If a budget amendment exceeds what percentage, a public hearing is required?

In New Jersey, the requirement for a public hearing on a budget amendment is specifically tied to amendments that exceed a certain threshold of the budget total. When a budget amendment exceeds ten percent of the total budget, it necessitates a public hearing. This provision ensures that significant changes to the budget, which may impact taxpayers and the provision of services, are transparent and allow for community input.

The requirement for a public hearing when exceeding this threshold helps maintain accountability in municipal finance and encourages public participation in the fiscal decision-making process. This is particularly important to foster trust and understanding between municipal officials and the residents they serve. Other percentages listed, such as five percent, fifteen percent, or twenty percent, do not trigger this requirement, which emphasizes the significance of the ten percent threshold in New Jersey's financial governance framework.