory questions to the voters in order to “take the pulse” of the electorate. In New Jersey, the governing bodies of all municipalities and counties have the power to hold non-binding referenda pursuant to a general enabling statute, however, the powers of binding initiative and referendum are available only in municipalities and counties that are governed under certain forms of government.3 Governing bodies of municipalities and counties organized under these forms of government are also afforded the power to submit proposed legislation to the voters for approval or rejection. A few other municipalities are governed by special charters which provide for binding initiative and referendum. One municipality is organized under an old form of

1 Also see OLS Background Report No. 153 for an overview of the subject of initiative and referendum. 2 “The power of referendum is a check on the exercise of local legislative power, fostering citizen involvement in the political affairs of the community.” In re Referendum Petition to Repeal Ordinance 04-75, 2007 N.J. LEXIS 1066 (N.J. 2007) 3 Binding initiative and referendum is available in municipalities operating under an Optional Municipal Charter Law (commonly known as the “Faulkner Act”) form of government, N.J.S.A. 40:69A-1 et seq., or a commission form of government under N.J.S.A. 40:70-1 et seq., commonly known as the “Walsh Act,” and counties that have adopted a form of government under the “Optional County Charter Law,” N.J.S.A. 40:41A-1 et seq.

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Initiative and Referendum in New Jersey’s Counties and Municipalities October 12, 2007 Page 3 government that allows for certain referenda.4 There are also statutes that are applicable to all municipalities that provide for referenda for specific matters. NONBINDING REFERENDA - ALL MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES

The governing body of any municipality or county may "ascertain the sentiment of the legal voters of the municipality or county upon any question or policy pertaining to the government or internal affairs thereof" by adopting an ordinance or resolution at a regular meeting requesting that the proposition appear on the ballot at the next general election. The request must be filed with the county clerk no later than 74 days before the election. (N.J.S.A. 19:37-1 et seq.)

Once a municipal governing body has adopted a resolution or ordinance placing a nonbinding

proposition before the voters and transmitted the request to the county clerk, the voters of the municipality have the power to place a reasonably related nonbinding question or policy before the voters by presenting to the governing body a petition signed by 10% or more of the registered and qualified voters of the municipality. The governing body must adopt a resolution at its next regular meeting requesting the county clerk to print the proposition as formulated and expressed in the petition on the ballot and must file the request with the clerk no later than 60 days prior to the election. (N.J.S.A. 19:37-1.1)

Not every subject can be submitted to a nonbinding referendum. The courts have held that issues such as state taxes, automobile insurance reform, school aid, and school district deconsolidation could not be subjects of local nonbinding referenda because they were not questions or policies pertaining to the government or internal affairs of the municipality or county. Interestingly, the New Jersey Supreme Court has held that a municipality may hold a nonbinding referendum on whether it should amend its zoning ordinance even though a provision of the “Municipal Land Use Law” specifically prohibits zoning ordinances from being “submitted to or adopted by initiative or referendum,” N.J.S.A. 40:55D-62b. The court held that the “Municipal Land Use Law” (MLUL)

does not forbid voters from expressing their opinions on a proposed zoning amendment by voting on a public question. Nothing in section 62.b or in N.J.S.A. 19:37-1 precludes a governing body from measuring the non-binding sentiment of the public. Non-binding referenda, moreover, do not subvert the purpose of the MLUL. A municipality must still conform, as the Borough conformed here, to the procedural requirements of the MLUL. In the absence of an express statutory provision to the contrary, we construe section 62.b

4 Lists displaying the 166 New Jersey municipalities in which the powers of binding initiative and referendum may be utilized are appended to this backgrounder.

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as not prohibiting a non-binding referendum under N.J.S.A. 19:37-1. [Great Atl. & Pac. Tea Co. v. Borough of Point Pleasant, 137 N.J. 136 at 152 (1994)]

BINDING INITIATIVE AND REFERENDA

Some county and municipal governing bodies, because of their form of government, have the power to place ordinances before the voters for approval. The voters in these counties and municipalities also have the power to submit petitions to initiate local ordinances and to petition to subject ordinances passed by their governing bodies to voter referendum. This section of this backgrounder characterizes these “form of government specific” powers as general powers of initiative and referendum to distinguish them from other statutes that provide for referenda for specific purposes in all or certain types of municipalities. Referenda for specific purposes will be discussed in a separate section of this backgrounder.

General powers of initiative and referendum exist in municipalities operating under the

Optional Municipal Charter Law (commonly referred to as the “Faulkner Act”), the commission form of government (commonly referred to as the “Walsh Act”) and five other municipalities. According to the 2005 Legislative District Data Book (hereinafter the Data Book) these general powers of initiative and referendum exist in 166 of the 566 New Jersey municipalities. According to the Data Book, these 166 “I & R municipalities” have a combined 2003 estimated population of 4,900,579 people comprising 56.73% of the total estimated population of the State. General powers of initiative and referendum also exist in the six counties operating under the “Optional County Charter Law,” with a combined population of 3,456,052, comprising 40.01% of the 2003 total estimated population for the State.

The “Walsh Act,” N.J.S.A. 40:70-1 et seq., originally enacted in 1911, was the first New

Jersey municipal charter law to provide voters with the powers of initiative and referendum. According to the Data Book there are 32 municipalities operating under the commission form of government pursuant to the “Walsh Act.” According to the 2003 total estimated population reported in the Data Book, the population of those 32 municipalities is 360,156 comprising 4.17% of the State total estimated population. The requirements and procedures for initiative and referenda under the “Walsh Act” are found at N.J.S.A. 40:74-5 to 19.

The requirements and procedures for initiative and referendum under the “Faulkner Act,”

N.J.S.A. 40:69A-1 et seq., are set forth at N.J.S.A. 40:69A-184 to 196. According to the Data Book there are 129 municipalities that have adopted a form of government under the “Faulkner Act,” including the ten most populous New Jersey municipalities. According to the 2003 total estimated population reported in the Data Book, the population of those 129 municipalities is 4,321,523 comprising 50.03% of the State total estimated population.

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Availability of Initiative and Referendum in New Jersey Municipalities (According to the 2005 Legislative District Data Book)

Voters Voters Have Do Not Have

Form of I & R I & R Total Number of Government Power Power Municipalities

Municipal Manager (1923) 0 7 7

Borough 0 218 218 City 1 14 15

Commission 32 0 32 OMCL:Council-Manager 42 0 42

OMCL:Mayor-Council 67 0 67 OMCL:Mayor-Council-

Admin 2 0 2 OMCL:Small Muni 18 0 18 Special Charters 4 7 11

Town 0 9 9 Township 0 144 144

Village 0 1 1 TOTAL 166 400 566

Six counties, Atlantic, Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Mercer and Union, have adopted provisions of the “Optional County Charter Law,” N.J.S.A. 40:41A-1 et seq. The requirements and procedures for initiative and referenda under the “Optional County Charter Law” are found at N.J.S.A. 40:41A-104 to 116.

Most of the questions and problems regarding initiative and referendum in New Jersey fall

into one of two categories: whether the subject matter of a proposed initiative or referendum is permissible, or whether the procedural requirements of the laws have been satisfied. The requirements and procedures for initiative and referendum set forth in the “Walsh Act” and the “Optional County Charter Law” are similar to those contained in the “Faulkner Act.” The requirements and procedures for initiative and referendum under the “Faulkner Act” are described in this backgrounder in detail. Inquiries concerning specific requirements for initiative and referendum under other laws may be addressed to the Local Government Section of the Office of Legislative Services.

Subject Matter of Initiative and Referendum The laws authorizing initiative and referendum under the “Walsh Act,” the “Faulkner Act,”

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Initiative and Referendum in New Jersey’s Counties and Municipalities October 12, 2007 Page 6 and the “Optional County Charter Law” are broad5 but subject to limitations.6 For example, under the “Walsh Act,” ordinances fixing the salaries of municipal employees cannot be the subject of initiative or referendum. (N.J.S.A. 40:74-5 and -7)

The voters, working through the initiative process, are limited by the same constraints as is a

governing body when adopting an ordinance. For example, it has been held that just as a governing body may not divest its successors of legislative powers, likewise an initiative ordinance may not restrain the future exercise of municipal legislative power. Maese v. Snowden, 148 N.J. Super. 7 (N.J. Super. Ct. 1977).

