New Jersey § 44:5-16

§ 44:5-16.

A. Any county having a population less than 850,000 according to the latest federal

decennial census may make annual appropriations not exceeding in the aggregate 1 / 10 of 1% of the total assessed valuations of real and personal property of the county,

or a sum of money not in excess of the amount which might be raised at that rate,

in the manner in which other appropriations for county purposes are made, for the

maintenance of a charitable hospital or hospitals the facilities of which are used

by the poor or indigent residents of the county, to an amount not exceeding the estimated

annual deficit in operating expenses of the hospital, which sum, so appropriated,

shall be included in the annual tax levy of the county and collected in the same manner

and at the same time as other county taxes. The amount so appropriated when paid over to a charitable hospital shall be used towards

the current maintenance and expense of operation thereof. The appropriation may be made for a specifically named hospital or it may be made

generally and in such case, the county governing body may, by ordinance or resolution,

as appropriate, apportion the amount so appropriated to any such hospital in the manner

which in their judgment may be deemed for the best interest of the county, but in

no case shall a hospital receive more than the amount of its actual deficit in operating

expenses. The officials and auditors of the county shall have access at all reasonable times

to the books and records of a hospital which shall receive the appropriation or part

thereof, for the purpose of ascertaining the deficit in operating expenses and the

application of the moneys so appropriated or apportioned and the financial needs or

requirements of the hospital. B. Any county having a population less than 850,000 according to the latest federal

decennial census may make annual appropriations, for the medical care, treatment and

maintenance of the poor and indigent residents of the county in any charitable hospital

or hospitals in a sum not exceeding in the aggregate for all such hospitals, 1 / 10 of 1% of the total assessed valuations of real and personal property of the county,

or a sum of money not in excess of the amount which might be raised at that rate in

the manner in which other appropriations for the county are made, regardless of whether

the hospital or hospitals to which such moneys are paid, shall have an annual deficit

in operating expenses of such hospital, which appropriation shall be included in the

annual tax levy of the county and collected in the same manner and at the same time

as other county taxes. No such hospital shall receive any payment pursuant to this subsection at a rate in

excess of the average cost per patient in any county hospital operated by the county

making the payment and provided further that no person shall be considered poor and

indigent for the purpose of this subsection unless such status is established to the

satisfaction of the governing body of such county. C. Subsections A. and B. of this act are mutually exclusive and no hospital shall

receive payment under both subsections.