INTRODUCTION TO MUNICIPAL CLERK
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
NJSA 40A:2 - Correct Answers -Local Bond Law
NJSA 40A:4 - Correct Answers -Local Budget Law
How Many forms of local government are there in NJ? - Correct Answers -4. Counties
Municipalities
School Districts
Special Districts. They are considered "Creatures of the State", because they may be
created, altered or abolished only by state government.
What are the four sources of basic law in NJ? - Correct Answers -Chapter Laws
New Jersey Statute Annotated (NJSA)
New Jersey Administrative Code (NJAC) Case Law
What are the sources of revenue for school districts? (must be in exact order) - Correct
Answers -1. Property Taxes
2. State Aid
3. Federal Aid
What are the five types (categories) of Municipalities? - Correct Answers -City
Town
Township
Village
Borough
What are the sources of revenue for Municipalities (exact order) - Correct Answers -1.
Property Taxes
2. Miscellaneous Revenue
3. Public Utility Tax
4. Surplus Appropriations
5. State Aid
How many Municipalities are in the State of NJ? - Correct Answers -565
How many Counties are in the State of NJ? - Correct Answers -21
LGCCC - Correct Answers -Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission
,How soon must the governing body fill a vacancy of Municipal Clerk? - Correct Answers
-Within 90 Days of the occurrence of the vacancy
What is the term for an Acting Clerk? - Correct Answers -One Year
Can the Acting Clerk be reappointed for an additional term? - Correct Answers -Yes,
written permission from DLGS Director Governing body may appoint an Acting Clerk for
2 additional 1 year terms. Person appointed for 2nd and 3rd year must complete a
questionnaire from the DLGS must be submitted with letter from governing body for the
DLGS Director's review. No approval will be granted without the submission of those
two documents.
Who are the protected statutory officers (Tenure)? - Correct Answers -Municipal Clerk
Tax Assessor
Tax Collector
Chief Financial Officer
How often does a Municipal Clerk's Certificate have to be renewed? - Correct Answers -
Every 2 years, 30 days prior to expiration date.
What is the traditional organization of County Government? - Correct Answers -Board of
Chosen Freeholders
Elected to 3 year terms
Serve as policymakers and individual administrators of the County Departments
What are the sources of revenue for counties (exact order) PMSI? - Correct Answers -1.
Property Taxes
2. Miscellaneous Revenue
3. State Aid
4. Institutional Revenue
What are the two types of School Districts? - Correct Answers -Type 1 and Type 2
What is a Type 1 School District? - Correct Answers -Board of Education members are
appointed by Mayor
School Tax Levy- determined by Board of Ed and approved by the Board of School
Estimates, which consists of Mayor, 2 members of School Board and 2 members of
governing body.
School debt is the debt of the municipality
What is a Type 2 School District? - Correct Answers -Board of Education members
elected by voters School Tax Levy is approved by voters if exceeds 2% cap. If defeated,
is submitted to the governing body.
School debt is debt of school district, not municipality. (Most School Districts are Type
2)
, What is a Regional School District? - Correct Answers -Districts include 2 or more
municipalities. Representation on Board of Ed is apportioned among participating
districts according to population
Board of Ed classified as Type 2
Board members are elected
Tax levy approved by voters
What are the 4 forms of Municipal Government Organizations? - Correct Answers -
Special Charters
Commission (Walsh Act)
Municipal Manager
Optional Municipal Charter (Faulkner Act)
How are Counties classified? - Correct Answers -Size
Geographic location
Population density
What are the four Optional Municipal Charter Plans? - Correct Answers -1. Mayor-
Council Plan
2. Council-Manager Plan
3. Small Municipalities Plan
4. Mayor-Council-Administrator Plan
Explain Mayor-Council Plan - Correct Answers -"Strong Mayor" form of government,
modeled after the federal and state governments
Explain Council-Manager Plan - Correct Answers -Council is the elected policymaker
and appoints Manager, who acts as Chief Executive and Administrator Officer
Explain Small Municipalities Plan - Correct Answers -Only for Municipalities with
population of less than 12,000, it is a mix of borough form and township form of
government organization
Explain Mayor-Council-Administrator Plan - Correct Answers -Council exercises
Legislative power, Mayor exercises the Executive power and appointed Municipal
Administrator supervises administration
Municipality Powers? - Correct Answers -Organize and regulates its internal affairs;
Adopt and enforce policy ordinances
Impose penalties
Sue and be sued
Contract and be contracted with
Appropriate and expend monies
Adopt, amend and repeal ordinances and resolutions
Exercise powers of taxation, borrowing and condemnation.