Sometimes, courts find that a “comprehensive statutory scheme” evidences a “legislative

design to foreclose referendum or initiative.” Such was the case in We the People Committee, Inc. v. City of Elizabeth, 325 N.J.Super. 329 (App. Div. 1999) where the court held that an ordinance to privatize the city’s water distribution system pursuant to the “New Jersey Water Supply Public-Private Contracting Act,” N.J.S.A. 58:26-19, was not subject to the “Faulkner Act” referendum process. Part of the court’s rationale was that the water contracting statute “afforded the public ample opportunity to engage in debate on the issue.” We the People, Inc. at 335.

There are statutes that specifically exempt particular types of ordinances from a referendum

challenge. For example, the “Municipal Land Use Law” provides: “[n]o zoning ordinance and no amendment or revision to any zoning ordinance shall be submitted to or adopted by initiative or referendum” (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-62 b.). The "Local Bond Law" provides that certain bond ordinances are not subject to referendum (N.J.S.A. 40A:2-18). A provision of the "Local Budget Law" exempts from referendum municipal ordinances adopting the State fiscal year (N.J.S.A. 40A:4-3.2).

Local budgets themselves cannot be made subject to voter referendum. Cuprowski v. Jersey

City, 101 N.J.Super. 15 (Law Div. 1968), aff’d o.b., 103 N.J.Super. 217 (App. Div. 1968), certif. denied, 53 N.J. 80 (1968). This is because local budget ordinances take effect immediately, denying the voters any time to file a petition to protest adoption of the ordinance. Other types of ordinances do not take effect until 20 days after their passage in order to afford the voters a period of time to file a petition against passage of the ordinance.

5 “Where the right of referendum is statutorily granted, however, the grant is to be liberally construed ‘to promote, where appropriate, its beneficial effects.’” D'Ercole v. Norwood, 198 N.J. Super. 531, 543 (N.J. Super. Ct. 1984) 6 “[T]he Faulkner Act should be liberally construed for the purpose of effecting its salutary purposes of arousing public interest and placing in the hands of the voters of those municipalities which adopt the act direct means of controlling proposed or already enacted municipal legislation and also of accomplishing the enactment of legislation which has neither been proposed nor adopted. However, the Faulkner Act does not imbue initiative-proposed ordinances with any qualities different from other ordinances. Only municipal legislation that may be enacted by the governing body itself may be the subject of an initiative proceeding.” Maese v. Snowden, 148 N.J. Super. 7, 12 (N.J. Super. Ct. 1977) (citations omitted).

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The court in Cuprowski went further than the holding of the case by carving out a judicial exception to the statutes that govern binding referenda, distinguishing between “ordinances of a legislative nature” and “ordinances of an executive or administrative nature” and theorizing that the Legislature intended the right of referendum to apply only to legislative ordinances.7 This legislative/administrative dichotomy took hold and courts utilized the distinction for many years, often depriving the voters of their ability to protest against ordinances deemed to be administrative. However, the court recently took a very different position on this subject.

On September 26, 2007 the New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously rendered an opinion

holding that a plain-language interpretation of the “Faulkner Act’s” referendum statute clearly provides that the “power of referendum” applies to “any ordinance.” See, In re Referendum Petition to Repeal Ordinance 04-75, 2007 N.J. LEXIS 1066 (N.J. 2007). The court explicitly addressed Cuprowski and its progeny by stating that the judiciary has no authority to qualify the referendum statute. Justice Albin, writing for the court, criticized the Cuprowski line of cases as a judicial attempt to impose its own public policy concerns before those of the Legislature. “It is the function of the Legislature, not the courts, to determine how much direct democracy through referendum should be conferred on the voters of a municipality. Our role is to construe the statute, not to impose our policy preferences, particularly when to do so inhibits voter participation.”

It will be of great interest to observe the impact of this case upon referendum petitions filed

in the future. “FAULKNER ACT” MUNICIPALITIES

The “Faulkner Act” provisions governing initiative and referendum are found at N.J.S.A. 40:69A-184 et seq.

Requirements specific to the Power of Initiative

How do the voters initiate an ordinance?

The initiative process is commenced when a petition signed by a sufficient number of the municipality's or county’s legal voters is submitted to the governing body. A petition can be 7 See: Millennium Towers Urban Renewal v. Mun. Council of Jersey City, 343 N.J. Super. 367 (Law Div., 2001) for a discussion of how difficult it can sometimes be to distinguish between legislative and administrative acts. In that case, the court held that an ordinance granting a taxpayer a 20-year tax abatement pursuant to the “Long Term Tax Exemption Law,” N.J.S.A. 40A:20-1, was not subject to referendum under the “Faulkner Act” even though it recognized that awarding the tax abatement was a legislative act. The basis for the court’s determination was that the “Long Term Tax Exemption Law” was an “integral part” of another law, the “Local Redevelopment and Housing Law,” N.J.S.A. 40A:12-1 et seq., which contains a provision specifically protecting ordinances adopted pursuant thereto from initiative or referendum. (N.J.S.A. 40A:12A-28)

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Initiative and Referendum in New Jersey’s Counties and Municipalities October 12, 2007 Page 8 submitted to the council if it is signed by either:

(1) a number of the legal voters of the municipality equal to

at least 15% of the total votes cast in the municipality at the last election at which members of the General Assembly were elected; or

(2) a number of the legal voters of the municipality equal to

at least 10% but less than 15% of the total votes cast in the municipality at the last election at which members of the General Assembly were elected. (N.J.S.A. 40:69A-184)

The difference between the two options is that the first provides an opportunity for the

ordinance to be placed on the ballot in a special election and the second does not. If an initiative petition contains the required number of signatures set forth in (1) above, the ordinance will be put on the ballot at a special election if there is no general or regular municipal election occurring between 40 and 90 days after the final date for withdrawal of the petition. The special election will be held between 40 and 60 days from the final date for withdrawal of the petition. If an initiative petition contains the required number of signatures set forth in (2) above, the ordinance will be submitted to the voters at the next general or regular municipal election occurring at least 40 days after the final date for withdrawal of the petition. (N.J.S.A. 40:69A-192)

Requirements specific to the Power of Referendum

How do the voters subject an ordinance passed by the governing body to public referendum? In all but certain specific cases, an ordinance passed by the governing body does not take

effect until 20 days after the date of its final passage and approval. Within that 20-day period, if the voters file a legally correct petition protesting against passage of the ordinance with the municipal clerk, and the petition is signed by a number of the legal voters of the municipality equal to at least 15% of the total votes cast in the municipality at the last election at which members of the General Assembly were elected, the ordinance is suspended from taking effect until either the council repeals the ordinance, the ordinance is submitted to the voters, or the referendum petition is withdrawn. (N.J.S.A.40:69A-185)

When a referendum petition is filed with the municipal clerk, the ordinance in question is suspended until 10 days following a finding by the clerk that the petition is insufficient or, if an amended petition is filed, until five days after that. If the petition or amended petition is found to be sufficient, the ordinance is suspended until the petition is withdrawn by the Committee of the Petitioners, until the municipal council repeals the ordinance, or until the ordinance is approved or rejected by the voters at the polls. (N.J.S.A. 40:69A-189)

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If an ordinance is to be submitted to the voters in a referendum election, it is done at the next general or regular municipal election occurring from 40 to 90 days after the final date for withdrawal of the petition. However, if no general or regular election is scheduled to be held in the municipality within that time period, then the council will provide for a special election to be held on the question during that time period. In any instance where a referendum election is to be held as a result of an ordinance passed by the council which by its terms or by law cannot become effective in the municipality unless it is submitted to the voters, or which by its terms authorizes a referendum in the municipality concerning the subject matter thereof, the time for submission of the question to the voters is calculated from the date of the final passage and approval of the ordinance. (N.J.S.A. 40:69A-192)

Requirements common to the Powers of Initiative and Referendum

Who is responsible for an initiative or referendum petition?

A group of voters, known as the Committee of the Petitioners, is responsible for circulating and filing an initiative or referendum petition, and for the petition's possible withdrawal.

