New Jersey Statutes Title 40A. Municipalities and Counties 40A § 4-12.1

On or before May 13 of each year, the governing body of each municipality operating under the State fiscal year shall certify, by resolution, to the Director of the Division of Local Government Services a preliminary municipal tax levy to be utilized in calculation of the municipal portion of the third and fourth installments of property taxes. The amount of the preliminary municipal tax levy shall be calculated in such a manner as to level insofar as possible the municipal portion of third and fourth installments and the subsequent first and second installments, but unless otherwise approved by the director, the amount of the preliminary municipal tax levy shall not be less than 95% of the current fiscal year's municipal tax levy. A copy of the certification shall be forwarded to the director, and to the county board of taxation which shall then use the levy in preparation of the extended tax duplicate for the municipality pursuant to R.S.54:4-55. If the governing body fails to act in a timely manner, the director may prepare and certify the preliminary municipal tax levy and shall provide a copy to the county board of taxation and the municipality. The director shall promulgate forms and instructions as necessary for the calculation of the preliminary municipal tax levy.