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
NJSA 40A:2 - Correct Answers -Local Bond Law
NJSA 40A:4 - Correct Answers -Local Budget Law
How Many forms of local government are there in NJ? - Correct Answers -4. Counties
Municipalities
School Districts
Special Districts. They are considered "Creatures of the State", because they may be
created, altered or abolished only by state government.
What are the four sources of basic law in NJ? - Correct Answers -Chapter Laws
New Jersey Statute Annotated (NJSA)
New Jersey Administrative Code (NJAC) Case Law
What are the sources of revenue for school districts? (must be in exact order) - Correct
Answers -1. Property Taxes
2. State Aid
3. Federal Aid
What are the five types (categories) of Municipalities? - Correct Answers -City
Town
Township
Village
Borough
What are the sources of revenue for Municipalities (exact order) - Correct Answers -1.
Property Taxes
2. Miscellaneous Revenue
3. Public Utility Tax
4. Surplus Appropriations
5. State Aid
How many Municipalities are in the State of NJ? - Correct Answers -565
How many Counties are in the State of NJ? - Correct Answers -21
LGCCC - Correct Answers -Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission
,How soon must the governing body fill a vacancy of Municipal Clerk? - Correct Answers
-Within 90 Days of the occurrence of the vacancy
What is the term for an Acting Clerk? - Correct Answers -One Year
Can the Acting Clerk be reappointed for an additional term? - Correct Answers -Yes,
written permission from DLGS Director Governing body may appoint an Acting Clerk for
2 additional 1 year terms. Person appointed for 2nd and 3rd year must complete a
questionnaire from the DLGS must be submitted with letter from governing body for the
DLGS Director's review. No approval will be granted without the submission of those
two documents.
Who are the protected statutory officers (Tenure)? - Correct Answers -Municipal Clerk
Tax Assessor
Tax Collector
Chief Financial Officer
How often does a Municipal Clerk's Certificate have to be renewed? - Correct Answers -
Every 2 years, 30 days prior to expiration date.
What is the traditional organization of County Government? - Correct Answers -Board of
Chosen Freeholders
Elected to 3 year terms
Serve as policymakers and individual administrators of the County Departments
What are the sources of revenue for counties (exact order) PMSI? - Correct Answers -1.
Property Taxes
2. Miscellaneous Revenue
3. State Aid
4. Institutional Revenue
What are the two types of School Districts? - Correct Answers -Type 1 and Type 2
What is a Type 1 School District? - Correct Answers -Board of Education members are
appointed by Mayor
School Tax Levy- determined by Board of Ed and approved by the Board of School
Estimates, which consists of Mayor, 2 members of School Board and 2 members of
governing body.
School debt is the debt of the municipality
What is a Type 2 School District? - Correct Answers -Board of Education members
elected by voters School Tax Levy is approved by voters if exceeds 2% cap. If defeated,
is submitted to the governing body.
School debt is debt of school district, not municipality. (Most School Districts are Type
2)
, What is a Regional School District? - Correct Answers -Districts include 2 or more
municipalities. Representation on Board of Ed is apportioned among participating
districts according to population
Board of Ed classified as Type 2
Board members are elected
Tax levy approved by voters
What are the 4 forms of Municipal Government Organizations? - Correct Answers -
Special Charters
Commission (Walsh Act)
Municipal Manager
Optional Municipal Charter (Faulkner Act)
How are Counties classified? - Correct Answers -Size
Geographic location
Population density
What are the four Optional Municipal Charter Plans? - Correct Answers -1. Mayor-
Council Plan
2. Council-Manager Plan
3. Small Municipalities Plan
4. Mayor-Council-Administrator Plan
Explain Mayor-Council Plan - Correct Answers -"Strong Mayor" form of government,
modeled after the federal and state governments
Explain Council-Manager Plan - Correct Answers -Council is the elected policymaker
and appoints Manager, who acts as Chief Executive and Administrator Officer
Explain Small Municipalities Plan - Correct Answers -Only for Municipalities with
population of less than 12,000, it is a mix of borough form and township form of
government organization
Explain Mayor-Council-Administrator Plan - Correct Answers -Council exercises
Legislative power, Mayor exercises the Executive power and appointed Municipal
Administrator supervises administration
Municipality Powers? - Correct Answers -Organize and regulates its internal affairs;
Adopt and enforce policy ordinances
Impose penalties
Sue and be sued
Contract and be contracted with
Appropriate and expend monies
Adopt, amend and repeal ordinances and resolutions
Exercise powers of taxation, borrowing and condemnation.