Are there technical requirements for compiling a petition?

Petition papers must be uniform in size and style, and must contain the full text of the

proposed ordinance. (For detailed specifications of petition papers, see N.J.S.A. 40:69A-186.) Also see N.J.S.A. 1:5-3 which provides that each page of a petition must have double spacing between the signature lines of the petition so that each signer is afforded sufficient space to provide his or her printed name, address and signature. Where is a petition filed and who determines if a petition is sufficient?

Petition papers are filed with the municipal clerk who, within 20 days of that filing, must determine whether the petition is legally correct in form and has been signed by a sufficient number of qualified voters. Upon completion of that examination, the clerk must certify the results to the council at its next regular meeting. In the event the clerk determines that the petition is defective or insufficient, the particulars of the defect or insufficiency must be set forth in the certificate. The clerk is required to notify at least two members of the Committee of the Petitioners of the clerk's findings. (N.J.S.A. 40:69A-187)

Can defective petitions be corrected?

The Committee of the Petitioners may amend its petition within 10 days after being served

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Initiative and Referendum in New Jersey’s Counties and Municipalities October 12, 2007 Page 10 with the notification of insufficiency. Within five days after a supplementary petition is filed, the clerk must examine the amendment and if the petition is still insufficient, the clerk must notify the Committee of the Petitioners of the clerk's findings and file a certificate as to the insufficiency in the clerk's office. While no further action is taken on an insufficient petition, the finding of insufficiency does not prevent the filing of a new petition for the same purpose. (N.J.S.A. 40:69A-188) What happens when a petition is determined to be sufficient?

If the clerk finds that a petition or amended petition is sufficient, the clerk must submit the petition to the municipal council without delay. An ordinance initiated by petition is deemed to have had first reading when submitted to council and the council must hold a public hearing on it. (N.J.S.A. 40:69A-190) The council has 20 days following the submission of a sufficient petition to pass an ordinance requested by an initiative petition in substantially the form requested, or to repeal an ordinance as requested by a referendum petition. If the council fails to so act within that time, the clerk is required to submit the ordinance to the voters.

Can the Committee of the Petitioners withdraw a petition?

Within 10 days after “final adverse action” by the council or after the expiration of the time

allowed for that action, the Committee of the Petitioners may file a request with the clerk, signed by at least four of the five members of the committee, asking that the petition be withdrawn, at which point it ceases to have any force or effect. (N.J.S.A. 40:69A-191) Are there any safeguards to protect a municipality from having to hold frequent special elections?

While the “Faulkner Act” allows any number of proposed ordinances to be voted upon at the same election, it prohibits more than one special election from being held in any six-month period. During that six-month period, any ordinance which would otherwise be submitted to the voters at a special election, if one were not already scheduled, must be placed on the ballot at the scheduled special election if there are at least 30 days remaining between the final date for withdrawal of the petition and the date of the scheduled special election. Otherwise, the ordinance is voted upon at the next general election or regular municipal election, whichever occurs first. (N.J.S.A. 40:69A-193) What happens after the election?

If a majority of the votes cast are in favor of a proposed ordinance, it becomes a valid and

binding ordinance of the municipality. An ordinance adopted by referendum cannot be amended or repealed within three years of its adoption except by another referendum. A governing body may submit to the voters at any general or regular municipal election held during that three-year period a proposition to repeal or amend an ordinance adopted at the polls. If the provisions of two or more measures approved or adopted at the same election conflict, then the measure receiving the greatest

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Initiative and Referendum in New Jersey’s Counties and Municipalities October 12, 2007 Page 11 affirmative vote shall control. (N.J.S.A. 40:69A-196)

OTHER FORMS OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT WITH POWERS OF INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM:

Change of Government:

"The municipal manager form of government law," N.J.S.A. 40:79-1 et seq., may be adopted by referendum put onto the ballot by a petition of at least 15% of the number of legal voters of the municipality in the most recent election of members of the General Assembly. Similarly, the “Walsh Act” allows voters to petition for the enactment or abandonment of a commission form of government, and the “Faulkner Act” allows for the adoption, modification or abandonment of a charter form of government by referendum.

Special Charters:

Eleven New Jersey municipalities have been incorporated pursuant to special acts of the Legislature since the New Jersey Constitution of 1947 was adopted. A review of the special charters reveals that three municipalities, Middletown Township (P.L.1971, c.237), Montville Township (P.L.1974, c.95), and Plainfield City (P.L.1968, c.159), provide their voters with initiative and referendum powers. In addition, Tenafly Borough, which generally operates under the borough form of government pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:60-1 et seq., has provided its voters with the powers of initiative and referendum pursuant to P.L.1980, c.99, which was specifically enacted to provide those powers. These four municipalities' initiative and referendum procedures are similar to those set forth in the “Walsh Act” and the “Faulkner Act”; however, certain of the specific requirements such as percentages of voters and timing requirements, differ from those statutes and from each other. Finally, one city, East Orange, operates under P.L.1963, c.149 which provides voters with initiative and referendum powers. According to the Data Book the 2003 total estimated population for these five municipalities is 218,900 comprising 2.53% of the total estimated population of the State. MISCELLANEOUS REFERENDA AVAILABLE TO MUNICIPALITIES:

In addition to the referenda discussed above, there are a variety of other referenda available to all municipalities and to municipalities organized under certain forms of government. These provisions are scattered throughout the statutes and comprise a variety of topics. Illustrative of these provisions are:

N.J.S.A. 5:8-43 et al. Submission to voters whether to allow Bingo games. N.J.S.A. 5:8-70 et al. Submission to voters whether to allow raffles.

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Initiative and Referendum in New Jersey’s Counties and Municipalities October 12, 2007 Page 12

N.J.S.A. 5:8-116 et al. Petition to allow Amusement Games. N.J.S.A. 11A:9-1 et seq. Petition to adopt Civil Service in County, Municipality. N.J.S.A. 33:1-44 et al. Municipal referendum on retail sales of alcoholic beverages. N.J.S.A. 40:12-15.1 et seq. Referenda to impose county, municipal open space tax. N.J.S.A. 40:43-66.35 et seq. Referenda concerning consolidation of municipalities. N.J.S.A. 40:54-1 et seq. Referenda to establish a public library. N.J.S.A. 40A:4-45.3 et al. Referenda to exceed local budget cap. N.J.S.A. 40A:9-152 Referenda to provide municipal treasurer with tenure. N.J.S.A. 40A:14-41. Referenda to convert volunteer to paid fire department. N.J.S.A. 40A:14-183 et seq. Referenda to establish Length of Service Award Program. N.J.S.A. 40A:65-32 Referenda to establish commission concerning consolidation.

APPENDIX Appended hereto you will find lists of the 166 New Jersey Municipalities with the powers of initiative and referendum. The lists sort the data alphabetically by municipality, alphabetically by county, by population and by form of government. For further information, contact: Robert C. Rothberg Office of Legislative Services (609) 292-1596 [email protected]

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NEW JERSEY MUNICIPALITIES WITH THE POWERS OF INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM

(According to the 2005 Legislative District Data Book)

Sorted Alphabetically by Municipality

Municipality County 2003 Estimated Population

Form of Municipal

Government Aberdeen Twp. Monmouth 18,723 OMCL:C-M Allamuchy Twp. Warren 3,945 OMCL:SM Allenhurst Boro Monmouth 706 COMMISSION

Atlantic City Atlantic 40,385 OMCL:M-C Audubon Boro Camden 9,118 COMMISSION Avalon Boro Cape May 2,155 OMCL:M-C

Avon-By-The-Sea Boro Monmouth 2,233 COMMISSION Bass River Twp. Burlington 1,562 COMMISSION

Bayonne City Hudson 60,905 OMCL:M-C Beach Haven Boro Ocean 1,310 COMMISSION

Belleville Twp. Essex 35,604 OMCL:C-M Belmar Boro Monmouth 5,975 OMCL:SM

Berkeley Twp. Ocean 42,247 OMCL:M-C Berlin Twp. Camden 5,360 OMCL:SM

Bordentown City Burlington 4,013 COMMISSION Bradley Beach Boro Monmouth 4,770 OMCL:SM

