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(Note:  This is a copy of the Taxpayer Protection Ordinance from Bogota NJ)

2-27 TAXPAYER PROTECTION.

2-27.1 Definitions.

In this section 2-27 the following definitions shall apply:

“Base year” shall mean the calendar year 2002.

“Debts and liabilities” shall mean bonds, bond anticipation notes, or contributions into a capital fund,

“Index” shall mean the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers
published by the United States Department of

Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics for New York, New York – Northeastern, New Jersey, or any successor index.

“Public question” shall mean a public question as authorized by N,J.SA 19:37-1 to -5, or any other
applicable law.

2-27.2 Budget Increases Exceeding Inflation Rate.

a.  No municipal budget shall result in a percentage increase in appropriations in excess of the prior

year’s budget appropriations that

exceeds the rate of inflation as measured by the index for the prior calendar year, unless a majority of the voters
in the borough has approved a public

question authorizing the increase.

b.  For purposes of calculating the percentage increase, the following expenses shall be excluded:

insurance and employee benefit premium

increases and solid waste and sanitary sewer disposal fees.

2-27.3 Debt Limitation.

a.   The mayor and council shall not, in any manner, create in any fiscal year a debt or debts, liability or

liabilities of the borough,’                                                  .

which together with any previous debts or liabilities, shall exceed at any time the borough’s total outstanding debt

as of December 31 st of the base year,                         .•

unless a public question authorizing the debt or liability has been approved by a majority of the voters in the
borough.

b.  No voter approval shall be required for:

1.  The refinancing of all or a part of the borough’s outstanding debts or liabilities, as long as the

refinancing provides a debt service

savings determined including the anticipated costs associated with the refinancing; or

2.  The creation of any debts or liabilities for purposes of war, to repel invasion, to suppress

insurrection, or to meet an emergency caused

by disaster or act of God.

2-27.4 Salary and Benefits.

a.  The mayor and council shall not adopt any salary ordinance, or approve or authorize the execution

of any collective negotiations labor

contract, which includes a percentage salary increase in any year that exceeds the rate of inflation as measured
by the index for the prior calendar year,

nor shall the benefits of employment be augmented, unless a majority of the voters in the borough has approved
a public question authorizing the salary

increase and/or benefits.

b. This provision shall not apply to salary increases or benefits that must be provided in order for the

borough to comply with any statute,                        ..

or any order of any court or administrative agency of competent jurisdiction.