N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:26-20.8

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 12, June 17, 2024

Section 6A:26-20.8 - Required maintenance budget amount

(a) The required annual maintenance budget amount for each school district, as reported in its comprehensive maintenance plan, shall be included in the school district's annual budget certified for taxes in the required maintenance line-item accounts and/or as a deposit into the maintenance reserve in accordance with 6A:23A-14.2.

(b) The required annual maintenance budget amount shall be calculated by totaling the sum of the replacement cost as of the current year for each school facility multiplied by 0.002 and shall correspond to the amount reported in the most recent comprehensive maintenance plan submitted pursuant to 6A:26-20.6.

1. The required annual budget amount may be adjusted up or down, with the executive county superintendent's approval, based upon prior-year expenditures to ensure an overall expenditure of two percent on required maintenance per school facility over 10 years.

2. The replacement cost of the current year of a school facility shall be calculated by multiplying the area cost allowance by the current gross square footage of the building.

(c) If a school district does not annually include in the budget certified for taxes the required amount calculated pursuant to this section, the executive county superintendent shall not approve the school district's budget unless he or she determines that the school district may budget less than the full amount as follows:

1. If a school district determines it cannot budget the required amount, the school district shall submit to the executive county superintendent along with its budget acceptable proof of its inability to budget the required amount. The proof shall be accompanied by a plan to ensure that the required two percent will be expended over 10 years pursuant to EFCFA and this chapter.

i. If the executive county superintendent concurs with the school district's explanation of its inability to budget the full amount and approves its plan, the school district may budget less than the full amount as approved. The executive county superintendent shall not reject the school district's budget on this ground.

ii. If the executive county superintendent does not concur with the school district's explanation of its inability to budget the full amount or does not approve of its plan, the school district shall budget the full amount. The executive county superintendent shall not approve a budget that does not comply with this section.

N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:26-20.8