Brick Twp. Ocean 78,379 OMCL:M-C Bridgeton City Cumberland 22,785 OMCL:M-C

Bridgewater Twp. Somerset 43,999 OMCL:M-C Brigantine City Atlantic 12,631 OMCL:C-M Burlington City Burlington 9,809 OMCL:M-C Burlington Twp. Burlington 21,784 OMCL:M-C

Byram Twp. Sussex 8,556 OMCL:C-M Camden City Camden 80,089 OMCL:M-C

Cape May City Cape May 3,923 OMCL:C-M Cape May Point Boro Cape May 242 COMMISSION

Cedar Grove Twp. Essex 12,266 OMCL:C-M Cherry Hill Twp. Camden 71,081 OMCL:M-C

Chester Twp. Morris 7,668 OMCL:SM Clark Twp. Union 14,707 OMCL:M-C

Clinton Twp. Hunterdon 13,768 OMCL:SM Collingswood Boro Camden 14,220 COMMISSION

Deal Boro Monmouth 1,071 COMMISSION Delran Twp. Burlington 16,569 OMCL:M-C

Denville Twp. Morris 15,932 OMCL:M-C Deptford Twp. Gloucester 28,055 OMCL:C-M

Dover Twp. Ocean 93,671 OMCL:M-C East Brunswick Twp. Middlesex 48,337 OMCL:M-C East Hanover Twp. Morris 11,449 OMCL:SM

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East Orange City Essex 69,212 CITY East Windsor Twp. Mercer 26,694 OMCL:C-M Eastampton Twp. Burlington 6,657 OMCL:C-M

Edison Twp. Middlesex 100,138 OMCL:M-C Elizabeth City Union 123,215 OMCL:M-C

Estell Manor City Atlantic 1,657 OMCL:SM Evesham Twp. Burlington 46,111 OMCL:C-M

Ewing Twp. Mercer 36,535 OMCL:M-C Fair Lawn Boro Bergen 31,585 OMCL:C-M Fairfield Twp. Essex 7,442 OMCL:SM Florence Twp. Burlington 11,247 OMCL:M-C Franklin Twp. Somerset 54,977 OMCL:C-M

Galloway Twp. Atlantic 34,221 OMCL:C-M Gloucester Twp. Camden 65,963 OMCL:M-C Greenwich Twp. Gloucester 5,001 OMCL:SM

Haddon Heights Boro Camden 7,495 COMMISSION Haddonfield Boro Camden 11,616 COMMISSION

Hamilton Twp. Mercer 89,632 OMCL:M-C Harvey Cedars Boro Ocean 373 COMMISSION

Hawthorne Boro Passaic 18,363 OMCL:M-C Highlands Boro Monmouth 5,367 OMCL:SM

Hillside Twp. Union 21,902 OMCL:M-C Hoboken City Hudson 39,482 OMCL:M-C Howell Twp. Monmouth 50,130 OMCL:C-M

Irvington Twp. Essex 60,057 OMCL:M-C Island Heights Boro Ocean 1,835 OMCL:SM

Jefferson Twp. Morris 20,586 OMCL:M-C Jersey City Hudson 239,097 OMCL:M-C

Keansburg Boro Monmouth 10,746 OMCL:C-M Lambertville City Hunterdon 3,880 OMCL:SM Lawrence Twp. Mercer 30,967 OMCL:C-M

Lincoln Park Boro Morris 10,870 OMCL:M-C Little Falls Twp. Passaic 11,947 OMCL:M-C Livingston Twp. Essex 27,972 OMCL:C-M

Logan Twp. Gloucester 6,015 OMCL:SM Long Beach Twp. Ocean 3,428 COMMISSION Long Branch City Monmouth 31,523 OMCL:M-C

Longport Boro Atlantic 1,054 COMMISSION Lopatcong Twp. Warren 7,837 OMCL:SM

Lower Twp. Cape May 22,518 OMCL:C-M Lyndhurst Twp. Bergen 19,461 COMMISSION Mahwah Twp. Bergen 24,460 OMCL:M-C

Manchester Twp. Ocean 42,228 OMCL:M-C Maple Shade Twp. Burlington 19,269 OMCL:C-M

Margate City Atlantic 8,328 COMMISSION Marlboro Twp. Monmouth 38,859 OMCL:M-C

Medford Lakes Boro Burlington 4,205 OMCL:C-M Middletown Twp. Monmouth 66,357 SPEC.CHART

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Millville City Cumberland 27,119 COMMISSION Mine Hill Twp. Morris 3,681 OMCL:M-C

Monmouth Beach Boro Monmouth 3,619 COMMISSION Monroe Twp. Gloucester 30,427 OMCL:M-C Monroe Twp. Middlesex 31,494 OMCL:M-C

Montclair Twp. Essex 38,584 OMCL:C-M Montville Twp. Morris 21,205 SPEC.CHART

Moorestown Twp. Burlington 19,932 OMCL:C-M Morristown Town Morris 18,816 OMCL:M-C

Mount Ephraim Boro Camden 4,497 COMMISSION Mount Holly Twp. Burlington 10,771 OMCL:C-M Mount Laurel Twp. Burlington 40,523 OMCL:C-M Mount Olive Twp. Morris 25,449 OMCL:M-C

Mountain Lakes Boro Morris 4,307 OMCL:C-M New Brunswick City Middlesex 49,803 OMCL:M-C

Newark Essex 277,911 OMCL:M-C Newton Town Sussex 8,389 OMCL:C-M

North Bergen Twp. Hudson 58,445 COMMISSION North Brunswick Twp. Middlesex 38,404 OMCL:M-C-A North Plainfield Boro Somerset 21,091 OMCL:M-C

Nutley Twp. Essex 28,091 COMMISSION Ocean City Cape May 15,558 OMCL:M-C Ocean Twp. Monmouth 27,693 OMCL:C-M

Old Bridge Twp. Middlesex 63,663 OMCL:M-C Orange Twp. Essex 32,556 OMCL:M-C

Parsippany-Troy Hills Twp.

Morris 51,247 OMCL:M-C

Passaic City Passaic 68,528 OMCL:M-C Paterson City Passaic 150,782 OMCL:M-C

Pemberton Twp. Burlington 28,938 OMCL:M-C Pequannock Twp. Morris 14,506 OMCL:C-M Perth Amboy City Middlesex 48,447 OMCL:M-C Phillipsburg Town Warren 15,177 OMCL:M-C Pine Valley Boro Camden 22 COMMISSION Piscataway Twp. Middlesex 52,055 OMCL:M-C

Plainfield City Union 48,025 SPEC.CHART Pohatcong Twp. Warren 3,438 OMCL:SM

Rahway City Union 26,779 OMCL:M-C Randolph Twp. Morris 25,575 OMCL:C-M

Ridgefield Park Village Bergen 12,781 COMMISSION Ridgewood Village Bergen 24,831 OMCL:C-M

Ringwood Boro Passaic 12,704 OMCL:C-M Rivervale Twp. Bergen 9,729 OMCL:M-C Rockaway Twp. Morris 25,039 OMCL:M-C Roxbury Twp. Morris 23,774 OMCL:C-M

Saddle Brook Twp. Bergen 13,144 OMCL:M-C Scotch Plains Twp. Union 22,945 OMCL:C-M

Sea Isle City Cape May 2,957 COMMISSION South Amboy City Middlesex 8,032 OMCL:M-C

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South Brunswick Twp. Middlesex 40,181 OMCL:C-M Sparta Twp. Sussex 19,220 OMCL:C-M

Spotswood Boro Middlesex 8,236 OMCL:M-C Springfield Twp. Burlington 3,504 OMCL:C-M

Stafford Twp. Ocean 24,318 OMCL:SM Tavistock Boro Camden 27 COMMISSION Teaneck Twp. Bergen 39,815 OMCL:C-M Tenafly Boro Bergen 14,101 SPEC.CHART

Tinton Falls Boro Monmouth 15,975 OMCL:M-C Trenton City Mercer 85,314 OMCL:M-C Union City Hudson 66,573 COMMISSION

Ventnor City Atlantic 12,778 COMMISSION Vernon Twp. Sussex 25,439 OMCL:C-M Verona Twp. Essex 13,402 OMCL:C-M Vineland City Cumberland 57,057 OMCL:M-C

