Amato v. Board of Chosen Freeholders

The opinion of the court was delivered by HAVEY, J.A.D. Plaintiff Nicholas R. Amato, Essex County Executive, appeals from a judgment entered in the Law Division dismissing his declaratory judgment action against defendants Essex County Board of Freeholders (Board) and Barry Skokowski, Sr., Director of the Division of Local Government Services, Department of the Treasury (Director). The gravamen of plaintiff’s complaint is that the Board was without authority to amend the 1989 county budget submitted by plaintiff without his “concurrence.” In dismissing plaintiff’s complaint, the trial judge concluded that the Board has the exclusive legislative power to adopt and amend county budgets pursuant to the Local Budget — 315 — Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:4-1 et seq. (Budget Law). We agree and now affirm. The facts are not in dispute. Essex County is governed by the county executive plan of government pursuant to the Optional County Charter Law, N.J.S.A. 40:41A-31 et seq. (Charter Law). Plaintiff has been the Essex County Executive since January 1, 1987. On or about March 30, 1989, plaintiff submitted to the Board the county’s 1989 operating and capital budget. Upon the Board introducing the proposed budget for public hearings, various Board members announced their intention to amend it without referring the proposed amendments back to the county executive for his consideration and approval. Plaintiff responded by filing the present action by verified complaint, seeking a judgment declaring that the Board was limited to either approving or disapproving the 1989 budget as submitted by plaintiff, and that the Board is without authority to modify or amend the budget without his “approval and concurrence[.]”1 Plaintiff also sought to enjoin the Board from adopting any budget that has “not been approved” by him, and the Director from certifying the amended budget pursuant to the Budget Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:4-1 et seq. Plaintiff’s argument in the Law Division, repeated on appeal, was that the Budget Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:4-4 and -9b, provides that budgets shall be adopted and amended by the “governing body.” Plaintiff then pointed to the Charter Law, N.J.S.A. 40:41A-32b, which provides in part: — 316 — In each county operating under this article, the term “governing body” of the county shall be construed to include both the board of freeholders and the county executive. [Emphasis added]. He therefore reasoned that, since he was a member of the “governing body,” the Board could not adopt an amendment to the budget without his “concurrence.” In dismissing plaintiff’s complaint, the trial court concluded that notwithstanding the Charter Law’s definition of “governing body,” under other specific provisions of the Charter Law the county executive has only administrative and executive powers, which do not include control over the budget process. That process is governed by the specific provisions of the Budget Law, which defines “governing body” to mean the board of chosen freeholders. N.J.S.A. 40A:4-2. Thus, amendments to and adoption of the budget is the exclusive legislative function of the Board. We agree. Plaintiff’s assertion that he has “concurring]” power over budget amendments is predicated on a perceived conflict between the definitions of “governing body” found in the Charter Law and Budget Law. Plaintiff acknowledges that the Budget Law defines “governing body” to mean the board of chosen freeholders, but argues that this definition must give way to the definition of “governing body” under section -32b of the Charter Law, which was added to the law in 1978. See L. 1978, c. 141, § 1. This is so, plaintiff asserts, because a Charter Law county is governed by the terms of the plan adopted, by provisions of the Charter Law and by all general laws that are “not inconsistent with this act[.]” N.J.S.A. 40:41A-25, -26. He reasons that because the Budget Law’s definition of “governing body” is “inconsistent” with the definition found in the Charter Law, the latter must prevail. It is true that there appears facially an apparent conflict between the Charter Law and the Budget Law in their respective definitions of “governing body.” It is also true that if the Budget Law is a “general law” and a conflict exists, the definition under section -32b must prevail. However, reading — 317 — each statute in the context of its respective purpose and legislative scheme, they are easily reconciled. We do not view the Charter Law’s definition of “governing body” as intending to amend in a wholesale manner all general laws so that reference in these laws to the “governing body” shall be deemed to include both the county executive and board of freeholders. We read section -32b as nothing more than an affirmation of the separation of powers between the county executive and board of freeholders, established by the Charter Law, which did not exist under prior law. The second sentence of section -32b makes this clear by stating that: ... all administrative or executive functions heretofore assigned by general law to the board of freeholders shall be exercised by the county executive, and ... all legislative ... functions heretofore assigned by general law to the board of freeholders shall be exercised by the board, all in accordance with the separation of powers provided for in section 86 of the act[.] Thus, section -32b is a simple declaration that the “checks and balances” essential to sustain a county executive form of government permits both the county executive and board to be members of the “governing body,” but only for the purpose of carrying out their respective duties and powers. Stated differently, under the county executive form of government, all the functions previously performed solely by the freeholders are now divided between the board of freeholders and county executive (depending upon whether the functions are executive or legislative) who collectively constitute the governing body of the county. See Shapiro v. Essex Cty. Freeholder Bd., 183 N.J. Super. 