Borough (New Jersey)

Last updated

Borough Hall RUTHERFORD NJ 20230808.png
Borough Hall

A borough (also spelled boro), in the context of local government in the U.S. state of New Jersey, refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government (in addition to those established under a special charter). [1]

Contents

The borough is the most common form of local government in New Jersey. In 2023 there were 253 boroughs in New Jersey. [2] However, boroughs were not always so common. In 1875 only 17 boroughs had been created, all by special acts of the legislature. These original boroughs were subdivisions of townships, established by state charter; Elizabeth was the first, established by royal charter in 1740, within the now defunct Elizabeth Township. About half of them had been dissolved, or changed into other forms of government—often cities. In 1875, a constitutional amendment prohibited such local or special legislation. [3] Bergen County is home to the highest number of boroughs of any New Jersey county, at 56. [4]

Legislation

The Borough Act of 1878 allowed any township (or portion thereof) with a land area of no more than four square miles (10 km2) and a population not exceeding 5,000, to establish itself as an independent borough through a petition and referendum process on a self-executing basis. As enacted, a borough would be governed by an elected mayor (serving a one-year term) and a six-member council (elected to staggered three-year terms). The mayor would preside at council meetings, but had no vote except to break ties. This system resulted in a period, known as "boroughitis", where large numbers of small boroughs were created. In 1894, the Legislature passed an act requiring each township to have a single school district. A wave of borough incorporations followed, as one part of several townships decided that it would prefer the cost of being a separate municipality to paying for the other schools.

The Borough Act of 1897 amended the original Act, eliminating the self-executing incorporation feature of the earlier legislation. Henceforth, newly incorporated boroughs (or those seeking to dissolve or increase or decrease in size) required approval of the legislature. The elected mayor and six-member council were retained, with the mayor now serving a two-year term.

The Borough Act of 1987 was created to streamline borough law and clear away amendments, changes, and contradictory rules that had accumulated over the century of the Borough's existence as a form of government. The 1987 Act allowed for the delegation of executive responsibility to an appointed administrator.

Traditionally, voters elect a mayor and six council members at-large in a partisan election. Only two boroughs, Roselle and Roselle Park, have ward structures with councils having five ward members and one at-large. The borough system has a weak mayor and the council performs most legislative and executive functions. This form of local government is used by 39% of the municipalities in New Jersey.

List of boroughs

There are a total of 253 boroughs in New Jersey, which include: [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Park Ridge, New Jersey</span> Borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, US

Park Ridge is a borough in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 8,883, an increase of 238 (+2.8%) from the 2010 census count of 8,645, which in turn reflected a decline of 63 (−0.7%) from the 8,708 counted in the 2000 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey</span> Borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, US

Woodcliff Lake is a borough in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 6,128, an increase of 398 (+6.9%) from the 2010 census count of 5,730, which in turn reflected a decline of 15 (−0.3%) from the 5,745 counted in the 2000 census. Most of the borough mandates a minimum lot size of 22,500 square feet (2,090 m2) for single-family homes, with portions on the borough's east zoned for 15,000 square feet (1,400 m2) and portions of the borough's northwest and southwest zoned for 30,000 square feet (2,800 m2) lots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Como, New Jersey</span> Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, US

Lake Como is a borough located in the Jersey Shore region, within Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 1,697, a decrease of 62 (−3.5%) from the 2010 census count of 1,759, which in turn reflected a decline of 47 (−2.6%) from the 1,806 counted in the 2000 census. It is the tenth-smallest municipality by land area in New Jersey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berkeley Township, New Jersey</span> Township in Ocean County, New Jersey, US

Berkeley Township is a township in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, extending from the Jersey Shore westward into the New Jersey Pine Barrens. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 43,754, the highest ever in any decennial count and an increase of 2,499 (+6.1%) from the 2010 census count of 41,255, which in turn reflected an increase of 1,264 (+3.2%) from the 39,991 counted in the 2000 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Haledon, New Jersey</span> Borough in Passaic County, New Jersey, US

