New Jersey Assembly Bill A3174

New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/9/24
• Refer: 1/9/24
• Refer: 3/4/24

Caption

Requires counties to specify expenditures concerning veterans' services when submitting budget to Division of Local Government Services in DCA.

Impact

The implementation of A3174 is expected to enhance the planning and allocation of resources for veterans' services at the county level. By requiring counties to itemize these expenditures, the bill promotes accountability and ensures that veterans’ needs are prioritized in local government budgets. This could lead to increased funding for programs that directly benefit veterans, thereby potentially improving their quality of life and access to essential services.

Summary

Assembly Bill A3174 mandates that counties in New Jersey must explicitly disclose expenditures related to veterans' services when submitting their budgets to the Division of Local Government Services. This disclosure is aimed at improving transparency regarding the financial resources allocated to support veterans within the county budget framework. The bill emphasizes specifics such as transportation services and employment counseling for veterans as critical areas of expenditure that need to be highlighted in the budgeting process.

Contention

While the bill seems to have a clear intent to support veterans, it may prompt discussions about the appropriate level of oversight that the state should have over county budgets. Some stakeholders might express concerns over potential bureaucratic burdens on counties prompted by the increased reporting requirements. Additionally, the specificity demanded by the bill regarding the types of expenditures may lead to debates on what qualifies as veterans' services and how counties monitor and report these expenditures effectively.