Opened file
New Jersey
Same nine questions as every other state. Answers are filled only where this state’s own statute or financial report is attached.
Decision instrument
Local units: a bond ordinance under the Local Bond Law.
What public act authorizes the borrowing, and where is the purpose and the first-year cost written down? N.J.S.A. 40A:2. The ordinance states the purpose and appropriates the proceeds. A down payment of at least 5 percent is the usual rule, with stated exceptions. The State itself borrows by legislative act. Each of those acts is not attached here.
Debt statement
Annual Debt Statement, due January 31.
What yearly filing states gross debt, deductions, and how close the issuer is to its limit? N.J.S.A. 40A:2-40. Gross debt, deductions, net debt, equalized valuation, and the statutory percent. The duty is on the record for all 21 counties. A 2025 statement is not attached to any county row.
Debt limit
County net debt: 2.00%. Municipality: 3.50%.
What cap binds a county or a city, and is the state's own ceiling a different rule? N.J.S.A. 40A:2-6, measured against a three-year average equalized valuation. A single ceiling on the State’s own bonded stock is not the same rule and is not copied here.
Conflict rule
Local Government Ethics Law. Interest means more than 10 percent of a business.
Which ethics statute covers local officers, what counts as an interest, and who is left out? N.J.S.A. 40A:9-22.1. Local officers, not school boards. School boards sit under the Schools Ethics Law. A publicly traded security generally need not be named unless the 10 percent test is met. This file does not send a yes-or-no request.
Geography
21 counties. FIPS 34001 through 34041.
What is the county-equivalent, and which cities, schools, and authorities must not be pasted onto that row? Cities are not county rows. Municipal headcount is 564 in the 2022 Census of Governments and 566 on the State Library list. That headcount is sources-disagree, so no city roster is pasted here.
Primary money record
FY2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. $38.6 billion bonded.
Which audited report is the state's own number, and as of what date? Year ended June 30, 2025. Transmitted March 27, 2026. Non-bonded long-term obligations are a separate $170.8 billion. Principal and interest paid that year: $4.6 billion.
Who pays the coupon
The fund split on the state coupon is not attached.
Which fund, tax, or rate is actually pledged — not which new store might show up later? Local general improvements are not current expenses. Who pays still has to be read off that issuer’s budget or rate covenant. A later store is not the pledge.
Other obligors
Trust Fund, Turnpike, other authorities, cities, and schools stay in their own files.
Which authorities and districts borrow beside the state and must not be added to its total? The Transportation Trust Fund Authority reports about $20.5 billion outstanding. Do not add it to the $38.6 billion. Much of that stock is already inside the state report.
Book-entry wall
Cede & Co., at the Depository Trust Company.
Who is the registered owner on ordinary public paper? Series-level confirmation still waits on that official statement. Beneficial owners stay unnamed.