North Haledon is a borough in Passaic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 8,927, an increase of 510 (+6.1%) from the 2010 census count of 8,417, which in turn reflected an increase of 497 (+6.3%) from the 7,920 counted in the 2000 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Watchung, New Jersey</span> Borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, US

Watchung is a borough in Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, located approximately 29 miles (47 km) west of New York City. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 6,449, an increase of 648 (+11.2%) from the 2010 census count of 5,801, which in turn reflected an increase of 188 (+3.3%) from the 5,613 counted in the 2000 census. It is located within the Raritan Valley region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roselle, New Jersey</span> Borough in Union County, New Jersey, US

Roselle is a borough located in Union County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 22,695, an increase of 1,610 (+7.6%) from the 2010 census count of 21,085, which in turn reflected a decline of 189 (−0.9%) from the 21,274 counted in the 2000 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roselle Park, New Jersey</span> Borough in Union County, New Jersey, US

Roselle Park is a borough in Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 13,967, an increase of 670 (+5.0%) from the 2010 census count of 13,297, which in turn reflected an increase of 16 (+0.1%) from the 13,281 counted in the 2000 census.

A township, in the context of New Jersey local government, refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government. As a political entity, a township in New Jersey is a full-fledged municipality, on par with any town, city, borough, or village. They collect property taxes and provide services such as maintaining roads, garbage collection, water, sewer, schools, police and fire protection. The Township form of local government is used by 27% of New Jersey municipalities; however, slightly over 50% of the state's population resides within them.

The Optional Municipal Charter Law or Faulkner Act provides New Jersey municipalities with a variety of models of local government. This legislation is called the Faulkner Act in honor of the late Bayard H. Faulkner, former mayor of Montclair, New Jersey, U.S., and former chairman of the Commission on Municipal Government.

The Ridgefields are a pair of municipalities in Bergen County, New Jersey, both of which have the word Ridgefield in their name. The two municipalities are the Borough of Ridgefield and the Village of Ridgefield Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boroughitis</span> 1890s boom of new boroughs in New Jersey, US

Boroughitis was the creation in the 1890s, usually by referendum, of large numbers of small boroughs in the U.S. state of New Jersey, particularly in Bergen County. Attempts by the New Jersey Legislature to reform local government and school systems led to the breakup of most of Bergen County's townships into small boroughs, which still balkanize the state's political map. This occurred following the development of commuter suburbs in New Jersey, residents of which wanted more government services, whereas the long-time rural population feared the increases in taxation that would result.

A special charter allows a New Jersey municipality to operate under a charter that differs from those of the traditional forms of government or the many options available under the Faulkner Act. Under the terms of the New Jersey State Constitution of 1947 and the Faulkner Act of 1950, a municipality may obtain a special charter form from the New Jersey Legislature, providing a unique form of governmental organization for that community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Jersey legislative districts, 2001 apportionment</span>

The members of the New Jersey Legislature are chosen from 40 electoral districts. Each district elects one senator and two assemblymen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Jersey legislative districts, 2011 apportionment</span>

The members of the New Jersey Legislature are chosen from 40 electoral districts. Each district elects one senator and two assemblymen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Jersey legislative districts, 2021 apportionment</span>

The members of the New Jersey Legislature are chosen from 40 electoral districts. Each district elects one senator and two assemblymen.

References

  1. Types of Government in New Jersey, New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Accessed July 1, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "2023 U.S. Census Gazetteer - New Jersey County Subdivisions". Gazetteer Files. U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  3. Snyder, pp. 23, 237; Elizabeth, for example, was rechartered by the state in 1789, and became a city in 1855; Trenton had been chartered in 1746 and surrendered its charter in 1750.
  4. Pettigano, Michael V. "Here's why Bergen County has so many towns", The Record , January 31, 2018. Accessed July 1, 2024. "Among New Jersey's 21 counties, Bergen County leads the pack with 70, including 56 boroughs."