Municipalities are the closest level of government
In New Jersey, almost all land lies within a municipality, and each municipality has its own government. That makes local government unusually fragmented compared with many states: the state has hundreds of separate municipalities, many of them small in area and population. A city, a borough, a township, a town and a village are all municipalities, and the label mostly reflects the legal form under which each was created rather than its size.
Cities such as Camden sit within this system. Their governments handle the services residents meet most directly, such as trash collection, local streets, zoning decisions and municipal courts, while other responsibilities sit with counties, school districts or the state. This article explains the general picture. Details differ from one municipality to another, so anyone needing specifics should check the municipality’s own published documents.
Where the rules come from
Municipalities in New Jersey are created by the state and operate under state law. They do not have the independent standing that some people assume. The legislature decides what kinds of governments are allowed, what powers they hold and what limits apply to taxing and borrowing.
New Jersey law provides several standard forms of government. Some are older general forms, such as the borough, township and city forms. Others come from the Optional Municipal Charter Law, often called the Faulkner Act, which lets voters choose among set structures. The differences between these structures, including what a strong mayor can and cannot do, are covered in more detail in the discussion of mayor and council arrangements in this guide, so only the outline appears here.
The main players
Although titles vary, most municipal governments are built from a few familiar parts.
- An elected governing body. This is usually a council or committee. It passes ordinances (local laws), adopts the budget and sets general policy.
- A mayor. In some forms the mayor is a strong executive who runs departments and proposes the budget. In others the mayor is closer to the presiding member of the council.
- A professional administrator or business administrator. Many municipalities employ a manager or administrator to oversee daily operations, personnel and purchasing.
- A municipal clerk. The clerk keeps official records, handles public notices, supports the governing body’s meetings and typically plays a part in elections.
- A solicitor and other officers. Legal counsel, a finance officer, an engineer and a tax collector are common roles.
- Boards and commissions. Planning boards, zoning boards of adjustment, and sometimes housing, parking or historic preservation bodies review specific kinds of decisions.
What a city typically does
The exact list varies, but a municipality commonly handles:
- local roads, sidewalks and street maintenance
- trash and recycling collection, or contracts for them
- police and, in many places, fire and emergency services
- land use: master plans, zoning rules and building permits
- parks, recreation and some public facilities
- a municipal court for local offenses and traffic matters
- water and sewer services, sometimes through a separate authority
- licensing, inspections and code enforcement
Land use is worth singling out. Planning boards and zoning boards decide how property can be used, and their meetings are usually open to the public. The broader field of urban planning and the way cities use master plans shape what gets built over many years, though any single decision is made in a specific legal process.
What a city usually does not run
Several services that residents often associate with “the city” are handled elsewhere:
- Public schools are generally run by a school district with its own board and budget, which may or may not share boundaries with the municipality. The way school districts are governed is a separate system with its own rules.
- County services include courts above the municipal level, the prosecutor, the sheriff, the clerk’s office for certain records, and many roads and parks. The role of county government is distinct from the municipal one.
- State agencies handle licensing, major highways, public benefits administration and much else.
- Public transit is usually run by regional or state agencies, not individual cities, which is why public transportation planning often involves several governments at once.
Because responsibilities are split, a problem may involve more than one office. A pothole on a city street, a school issue and a county records request would go to three different places.
How cities are funded
Municipal revenue in New Jersey comes from several sources. The property tax is the largest local source in most places, and a single property tax bill typically combines amounts for the municipality, the school district and the county. Other revenue can include state aid, fees, fines, permits and payments in lieu of taxes in particular arrangements.
The process by which a budget is drawn up, introduced, reviewed and adopted is explained in the guide to municipal budgets, along with what property taxes pay for. State law also sets limits, such as caps on how quickly some local levies may grow, and requires audits. In years when a city’s finances are under pressure, the state may take an active role. The general idea behind state oversight of municipal finances, and the fiscal strains that older cities can face, are separate topics with their own explanations.
How residents take part
Local government is one of the most accessible levels for ordinary people. Residents can:
- vote in local elections, which are held on schedules set by the form of government
- attend and speak at public meetings, where agendas and minutes are public records
- contact the clerk to ask about records, notices and procedures
- serve on boards, commissions or advisory committees when seats are open
- comment during planning and zoning processes that affect nearby property
New Jersey has an open public records law and an open public meetings law that give residents rights of access, subject to exceptions. Opportunities for community participation in planning are often written into the review process itself.
Why the details matter
Two municipalities with similar populations can be organized very differently. In one, a mayor controls hiring and proposes a budget. In another, committee members each oversee a department. Anyone trying to understand a specific city should look at its charter or form of government, its adopted budget and its meeting schedule rather than assuming that arrangements elsewhere apply.
The municipal website, the clerk’s office and the state’s Division of Local Government Services are the usual places to confirm current rules. This article is a general explanation, not legal advice, and laws and local practices change over time.