Washington Boro Warren 6,829 OMCL:C-M Washington Twp. Bergen 9,498 OMCL:M-C Washington Twp. Gloucester 50,386 OMCL:M-C

Wayne Twp. Passaic 55,262 OMCL:M-C Weehawken Twp. Hudson 13,348 OMCL:C-M

West Cape May Boro Cape May 1,095 COMMISSION West Milford Twp. Passaic 27,926 OMCL:M-C-A

West New York Town Hudson 46,348 COMMISSION West Orange Twp. Essex 45,069 OMCL:M-C

West Paterson Boro Passaic 11,255 OMCL:SM West Wildwood Boro Cape May 430 COMMISSION West Windsor Twp. Mercer 24,094 OMCL:M-C

Wildwood City Cape May 5,260 COMMISSION Wildwood Crest Boro Cape May 3,884 COMMISSION

Willingboro Twp. Burlington 33,090 OMCL:C-M Woodbridge Twp. Middlesex 100,866 OMCL:M-C

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NEW JERSEY MUNICIPALITIES WITH THE POWERS OF INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM

(According to the 2005 Legislative District Data Book)

Sorted Alphabetically by County

Municipality County 2003 Estimated Population

Form of Municipal

Government Atlantic City Atlantic 40,385 OMCL:M-C

Brigantine City Atlantic 12,631 OMCL:C-M Estell Manor City Atlantic 1,657 OMCL:SM Galloway Twp. Atlantic 34,221 OMCL:C-M Longport Boro Atlantic 1,054 COMMISSION Margate City Atlantic 8,328 COMMISSION Ventnor City Atlantic 12,778 COMMISSION

Fair Lawn Boro Bergen 31,585 OMCL:C-M Lyndhurst Twp. Bergen 19,461 COMMISSION Mahwah Twp. Bergen 24,460 OMCL:M-C

Ridgefield Park Village Bergen 12,781 COMMISSION Ridgewood Village Bergen 24,831 OMCL:C-M

Rivervale Twp. Bergen 9,729 OMCL:M-C Saddle Brook Twp. Bergen 13,144 OMCL:M-C

Teaneck Twp. Bergen 39,815 OMCL:C-M Tenafly Boro Bergen 14,101 SPEC.CHART

Washington Twp. Bergen 9,498 OMCL:M-C Bass River Twp. Burlington 1,562 COMMISSION Bordentown City Burlington 4,013 COMMISSION Burlington City Burlington 9,809 OMCL:M-C Burlington Twp. Burlington 21,784 OMCL:M-C

Delran Twp. Burlington 16,569 OMCL:M-C Eastampton Twp. Burlington 6,657 OMCL:C-M

Evesham Twp. Burlington 46,111 OMCL:C-M Florence Twp. Burlington 11,247 OMCL:M-C

Maple Shade Twp. Burlington 19,269 OMCL:C-M Medford Lakes Boro Burlington 4,205 OMCL:C-M

Moorestown Twp. Burlington 19,932 OMCL:C-M Mount Holly Twp. Burlington 10,771 OMCL:C-M Mount Laurel Twp. Burlington 40,523 OMCL:C-M Pemberton Twp. Burlington 28,938 OMCL:M-C Springfield Twp. Burlington 3,504 OMCL:C-M Willingboro Twp. Burlington 33,090 OMCL:C-M Audubon Boro Camden 9,118 COMMISSION

Berlin Twp. Camden 5,360 OMCL:SM Camden City Camden 80,089 OMCL:M-C

Cherry Hill Twp. Camden 71,081 OMCL:M-C Collingswood Boro Camden 14,220 COMMISSION Gloucester Twp. Camden 65,963 OMCL:M-C

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Haddon Heights Boro Camden 7,495 COMMISSION Haddonfield Boro Camden 11,616 COMMISSION

Mount Ephraim Boro Camden 4,497 COMMISSION Pine Valley Boro Camden 22 COMMISSION Tavistock Boro Camden 27 COMMISSION

Avalon Boro Cape May 2,155 OMCL:M-C Cape May City Cape May 3,923 OMCL:C-M

Cape May Point Boro Cape May 242 COMMISSION Lower Twp. Cape May 22,518 OMCL:C-M Ocean City Cape May 15,558 OMCL:M-C

Sea Isle City Cape May 2,957 COMMISSION West Cape May Boro Cape May 1,095 COMMISSION West Wildwood Boro Cape May 430 COMMISSION

Wildwood City Cape May 5,260 COMMISSION Wildwood Crest Boro Cape May 3,884 COMMISSION

Bridgeton City Cumberland 22,785 OMCL:M-C Millville City Cumberland 27,119 COMMISSION

Vineland City Cumberland 57,057 OMCL:M-C Belleville Twp. Essex 35,604 OMCL:C-M

Cedar Grove Twp. Essex 12,266 OMCL:C-M East Orange City Essex 69,212 CITY

Fairfield Twp. Essex 7,442 OMCL:SM Irvington Twp. Essex 60,057 OMCL:M-C

Livingston Twp. Essex 27,972 OMCL:C-M Montclair Twp. Essex 38,584 OMCL:C-M

Newark Essex 277,911 OMCL:M-C Nutley Twp. Essex 28,091 COMMISSION Orange Twp. Essex 32,556 OMCL:M-C Verona Twp. Essex 13,402 OMCL:C-M

West Orange Twp. Essex 45,069 OMCL:M-C Deptford Twp. Gloucester 28,055 OMCL:C-M

Greenwich Twp. Gloucester 5,001 OMCL:SM Logan Twp. Gloucester 6,015 OMCL:SM

Monroe Twp. Gloucester 30,427 OMCL:M-C Washington Twp. Gloucester 50,386 OMCL:M-C

Bayonne City Hudson 60,905 OMCL:M-C Hoboken City Hudson 39,482 OMCL:M-C Jersey City Hudson 239,097 OMCL:M-C

North Bergen Twp. Hudson 58,445 COMMISSION Union City Hudson 66,573 COMMISSION

Weehawken Twp. Hudson 13,348 OMCL:C-M West New York Town Hudson 46,348 COMMISSION

Clinton Twp. Hunterdon 13,768 OMCL:SM Lambertville City Hunterdon 3,880 OMCL:SM

East Windsor Twp. Mercer 26,694 OMCL:C-M Ewing Twp. Mercer 36,535 OMCL:M-C

Hamilton Twp. Mercer 89,632 OMCL:M-C Lawrence Twp. Mercer 30,967 OMCL:C-M

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Trenton City Mercer 85,314 OMCL:M-C West Windsor Twp. Mercer 24,094 OMCL:M-C

East Brunswick Twp. Middlesex 48,337 OMCL:M-C Edison Twp. Middlesex 100,138 OMCL:M-C Monroe Twp. Middlesex 31,494 OMCL:M-C

New Brunswick City Middlesex 49,803 OMCL:M-C North Brunswick Twp. Middlesex 38,404 OMCL:M-C-A

Old Bridge Twp. Middlesex 63,663 OMCL:M-C Perth Amboy City Middlesex 48,447 OMCL:M-C Piscataway Twp. Middlesex 52,055 OMCL:M-C South Amboy City Middlesex 8,032 OMCL:M-C

South Brunswick Twp. Middlesex 40,181 OMCL:C-M Spotswood Boro Middlesex 8,236 OMCL:M-C Woodbridge Twp. Middlesex 100,866 OMCL:M-C Aberdeen Twp. Monmouth 18,723 OMCL:C-M Allenhurst Boro Monmouth 706 COMMISSION

Avon-By-The-Sea Boro Monmouth 2,233 COMMISSION Belmar Boro Monmouth 5,975 OMCL:SM

Bradley Beach Boro Monmouth 4,770 OMCL:SM Deal Boro Monmouth 1,071 COMMISSION

Highlands Boro Monmouth 5,367 OMCL:SM Howell Twp. Monmouth 50,130 OMCL:C-M

Keansburg Boro Monmouth 10,746 OMCL:C-M Long Branch City Monmouth 31,523 OMCL:M-C

