So changes to this policy require a change in state law. In this specific case, there is a law that says municipalities must publish legal notices in publications with some level of local availability. This is 2011 so some members of the legislature figured towns should have an obvious efficiency available to them.Ī point of legal clarification: Municipalities in New Jersey, and I believe in all states, are legally creations of state law and operate under laws passed by the state. There's a local print paper in my town that's hanging on by a thread as things stand and they would certainly have to close their doors if this bill went through (no big loss if you ask me, it's a terrible paper).īut municipalities in New Jersey (and your state too) aren't exactly rolling in dough these days either, and that money they spend on those notices that almost nobody reads came out of your pocket, Mr. So A1083/ S2072 ("Permits publication of legal notices by governments and individuals on official government website instead of newspaper") is really bad news for the news business. The paper just has to reproduce the exact text provided to them no sales, no editing, pretty much pure profit. My dinky town has budgeted $20,000 for legal notices this year.
Legal notices are one of the main things keeping small, local newspapers in business. So I was heartened by a proposal for a state law permitting municipalities and individuals to publish legal notices on the town web site instead of in a local newspaper. I'm involved in local government in my town ( Maplewood, NJ) and I'm always looking for ways for the town to save money in order to keep our outrageous property taxes under control.