The price to be paid for publishing all official advertising as defined in R.S. 35:1-1 in newspapers shall be as follows:
In newspapers published in the State of New Jersey having a bona fide net paid circulation of up to 2,500 copies, the rate shall be $0.25 per line for each insertion; in the case of any newspaper having a bona fide net paid circulation of not less than 2,500 copies nor more than 5,000 copies, the rate shall be $0.31 per line for each insertion; and in the case of any newspaper having a bona fide net paid circulation of not less than 5,000 copies and not more than 10,000 copies, the rate shall be $0.34 per line per insertion; and in the case of any newspaper having a bona fide net paid circulation of not less than 10,000 copies and not more than 30,000 copies, the rate shall be $0.35 per line per insertion; and in the case of any newspaper having a bona fide net paid circulation of not less than 30,000 and not more than 45,000 copies, the rate shall be $0.36 per line per insertion; and in the case of any newspaper having a bona fide net paid circulation of not less than 45,000 copies and not more than 60,000 copies, the rate shall be $0.38 per line per insertion; and in the case of any newspaper having a bona fide net paid circulation of not less than 60,000 copies and not more than 75,000 copies, the rate shall be $0.44 per line per insertion; and in the case of any newspaper having bona fide net paid circulation of not less than 75,000 copies and of more than 100,000 copies, the rate shall be $0.60 per line per insertion; and in the case of any newspaper having a bona fide net paid circulation of not less than 100,000 copies, and not more than 125,000 copies, the rate shall be $0.66 per line per insertion; and in the case of any newspaper having a bona fide net paid circulation of not less than 125,000 copies, and not more than 150,000, the rate shall be $0.72 per line per insertion; and in the case of any newspaper having a bona fide net paid circulation of not less than 150,000 copies and not more than 200,000 copies, the rate shall be $0.82 per line per insertion; and in the case of newspapers having a bona fide net paid circulation of not less than 200,000 copies and not more than 300,000 copies, the rate shall be $0.91 per line per insertion; and in the case of any newspaper having a bona fide net paid circulation in excess of 300,000 copies the rate shall be $1.00 per line per insertion; but before any newspaper can charge the foregoing rates, the publisher or business manager of such newspaper must file with the properly authorized officer of every municipality, county or governing body, placing official advertising in such newspaper, an affidavit setting forth the average net paid circulation of such newspaper for the 12-month period ending September 30 next preceding and the rate to be charged for official advertising, which in no case shall be in excess of, or below, the rates provided in the foregoing schedule.
N.J.S. § 35:2-1