New Jersey Senate Bill S961

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/31/22
• Refer: 1/31/22

Caption

Authorizes municipal dredging of lagoon community waterways and levying of special assessment or issuing of bonds to finance such dredging.

Impact

Under S961, municipalities are permitted to contract certified and licensed professionals to carry out dredging and the proper disposal of dredged materials. To finance these activities, municipalities can levy special assessments on property owners deemed to benefit from the dredging or issue bonds as a capital improvement measure. This could provide municipalities a significant avenue to maintain essential infrastructure without entirely depending on state or federal funding.

Summary

Senate Bill S961 seeks to authorize municipalities in New Jersey to dredge waterways servicing lagoon communities, which are defined as residential developments in coastal municipalities where waterways serve as streets. The purpose of the dredging is to maintain boat transportation to and from these communities. This bill stipulates that dredging can be either restorative or maintenance in nature, addressing both current and preventive needs for keeping the waterways navigable.

Contention

Some points of contention may arise regarding the imposition of special assessments, as property owners might oppose additional financial burdens, especially in economically sensitive areas. Moreover, the lack of specific guidelines regarding the dredging processes and the qualifications for contractors could lead to concerns about environmental impacts and the effectiveness of the dredging efforts. Discussions will likely center around balancing necessary improvements for lagoon communities and protecting the interests of affected property owners.