Marlboro Twp. Monmouth 38,859 OMCL:M-C Middletown Twp. Monmouth 66,357 SPEC.CHART

Monmouth Beach Boro Monmouth 3,619 COMMISSION Ocean Twp. Monmouth 27,693 OMCL:C-M

Tinton Falls Boro Monmouth 15,975 OMCL:M-C Chester Twp. Morris 7,668 OMCL:SM Denville Twp. Morris 15,932 OMCL:M-C

East Hanover Twp. Morris 11,449 OMCL:SM Jefferson Twp. Morris 20,586 OMCL:M-C

Lincoln Park Boro Morris 10,870 OMCL:M-C Mine Hill Twp. Morris 3,681 OMCL:M-C Montville Twp. Morris 21,205 SPEC.CHART

Morristown Town Morris 18,816 OMCL:M-C Mount Olive Twp. Morris 25,449 OMCL:M-C

Mountain Lakes Boro Morris 4,307 OMCL:C-M Parsippany-Troy Hills

Twp. Morris 51,247 OMCL:M-C

Pequannock Twp. Morris 14,506 OMCL:C-M Randolph Twp. Morris 25,575 OMCL:C-M Rockaway Twp. Morris 25,039 OMCL:M-C Roxbury Twp. Morris 23,774 OMCL:C-M

Beach Haven Boro Ocean 1,310 COMMISSION Berkeley Twp. Ocean 42,247 OMCL:M-C

Brick Twp. Ocean 78,379 OMCL:M-C Dover Twp. Ocean 93,671 OMCL:M-C

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Harvey Cedars Boro Ocean 373 COMMISSION Island Heights Boro Ocean 1,835 OMCL:SM Long Beach Twp. Ocean 3,428 COMMISSION Manchester Twp. Ocean 42,228 OMCL:M-C

Stafford Twp. Ocean 24,318 OMCL:SM Hawthorne Boro Passaic 18,363 OMCL:M-C Little Falls Twp. Passaic 11,947 OMCL:M-C

Passaic City Passaic 68,528 OMCL:M-C Paterson City Passaic 150,782 OMCL:M-C

Ringwood Boro Passaic 12,704 OMCL:C-M Wayne Twp. Passaic 55,262 OMCL:M-C

West Milford Twp. Passaic 27,926 OMCL:M-C-A West Paterson Boro Passaic 11,255 OMCL:SM

Bridgewater Twp. Somerset 43,999 OMCL:M-C Franklin Twp. Somerset 54,977 OMCL:C-M

North Plainfield Boro Somerset 21,091 OMCL:M-C Byram Twp. Sussex 8,556 OMCL:C-M

Newton Town Sussex 8,389 OMCL:C-M Sparta Twp. Sussex 19,220 OMCL:C-M Vernon Twp. Sussex 25,439 OMCL:C-M Clark Twp. Union 14,707 OMCL:M-C

Elizabeth City Union 123,215 OMCL:M-C Hillside Twp. Union 21,902 OMCL:M-C Plainfield City Union 48,025 SPEC.CHART Rahway City Union 26,779 OMCL:M-C

Scotch Plains Twp. Union 22,945 OMCL:C-M Allamuchy Twp. Warren 3,945 OMCL:SM Lopatcong Twp. Warren 7,837 OMCL:SM

Phillipsburg Town Warren 15,177 OMCL:M-C Pohatcong Twp. Warren 3,438 OMCL:SM Washington Boro Warren 6,829 OMCL:C-M

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NEW JERSEY MUNICIPALITIES WITH THE POWERS OF INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM

(According to the 2005 Legislative District Data Book)

Sorted by Population

Municipality County 2003 Estimated Population

Form of Municipal

Government Newark Essex 277,911 OMCL:M-C

Jersey City Hudson 239,097 OMCL:M-C Paterson City Passaic 150,782 OMCL:M-C Elizabeth City Union 123,215 OMCL:M-C

Woodbridge Twp. Middlesex 100,866 OMCL:M-C Edison Twp. Middlesex 100,138 OMCL:M-C Dover Twp. Ocean 93,671 OMCL:M-C

Hamilton Twp. Mercer 89,632 OMCL:M-C Trenton City Mercer 85,314 OMCL:M-C Camden City Camden 80,089 OMCL:M-C Brick Twp. Ocean 78,379 OMCL:M-C

Cherry Hill Twp. Camden 71,081 OMCL:M-C East Orange City Essex 69,212 CITY

Passaic City Passaic 68,528 OMCL:M-C Union City Hudson 66,573 COMMISSION

Middletown Twp. Monmouth 66,357 SPEC.CHART Gloucester Twp. Camden 65,963 OMCL:M-C Old Bridge Twp. Middlesex 63,663 OMCL:M-C

Bayonne City Hudson 60,905 OMCL:M-C Irvington Twp. Essex 60,057 OMCL:M-C

North Bergen Twp. Hudson 58,445 COMMISSION Vineland City Cumberland 57,057 OMCL:M-C Wayne Twp. Passaic 55,262 OMCL:M-C Franklin Twp. Somerset 54,977 OMCL:C-M

Piscataway Twp. Middlesex 52,055 OMCL:M-C Parsippany-Troy Hills

Twp. Morris 51,247 OMCL:M-C

Washington Twp. Gloucester 50,386 OMCL:M-C Howell Twp. Monmouth 50,130 OMCL:C-M

New Brunswick City Middlesex 49,803 OMCL:M-C Perth Amboy City Middlesex 48,447 OMCL:M-C

East Brunswick Twp. Middlesex 48,337 OMCL:M-C Plainfield City Union 48,025 SPEC.CHART

West New York Town Hudson 46,348 COMMISSION Evesham Twp. Burlington 46,111 OMCL:C-M

West Orange Twp. Essex 45,069 OMCL:M-C Bridgewater Twp. Somerset 43,999 OMCL:M-C

Berkeley Twp. Ocean 42,247 OMCL:M-C Manchester Twp. Ocean 42,228 OMCL:M-C

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Mount Laurel Twp. Burlington 40,523 OMCL:C-M Atlantic City Atlantic 40,385 OMCL:M-C

South Brunswick Twp. Middlesex 40,181 OMCL:C-M Teaneck Twp. Bergen 39,815 OMCL:C-M Hoboken City Hudson 39,482 OMCL:M-C Marlboro Twp. Monmouth 38,859 OMCL:M-C Montclair Twp. Essex 38,584 OMCL:C-M

North Brunswick Twp. Middlesex 38,404 OMCL:M-C-A Ewing Twp. Mercer 36,535 OMCL:M-C

Belleville Twp. Essex 35,604 OMCL:C-M Galloway Twp. Atlantic 34,221 OMCL:C-M

Willingboro Twp. Burlington 33,090 OMCL:C-M Orange Twp. Essex 32,556 OMCL:M-C

Fair Lawn Boro Bergen 31,585 OMCL:C-M Long Branch City Monmouth 31,523 OMCL:M-C

Monroe Twp. Middlesex 31,494 OMCL:M-C Lawrence Twp. Mercer 30,967 OMCL:C-M Monroe Twp. Gloucester 30,427 OMCL:M-C

Pemberton Twp. Burlington 28,938 OMCL:M-C Nutley Twp. Essex 28,091 COMMISSION

Deptford Twp. Gloucester 28,055 OMCL:C-M Livingston Twp. Essex 27,972 OMCL:C-M

West Milford Twp. Passaic 27,926 OMCL:M-C-A Ocean Twp. Monmouth 27,693 OMCL:C-M Millville City Cumberland 27,119 COMMISSION Rahway City Union 26,779 OMCL:M-C

East Windsor Twp. Mercer 26,694 OMCL:C-M Randolph Twp. Morris 25,575 OMCL:C-M

Mount Olive Twp. Morris 25,449 OMCL:M-C Vernon Twp. Sussex 25,439 OMCL:C-M

Rockaway Twp. Morris 25,039 OMCL:M-C Ridgewood Village Bergen 24,831 OMCL:C-M

Mahwah Twp. Bergen 24,460 OMCL:M-C Stafford Twp. Ocean 24,318 OMCL:SM

West Windsor Twp. Mercer 24,094 OMCL:M-C Roxbury Twp. Morris 23,774 OMCL:C-M

Scotch Plains Twp. Union 22,945 OMCL:C-M Bridgeton City Cumberland 22,785 OMCL:M-C Lower Twp. Cape May 22,518 OMCL:C-M Hillside Twp. Union 21,902 OMCL:M-C

