The Senate and General Assembly passed a bill sponsored by Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz and Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin that would impose a surcharge on hotel occupancies in certain municipalities to supplement funding for firefighter services, specifically to aid large cities like Newark.
“As New Jersey’s largest city and a national gateway that is home to one of the country’s busiest airports, a major port, and the intersection of our two statewide highways, it’s critical that Newark’s firefighters have the equipment, staffing, and training they need to protect themselves, our communities, and the millions of visitors who pass through our area each year,” said Majority Leader Ruiz and Assemblywoman Pintor Marin. “This funding will strengthen Newark’s ability to respond effectively to emergencies, save lives, and meet the increasing needs of a growing city that serves as a vital economic and cultural hub for greater New Jersey.”
The bill, S-4475, imposes a daily, $3 per room surcharge on the occupancy of a room in a municipality classified as a first-class city and in which an international airport is located. Under New Jersey statute, a “city of the first class” is defined as a municipality with more than 150,000 residents. Newark is the only first-class city with an international airport in the state.
The bill requires the Director of the Division of Taxation to collect the surcharge and deposit all surcharge revenues into a dedicated fire service trust fund. Surcharge revenues would be remitted to the municipality monthly, and revenues could be expended to support the hiring, retention, and training of fire service employees, the acquisition of fire service equipment, and the undertaking of capital improvements that would improve the municipality’s fire service capabilities.
