Vernon Township

21 Church Street, Vernon, NJ 07462
Phone: 973.764.4055

Ordinances

Ordinance No. 21-24

Introduced: August 9, 2021
Public Hearing: August 23, 2021
Status: Adopted

An Ordinance Amending, Revising, and Supplementing Chapter 509 of the Vernon Township Code Titled “Taxation” Allowing for the Taxation of Sales of Cannabis and Cannabis Items in the Township of Vernon

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WHEREAS, in 2020 New Jersey voters approved Public Question No. 1, which amended the New Jersey Constitution to allow for the legalization of a controlled form of marijuana called “cannabis” for adults at least 21 years of age; and

WHEREAS, on February 22, 2021, Governor Phil Murphy signed into law P.L. 2021, c. 16, known as the “New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act” (the “Act”), which legalizes the recreational use of marijuana by adults 21 years of age or older, and establishes a comprehensive regulatory and licensing scheme for commercial recreational (adult use) cannabis operations, use, and possession; and

WHEREAS, the Act establishes six (6) marketplace classes of licensed businesses, including:

  • Class 1 Cannabis Cultivator License, for facilities involved in growing and cultivating cannabis;
  • Class 2 Cannabis Manufacturer License, for facilities involved in the manufacturing, preparation, and packaging of cannabis items;
  • Class 3 Cannabis Wholesaler License, for facilities involved in obtaining and selling cannabis items for later resale by other licensees;
  • Class 4 Cannabis Distributer License, for businesses involved in transporting cannabis plants in bulk from one licensed cultivator to another licensed cultivator, or cannabis items in bulk from any type of licensed cannabis business to another;
  • Class 5 Cannabis Retailer License, for locations at which cannabis items and related supplies are sold to consumers; and
  • Class 6 Cannabis Delivery License, for businesses providing courier services for consumer purchases that are fulfilled by a licensed cannabis retailer in order to make deliveries of the purchased items to a consumer, and which service would include the ability of a consumer to make a purchase directly through the cannabis delivery service which would be presented by the delivery service for fulfillment by a retailer and then delivered to a consumer.

WHEREAS, section 31a of the Act authorizes municipalities, by ordinance, to adopt regulations governing the number of cannabis establishments (defined in section 3 of the Act as “a cannabis cultivator, a cannabis manufacturer, a cannabis wholesaler, or a cannabis retailer”), cannabis distributors, or cannabis delivery services allowed to operate within their boundaries, as well as the location manner and times operation of such establishments, distributors or delivery services, and establishing civil penalties for the violation of any such regulations; and

WHEREAS, the Township Council of the Township of Vernon has adopted Ordinance #21-16 allowing and regulating cannabis businesses within the Township of Vernon; and

WHEREAS, section 40 of the Act permits a municipality to adopt an ordinance imposing a transfer tax on the sale of cannabis or cannabis items by a cannabis establishment that is located in the municipality on receipts from the sale of cannabis by a cannabis cultivator to another cannabis cultivator; receipts from the sale of cannabis items from one cannabis establishment to another cannabis establishment; receipts from the retail sales of cannabis items by a cannabis retailer to retail consumers who are 21 years of age or older; or any combination thereof and to set its own rate or rates, but in no case exceeding: two percent of the receipts from each sale by a cannabis cultivator; two percent of the receipts from each sale by a cannabis manufacturer; one percent of the receipts from each sale by a cannabis wholesaler; and two percent of the receipts from each sale by a cannabis retailer; and

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED, by the Mayor and Township Council of the Township of Vernon, County of Sussex, and State of New Jersey as follows: Chapter 509 of the Vernon Township Code titled “Taxation” shall be amended, revised, and supplemented to add a new Article II entitled “Cannabis Taxation” as follows:

SECTION 1.
Chapter 509, Article II, is amended to include section 1 titled “Purpose.” It is the purpose of this Article to implement the municipal taxation provisions found at section 40 of the “New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act” (“The Act”).