Burlington Twp. Burlington 21,784 OMCL:M-C Montville Twp. Morris 21,205 SPEC.CHART

North Plainfield Boro Somerset 21,091 OMCL:M-C Jefferson Twp. Morris 20,586 OMCL:M-C

Moorestown Twp. Burlington 19,932 OMCL:C-M Lyndhurst Twp. Bergen 19,461 COMMISSION

Maple Shade Twp. Burlington 19,269 OMCL:C-M Sparta Twp. Sussex 19,220 OMCL:C-M

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Morristown Town Morris 18,816 OMCL:M-C Aberdeen Twp. Monmouth 18,723 OMCL:C-M Hawthorne Boro Passaic 18,363 OMCL:M-C

Delran Twp. Burlington 16,569 OMCL:M-C Tinton Falls Boro Monmouth 15,975 OMCL:M-C

Denville Twp. Morris 15,932 OMCL:M-C Ocean City Cape May 15,558 OMCL:M-C

Phillipsburg Town Warren 15,177 OMCL:M-C Clark Twp. Union 14,707 OMCL:M-C

Pequannock Twp. Morris 14,506 OMCL:C-M Collingswood Boro Camden 14,220 COMMISSION

Tenafly Boro Bergen 14,101 SPEC.CHART Clinton Twp. Hunterdon 13,768 OMCL:SM Verona Twp. Essex 13,402 OMCL:C-M

Weehawken Twp. Hudson 13,348 OMCL:C-M Saddle Brook Twp. Bergen 13,144 OMCL:M-C

Ridgefield Park Village Bergen 12,781 COMMISSION Ventnor City Atlantic 12,778 COMMISSION

Ringwood Boro Passaic 12,704 OMCL:C-M Brigantine City Atlantic 12,631 OMCL:C-M

Cedar Grove Twp. Essex 12,266 OMCL:C-M Little Falls Twp. Passaic 11,947 OMCL:M-C

Haddonfield Boro Camden 11,616 COMMISSION East Hanover Twp. Morris 11,449 OMCL:SM West Paterson Boro Passaic 11,255 OMCL:SM

Florence Twp. Burlington 11,247 OMCL:M-C Lincoln Park Boro Morris 10,870 OMCL:M-C Mount Holly Twp. Burlington 10,771 OMCL:C-M Keansburg Boro Monmouth 10,746 OMCL:C-M Burlington City Burlington 9,809 OMCL:M-C Rivervale Twp. Bergen 9,729 OMCL:M-C

Washington Twp. Bergen 9,498 OMCL:M-C Audubon Boro Camden 9,118 COMMISSION Byram Twp. Sussex 8,556 OMCL:C-M

Newton Town Sussex 8,389 OMCL:C-M Margate City Atlantic 8,328 COMMISSION

Spotswood Boro Middlesex 8,236 OMCL:M-C South Amboy City Middlesex 8,032 OMCL:M-C Lopatcong Twp. Warren 7,837 OMCL:SM

Chester Twp. Morris 7,668 OMCL:SM Haddon Heights Boro Camden 7,495 COMMISSION

Fairfield Twp. Essex 7,442 OMCL:SM Washington Boro Warren 6,829 OMCL:C-M Eastampton Twp. Burlington 6,657 OMCL:C-M

Logan Twp. Gloucester 6,015 OMCL:SM Belmar Boro Monmouth 5,975 OMCL:SM

Highlands Boro Monmouth 5,367 OMCL:SM Berlin Twp. Camden 5,360 OMCL:SM

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Wildwood City Cape May 5,260 COMMISSION Greenwich Twp. Gloucester 5,001 OMCL:SM

Bradley Beach Boro Monmouth 4,770 OMCL:SM Mount Ephraim Boro Camden 4,497 COMMISSION Mountain Lakes Boro Morris 4,307 OMCL:C-M Medford Lakes Boro Burlington 4,205 OMCL:C-M

Bordentown City Burlington 4,013 COMMISSION Allamuchy Twp. Warren 3,945 OMCL:SM Cape May City Cape May 3,923 OMCL:C-M

Wildwood Crest Boro Cape May 3,884 COMMISSION Lambertville City Hunterdon 3,880 OMCL:SM Mine Hill Twp. Morris 3,681 OMCL:M-C

Monmouth Beach Boro Monmouth 3,619 COMMISSION Springfield Twp. Burlington 3,504 OMCL:C-M Pohatcong Twp. Warren 3,438 OMCL:SM

Long Beach Twp. Ocean 3,428 COMMISSION Sea Isle City Cape May 2,957 COMMISSION

Avon-By-The-Sea Boro Monmouth 2,233 COMMISSION Avalon Boro Cape May 2,155 OMCL:M-C

Island Heights Boro Ocean 1,835 OMCL:SM Estell Manor City Atlantic 1,657 OMCL:SM Bass River Twp. Burlington 1,562 COMMISSION

Beach Haven Boro Ocean 1,310 COMMISSION West Cape May Boro Cape May 1,095 COMMISSION

Deal Boro Monmouth 1,071 COMMISSION Longport Boro Atlantic 1,054 COMMISSION Allenhurst Boro Monmouth 706 COMMISSION

West Wildwood Boro Cape May 430 COMMISSION Harvey Cedars Boro Ocean 373 COMMISSION Cape May Point Boro Cape May 242 COMMISSION

Tavistock Boro Camden 27 COMMISSION Pine Valley Boro Camden 22 COMMISSION

Page 25: Office of Legislative Services Background Report ... · 12/10/2007 · Office of Legislative Services Background Report Initiative and Referendum in New Jersey’s Counties and Municipalities

NEW JERSEY MUNICIPALITIES WITH THE POWERS OF INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM

(According to the 2005 Legislative District Data Book)

Sorted by Form of Municipal Government

Municipality County 2003 Estimated Population

Form of Municipal

Government East Orange City Essex 69,212 CITY

Longport Boro Atlantic 1,054 COMMISSION Margate City Atlantic 8,328 COMMISSION Ventnor City Atlantic 12,778 COMMISSION

Lyndhurst Twp. Bergen 19,461 COMMISSION Ridgefield Park Village Bergen 12,781 COMMISSION

Bass River Twp. Burlington 1,562 COMMISSION Bordentown City Burlington 4,013 COMMISSION Audubon Boro Camden 9,118 COMMISSION

Collingswood Boro Camden 14,220 COMMISSION Haddon Heights Boro Camden 7,495 COMMISSION

Haddonfield Boro Camden 11,616 COMMISSION Mount Ephraim Boro Camden 4,497 COMMISSION

Pine Valley Boro Camden 22 COMMISSION Tavistock Boro Camden 27 COMMISSION

Cape May Point Boro Cape May 242 COMMISSION Sea Isle City Cape May 2,957 COMMISSION

West Cape May Boro Cape May 1,095 COMMISSION West Wildwood Boro Cape May 430 COMMISSION

Wildwood City Cape May 5,260 COMMISSION Wildwood Crest Boro Cape May 3,884 COMMISSION

Millville City Cumberland 27,119 COMMISSION Nutley Twp. Essex 28,091 COMMISSION

North Bergen Twp. Hudson 58,445 COMMISSION Union City Hudson 66,573 COMMISSION

West New York Town Hudson 46,348 COMMISSION Allenhurst Boro Monmouth 706 COMMISSION

Avon-By-The-Sea Boro Monmouth 2,233 COMMISSION Deal Boro Monmouth 1,071 COMMISSION

Monmouth Beach Boro Monmouth 3,619 COMMISSION Beach Haven Boro Ocean 1,310 COMMISSION

Harvey Cedars Boro Ocean 373 COMMISSION Long Beach Twp. Ocean 3,428 COMMISSION

Brigantine City Atlantic 12,631 OMCL:C-M Galloway Twp. Atlantic 34,221 OMCL:C-M Fair Lawn Boro Bergen 31,585 OMCL:C-M

