TRENTON, N.J. — The New Jersey Senate has passed legislation sponsored by state Sen. Anthony M. Bucco that would allow counties to establish dedicated trust funds to retain fire academy registration fees for training, equipment and operational expenses.
The bill, S-3526, would authorize counties to create a nonlapsing Fire Academy Trust Fund, allowing revenue collected from individuals registering for county fire academy courses to remain available for academy expenses beyond the annual budget cycle.
Under current law, unspent registration fees generally become part of a county’s budget surplus after the applicable budget period. The proposed legislation would allow counties to preserve those funds specifically for fire academy operations rather than having them lapse into the general county budget.
“As a longtime member and former captain of the Boonton Volunteer Fire Department, I know firsthand the commitment New Jersey’s firefighters make to protect our communities and the important role county fire academies play in preparing them to serve,” said Senator Bucco. “By allowing counties to keep these fees dedicated to fire academy needs year after year, we can help ensure these facilities continue to have the resources necessary to maintain their operations and provide quality training.”
Bucco, a Republican representing portions of Morris and Passaic counties, said the measure is intended to help county fire academies maintain resources needed to train firefighters and support their operations.
Under the legislation, counties choosing to establish a Fire Academy Trust Fund would be required to deposit registration fees collected from individuals enrolling in fire academy courses into the fund. Money could be spent exclusively on equipment purchases, ongoing maintenance, supplies and services necessary to operate and maintain the academy.
The proposal would provide an exception to the annual budget restrictions established under New Jersey’s Local Budget Law, allowing counties to carry forward unused registration revenue for future fire academy needs.
The legislation does not require every county to establish a trust fund but would give counties the option of creating one to manage fire academy registration revenue.
The measure has passed the Senate but has not yet become law.