24, 28, 443 A.2d 219 (App.Div.), aff’d o.b. 91 N.J. 430, 431, 453 A.2d 158 (1982). For example, the county executive is a member of the “governing body” for the purpose of exercising all “administrative or executive functions” including the duty to “[p]repare and submit” to the board the annual operating and capital budgets. N.J.S.A. 40:41A-36b. The board, in turn, is a member of the “governing body” for the purpose of exercising its legislative power to “approve the annual operating and capital budgets — 318 — pursuant to the Local Budget Law.” N.J.S.A. 40:41A-41g. Nothing in the Charter Law suggests that each branch of government shall share in their respective powers and duties, or have the power to “concur” in the other’s actions. The definition of “governing body” in the Budget Law, on the other hand, is part of a discrete mechanism for the introduction and adoption of budgets which is applicable to all county governments, including the Charter Law forms. The Budget Law provides that all budgets “shall be introduced, approved, amended and adopted by resolution passed by not less than a majority of the full membership of the governing body.” N.J.S.A. 40A:4-4. The Budget Law also provides that the “governing body” may amend the budget during or after the public hearing. N.J.S.A. 40A:4-9b. Also, as stated, it defines “governing body” to mean the board of chosen freeholders. N.J.S.A. 40A:4-2. The explicit provisions of the Charter Law, which incorporate by reference the Budget Law, make it clear that the Legislature intended that all of the provisions of the Budget Law shall control the budget process. As we have noted, N.J.S.A. 40:41A-41g provides that the board “[sjhall approve the annual operating and capital budgets pursuant to the Local Budget Law.” (Emphasis added). N.J.S.A. 40:41 A-38o provides that the board shall adopt the budget by resolution, as specified in the “Local Budget Law.” Further, preparation and submission of the budget, the budgetary process, and the scope of the budget and budget message are all subject to the requirements of the Budget Law. See N.J.S.A. 40:41A-133 through -138. It is illogical to conclude that the Legislature intended that the entire Budget Law mechanism shall be incorporated into the Charter Law except for the Budget Law’s definition of “governing body.” The Budget Law as well leaves no doubt that the board has the exclusive legislative function, as the governing body, to introduce, approve, advertise, conduct public hearings, amend — 319 — and adopt the budget. See N.J.S.A. 40A:4-2 through -9. The law is specific legislation dealing only with budgets, and makes no reference to a county executive and does not confer upon him any power or control over the budget process after he prepares and submits the budget to the board. See Blasi v. Ehret, 118 N.J.Super. 501, 502-503, 288 A.2d 861 (App.Div. 1972) (county supervisor, under N.J.S.A. 40A:9-40, does not have the power to veto approval and adoption of a county budget by the board of freeholders). In our view, if the Legislature intended to vest in the county executive the power to “concur” in the amendment, approval or adoption of the budget, it would have so stated in both the Charter Law and Budget Law. The concurring opinion intimates that since N.J.S.A. 40:41A-41g provides only that the board shall “approve” the annual budget, the statute does not give the board the power to “amend” or “adopt” a budget without the county executive’s concurrence. However, as noted, the statute gives the board the power to “approve” the annual budget “pursuant to the Local Budget Law.” (Emphasis added). The Budget Law cannot be any clearer. All budgets “shall be introduced, approved, amended and adopted” by not less than a majority of the full membership of the governing body, the board of freeholders. N.J.S.A. 40A:4-4 (emphasis added). Moreover, the trial court’s interpretation of the pertinent statutory provisions is both logical and consistent with legislative goals. The county executive has the expertise, staff and facilities to “prepare and submit” the budget, as well as the means and resources to implement it once it is adopted by the board, by exercising his executive powers and duties under N.J.S.A. 40:41A-36 and -37. The Legislature obviously recognized, that to sustain proper checks and balances between the executive and legislative branches, the board should have the exclusive power to approve, amend and adopt the budget, as submitted by the county executive, in order to carry out its important legislative and policy-making functions. — 320 — This interpretation is also supported by the legislative history of the Charter Law. The 1973 New Jersey County and Municipal Government Study Commission