What is the required vote to adopt a municipal budget?

To adopt a municipal budget in New Jersey, the required vote is a majority of the governing body. This means that more than half of the members present and voting in the governing body must approve the budget for it to be adopted.

This voting requirement reflects the principles of representative democracy, allowing elected officials to make decisions on behalf of their constituents. The governing body's vote ensures that the budget is formulated and approved based on an evaluation of the community’s needs and fiscal reality, rather than requiring direct voter approval, which can be less practical and timely for budgetary matters.

In contrast, the other choices suggest voting methods that involve the general electorate or higher thresholds than what is necessitated by the law for budget adoption in New Jersey. These methods might complicate or slow down the process of budget approval, which needs to be conducted efficiently to maintain government operations. Therefore, a majority of the governing body strikes a balance between representing constituents and ensuring that the municipality can effectively manage its affairs.