52:27D-508 Recommendations put before voters; adoption.

8. a. Upon the taking effect of a consolidation or shared services proposal pursuant to subsection b. of section 7 of P.L.2007, c.54 (C.52:27D-507), each recommendation included therein shall be put before the affected voters at the next general election and shall become effective only upon its adoption by a majority of the voters of each affected municipality.

b. In order to effectuate the provisions of subsection a. of this section, the Secretary of State shall forward to the clerk of each county in which the affected local units are located a public question to be included on the ballots at the next general election for the election districts encompassing those affected local units.

(1) The question with respect to consolidation shall read as follows:

"Shall (insert the names of the participating local units) be consolidated into a single local unit to be known as (insert the name proposed for the consolidated local unit)?"

(2) The question with respect to shared services shall read as follows:

"Shall (insert the services to be shared) be jointly undertaken between (insert the names of the entities between which sharing is to occur)?"

c. The consolidation of pairs or groups of local units recommended for consolidation under subsection a. of this section shall be accomplished within 14 months following the voter approval of the consolidation recommendation.

d. The adoption of a form of government, the election of officers, the apportionment of debts, and other issues between pairs or groups of municipalities required to consolidate pursuant to an approved consolidation recommendation under subsection c. of this section shall be determined by the commission, as far as practicable, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the "Municipal Consolidation Act," P.L.1977, c.435 (C.40:43-66.35 et al.) or any other statute governing municipal consolidation.

e. For a period of 10 years from the consolidation of a pair or group of municipalities pursuant to a consolidation recommendation approved under subsection c. of this section, and notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the residents of those municipalities, or portions thereof, shall not have the right to secede to form a new municipality, or to consolidate with, or annex themselves to, any other municipality.

L.2007,c.54,s.8.