handbook, prepared upon adoption of the Charter Law, provides in part as follows: Comment on See. 41 The legislative power of county government is vested exclusively in the Board of Freeholders. Under this plan, the Board further has sufficient legal authority to oversee the operations of all county government. The Board is given the power to advise and consent to nominations, to override the Executive’s removal powers, to overrule the Executive’s veto and to approve and modify the budget. [Pane, “Handbook for County Charter Study Commissioners,” Appendix E at 16 (1973) (emphasis added)]. The handbook also makes clear that the power to “approve and modify” the budget, as well as the other grants of power, “effectively provide a legislative check on the power of the independently elected Executive and assure legislative safeguards over the operations of county government as part of a system of checks and balances.” Ibid, (emphasis added). It is true that the handbook was issued prior to the 1978 amendment to N.J.S.A. 40:41A-32, which added to the Charter Law the definition of “governing body.” However, as we have stated, we construe section -32b as simply being a declaration of the divided functions of the county executive and freeholders who collectively constitute the “governing body.” Moreover, we reject plaintiffs position because it would, in our view, lead to absurd results. See State v. Gill, 47 N.J. 441, 444, 221 A.2d 521 (1966); Galanter v. Planning Bd. of Tp. of Howell, 211 N.J.Super. 218, 221, 511 A.2d 702 (App.Div.1986). If plaintiff is a member of the “governing body” for the purpose of concurring in amendments to the budget, it must follow that he is also a member for the purpose of introducing, approving and adopting the budget by resolution passed by “not less than a majority of the full membership of the governing body.” N.J.S.A. 40A:4-4. Does that mean that he is a tenth member (including the nine freeholders) for the purpose of determining whether there is a majority of the full membership of the governing body necessary to adopt the budget? No one can seriously argue that this is so. — 321 — Also, the legislative power of the board must be exercised by ordinance, except for specific, enumerated powers which may be exercised by resolution under N.J.S.A. 40:41A-38, including “[a]ctions specified as resolutions in the ‘Local Budget Law.’ ” N.J.S.A. 40:41A-38o. The county executive has the power to “veto” any ordinance, N.J.S.A. 40:41A-37g, but has no such power over board resolutions. In turn, the board has the power to override an ordinance veto by a vote of two-thirds of the full membership of the board. Ibid; N.J.S.A. 40:41A-41f. Despite plaintiff’s characterization of his right to “concur” in a budget amendment, if he is correct, he has what is tantamount to a veto power over the amended budget since the board could not adopt it without his “concurrence.” The illogical result of this interpretation is that the board could not override the “veto,” because the budget was not adopted by ordinance. Such a result would permit the county executive to monopolize the budget process and render the board’s legislative powers enumerated in the Charter Law and Budget Law a complete nullity. Finally, plaintiff points to a provision of the Budget Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:4-17, and argues that this statute was intended as a “relief valve” in the event there is an impasse between the county executive and board respecting an amendment to the budget. N.J.S.A. 40A:4-17 provides that if the Director receives notice that the county has not passed a budget resolution within the time prescribed by the Budget Law, he shall certify an amount required for the county’s operation for the fiscal year. That amount shall be based upon the operating budget of the preceding year, with various enumerated adjustments. Plaintiff misconceives the purpose of N.J.S.A. 40A:4-17. This provision was part of the Budget Law long before the Charter Law was adopted. It provides a method by which the Director can certify the amount of taxes to be raised, based on the prior year’s budget, in the event the governing body, i.e., the board of freeholders, see N.J.S.A. 40A:4-2, is unable to reach agreement on the budget. Nothing in the provision — 322 — suggests that the Director shall intervene and certify if there is an impasse between the county executive and board. Indeed, in our view, such a reading is contrary to sound political process and the public good. The trial court characterized the potential impact of Director certification on the county’s operations as “havoc,” and even plaintiff’s counsel conceded that certification based on the 1988 budget would cause “massive layoffs.” Accepting plaintiff’s argument that he must concur in any budget amendments would increase substantially the potential for impasse and the consequent adverse effect on the operation of county government. Affirmed. Footnotes [1] We were advised at oral argument that the disputed aspects of the 1989 budget were resolved, and the budget was adopted subsequent to trial. However, because the issue has again been raised in 1990 and will no doubt continue to be raised, and because of its public importance, we decline to dismiss the appeal as being moot. See Matter of Conroy, 98 N.J. 321, 342, 486 A.2d 1209 (1985); Vasquez v. Glassboro Service Ass’n, Inc., 83 N.J. 86, 94, 415 A.2d 1156 (1980).