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Originally published in 1939
Some of this information may no longer be current and in that case is presented for historical interest only.
Edited by GET NJ, COPYRIGHT 2002
Six municipalities have the city manager form of government, the largest being Trenton, a city of more than 125,000. Cape May City in 1937
abandoned the manager plan for the commission form, which is so generally preferred by the larger municipalities that the Princeton experts have
labeled New Jersey "the most commission-ridden State in the Union."
Fifty-three of the 565 municipalities in the State are now operating under
the commission form authorized by the so-called Walsh Act of 1911. In
these municipalities, which include Newark, Jersey City and many other
large cities, all legislative and administrative functions of local government are vested in a single commission, usually of five persons, elected at
large every four years.
The system originally was lauded as simple, responsible, and easy for
the public to control. In practice, however, the lack of centralized responsibility in a single executive, the failure to distinguish between policy formation and administration, the designation of politically elected commissioners to head departments requiring able technical direction, and
especially the lack of centralized financial administration-all have run
counter to the high hopes of the municipal reformers of the early part of
the century.
Under the general municipalities act the 233 New Jersey townships have
the same powers and functions as all other local units. Township government is substantially of the commission form, the principal difference being that the township committeemen are elected for overlapping terms, so
that the whole committee is never voted in or out at the same time. Town-
ship government, therefore, displays the same weaknesses as the pure com-
mission form.
The other types of local government -- city, borough, town -- vary widely.
A relatively small number vest substantial authority in the mayor as a real
chief executive, but much more numerous are those in which administrative responsibility is largely taken by the council, or by committees or
boards not effectively controlled by the mayor. Thus, even these units display weaknesses similar to those of townships and commission municipalities, especially the lack of centralized financial control. This doubtless accounts in large measure for the gloomy situation described by the Princeton
survey in June 1936 when it reported that the course of municipal government in New Jersey had resulted in a gross debt of almost 20 percent
of net taxable valuation, $121,479,000 in uncollected property taxes, 1 out
of every 8 municipalities in default on notes or bonds, and 12 municipalities in virtual bankruptcy and under State supervision.
For counties, the governing body is a "Board of Chosen Freeholders"
of three, five, or nine members, which is in reality the familiar commission plan again. But these boards are by no means overworked since
judges, prosecutors and some other officers are appointed by the Governor,
while the sheriff, county clerk, and surrogate are elected by the people.
All of these officials and others besides are wholly or largely beyond control of the freeholders. Chief functions of the county boards are the
building and maintenance of roads and bridges, and the management of
county institutions other than the jail. Salaries of the freeholders are as
high as $6,000 in the two largest counties.
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