Ridgewood Village Bergen 24,831 OMCL:C-M Teaneck Twp. Bergen 39,815 OMCL:C-M

Eastampton Twp. Burlington 6,657 OMCL:C-M

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Evesham Twp. Burlington 46,111 OMCL:C-M Maple Shade Twp. Burlington 19,269 OMCL:C-M

Medford Lakes Boro Burlington 4,205 OMCL:C-M Moorestown Twp. Burlington 19,932 OMCL:C-M Mount Holly Twp. Burlington 10,771 OMCL:C-M Mount Laurel Twp. Burlington 40,523 OMCL:C-M Springfield Twp. Burlington 3,504 OMCL:C-M Willingboro Twp. Burlington 33,090 OMCL:C-M Cape May City Cape May 3,923 OMCL:C-M

Lower Twp. Cape May 22,518 OMCL:C-M Belleville Twp. Essex 35,604 OMCL:C-M

Cedar Grove Twp. Essex 12,266 OMCL:C-M Livingston Twp. Essex 27,972 OMCL:C-M Montclair Twp. Essex 38,584 OMCL:C-M Verona Twp. Essex 13,402 OMCL:C-M

Deptford Twp. Gloucester 28,055 OMCL:C-M Weehawken Twp. Hudson 13,348 OMCL:C-M East Windsor Twp. Mercer 26,694 OMCL:C-M

Lawrence Twp. Mercer 30,967 OMCL:C-M South Brunswick Twp. Middlesex 40,181 OMCL:C-M

Aberdeen Twp. Monmouth 18,723 OMCL:C-M Howell Twp. Monmouth 50,130 OMCL:C-M

Keansburg Boro Monmouth 10,746 OMCL:C-M Ocean Twp. Monmouth 27,693 OMCL:C-M

Mountain Lakes Boro Morris 4,307 OMCL:C-M Pequannock Twp. Morris 14,506 OMCL:C-M

Randolph Twp. Morris 25,575 OMCL:C-M Roxbury Twp. Morris 23,774 OMCL:C-M

Ringwood Boro Passaic 12,704 OMCL:C-M Franklin Twp. Somerset 54,977 OMCL:C-M Byram Twp. Sussex 8,556 OMCL:C-M

Newton Town Sussex 8,389 OMCL:C-M Sparta Twp. Sussex 19,220 OMCL:C-M Vernon Twp. Sussex 25,439 OMCL:C-M

Scotch Plains Twp. Union 22,945 OMCL:C-M Washington Boro Warren 6,829 OMCL:C-M

Mahwah Twp. Bergen 24,460 OMCL:M-C Atlantic City Atlantic 40,385 OMCL:M-C

Rivervale Twp. Bergen 9,729 OMCL:M-C Saddle Brook Twp. Bergen 13,144 OMCL:M-C Washington Twp. Bergen 9,498 OMCL:M-C

Burlington City Burlington 9,809 OMCL:M-C Burlington Twp. Burlington 21,784 OMCL:M-C

Delran Twp. Burlington 16,569 OMCL:M-C Florence Twp. Burlington 11,247 OMCL:M-C

Pemberton Twp. Burlington 28,938 OMCL:M-C Camden City Camden 80,089 OMCL:M-C

Cherry Hill Twp. Camden 71,081 OMCL:M-C

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Gloucester Twp. Camden 65,963 OMCL:M-C Avalon Boro Cape May 2,155 OMCL:M-C Ocean City Cape May 15,558 OMCL:M-C

Bridgeton City Cumberland 22,785 OMCL:M-C Vineland City Cumberland 57,057 OMCL:M-C Irvington Twp. Essex 60,057 OMCL:M-C

Newark Essex 277,911 OMCL:M-C Orange Twp. Essex 32,556 OMCL:M-C

West Orange Twp. Essex 45,069 OMCL:M-C Monroe Twp. Gloucester 30,427 OMCL:M-C

Washington Twp. Gloucester 50,386 OMCL:M-C Bayonne City Hudson 60,905 OMCL:M-C Hoboken City Hudson 39,482 OMCL:M-C Jersey City Hudson 239,097 OMCL:M-C Ewing Twp. Mercer 36,535 OMCL:M-C

Hamilton Twp. Mercer 89,632 OMCL:M-C Trenton City Mercer 85,314 OMCL:M-C

West Windsor Twp. Mercer 24,094 OMCL:M-C East Brunswick Twp. Middlesex 48,337 OMCL:M-C

Edison Twp. Middlesex 100,138 OMCL:M-C Monroe Twp. Middlesex 31,494 OMCL:M-C

New Brunswick City Middlesex 49,803 OMCL:M-C Old Bridge Twp. Middlesex 63,663 OMCL:M-C

Perth Amboy City Middlesex 48,447 OMCL:M-C Piscataway Twp. Middlesex 52,055 OMCL:M-C South Amboy City Middlesex 8,032 OMCL:M-C Spotswood Boro Middlesex 8,236 OMCL:M-C Woodbridge Twp. Middlesex 100,866 OMCL:M-C Long Branch City Monmouth 31,523 OMCL:M-C

Marlboro Twp. Monmouth 38,859 OMCL:M-C Tinton Falls Boro Monmouth 15,975 OMCL:M-C

Denville Twp. Morris 15,932 OMCL:M-C Jefferson Twp. Morris 20,586 OMCL:M-C

Lincoln Park Boro Morris 10,870 OMCL:M-C Mine Hill Twp. Morris 3,681 OMCL:M-C

Morristown Town Morris 18,816 OMCL:M-C Mount Olive Twp. Morris 25,449 OMCL:M-C

Parsippany-Troy Hills Twp.

Morris 51,247 OMCL:M-C

Rockaway Twp. Morris 25,039 OMCL:M-C Berkeley Twp. Ocean 42,247 OMCL:M-C

Brick Twp. Ocean 78,379 OMCL:M-C Dover Twp. Ocean 93,671 OMCL:M-C

Manchester Twp. Ocean 42,228 OMCL:M-C Hawthorne Boro Passaic 18,363 OMCL:M-C Little Falls Twp. Passaic 11,947 OMCL:M-C

Passaic City Passaic 68,528 OMCL:M-C Paterson City Passaic 150,782 OMCL:M-C Wayne Twp. Passaic 55,262 OMCL:M-C

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Bridgewater Twp. Somerset 43,999 OMCL:M-C North Plainfield Boro Somerset 21,091 OMCL:M-C

Clark Twp. Union 14,707 OMCL:M-C Elizabeth City Union 123,215 OMCL:M-C Hillside Twp. Union 21,902 OMCL:M-C Rahway City Union 26,779 OMCL:M-C

Phillipsburg Town Warren 15,177 OMCL:M-C North Brunswick Twp. Middlesex 38,404 OMCL:M-C-A

West Milford Twp. Passaic 27,926 OMCL:M-C-A Estell Manor City Atlantic 1,657 OMCL:SM

Berlin Twp. Camden 5,360 OMCL:SM Fairfield Twp. Essex 7,442 OMCL:SM

Greenwich Twp. Gloucester 5,001 OMCL:SM Logan Twp. Gloucester 6,015 OMCL:SM Clinton Twp. Hunterdon 13,768 OMCL:SM

Lambertville City Hunterdon 3,880 OMCL:SM Belmar Boro Monmouth 5,975 OMCL:SM

Bradley Beach Boro Monmouth 4,770 OMCL:SM Highlands Boro Monmouth 5,367 OMCL:SM Chester Twp. Morris 7,668 OMCL:SM

East Hanover Twp. Morris 11,449 OMCL:SM Island Heights Boro Ocean 1,835 OMCL:SM

Stafford Twp. Ocean 24,318 OMCL:SM West Paterson Boro Passaic 11,255 OMCL:SM

Allamuchy Twp. Warren 3,945 OMCL:SM Lopatcong Twp. Warren 7,837 OMCL:SM Pohatcong Twp. Warren 3,438 OMCL:SM

Tenafly Boro Bergen 14,101 SPEC.CHART Middletown Twp. Monmouth 66,357 SPEC.CHART Montville Twp. Morris 21,205 SPEC.CHART Plainfield City Union 48,025 SPEC.CHART