SECTION 2.
Chapter 509, Article II, is amended to include section 2 titled “Definitions.” The Definitions provided at Section 330-4 of the Township Code “Definitions” shall apply to Chapter 509, Article II:

SECTION 3.
Chapter 509, Article II, is amended to include section 3 titled “Transfer Tax Imposed.” There is hereby imposed a transfer tax of two percent on receipts from the sale of cannabis by a cannabis cultivator to another cannabis cultivator; receipts from the sale of cannabis items from one cannabis manufacturer to another cannabis establishment; and receipts from the retail sales of cannabis items by a cannabis retailer to retail consumers who are 21 years of age or older; and a tax of one percent of the receipts from each sale by a cannabis wholesaler. Such tax shall be collected or paid, and remitted to the municipality by the cannabis establishment from the cannabis establishment purchasing or receiving the cannabis or cannabis item, or from the consumer at the point of sale, on behalf of the municipality by the cannabis retailer selling the cannabis item to that consumer. The transfer tax shall be stated, charged, and shown separately on any sales slip, invoice, receipt, or other statement or memorandum of the price paid or payable, or equivalent value of the transfer, for the cannabis or cannabis item. No cannabis establishment required to collect a transfer tax imposed hereunder shall advertise or hold out to any person or to the public in general, in any manner, directly or indirectly, that the transfer tax or user tax will not be separately charged and stated to another cannabis establishment or the consumer, or that the transfer tax will be refunded to the cannabis establishment or the consumer.

SECTION 4.
Chapter 509, Article II, is amended to include section 4 titled “Tax Liability.” Every cannabis establishment required to collect a transfer tax imposed pursuant to this Article shall be personally liable for the transfer tax or user tax imposed, collected, or required to be collected under this Article. Any cannabis establishment shall have the same right with respect to collecting the transfer tax from another cannabis establishment or the consumer as if the transfer tax was a part of the sale and payable at the same time, or with respect to non-payment of the transfer tax or user tax by the cannabis establishment or consumer, as if the transfer tax was a part of the purchase price of the cannabis or cannabis item, or equivalent value of the transfer of the cannabis or cannabis item, and payable at the same time; provided, however, that the chief fiscal officer of the municipality shall be joined as a party in any action or proceeding brought to collect the transfer tax or user tax.

SECTION 5.
Chapter 509, Article II, is amended to include section 5 titled “Collection of Taxes and Lien.” All revenues collected from a transfer tax imposed pursuant to this Article shall be remitted to the chief financial officer in the manner prescribed herein. The chief financial officer shall collect and administer any transfer tax imposed by this Article. The municipality may enforce the payment of delinquent taxes or transfer fees imposed pursuant to this Article in the same manner as provided for municipal real property taxes. In the event that the transfer tax imposed pursuant to this Article is not paid as and when due by a cannabis establishment, the unpaid balance, and any interest accruing thereon, shall be a lien on the parcel of real property comprising the cannabis establishment’s premises in the same manner as all other unpaid municipal taxes, fees, or other charges. The lien shall be superior and paramount to the interest in the parcel of any owner, lessee, tenant, mortgagee, or other person, except the lien of municipal taxes, and shall be on a parity with and deemed equal to the municipal lien on the parcel for unpaid property taxes due and owing in the same year. The municipality shall file in the office of its tax collector a statement showing the amount and due date of the unpaid balance and identifying the lot and block number of the parcel of real property that comprises the delinquent cannabis establishment’s premises. The lien shall be enforced as a municipal lien in the same manner as all other municipal liens are enforced.

SECTION 6.
Chapter 509, Article II, is amended to include section 6 titled “Administration of Transfer Tax.” The chief financial officer is charged with the administration and enforcement of the provisions of this Article, and is empowered to prescribe, adopt, promulgate and enforce rules and regulations relating to any matter pertaining to the administration and enforcement of this Article, including provisions for the reexamination and corrections of declarations and returns, and of payments alleged or found to be incorrect, or as to which an overpayment is claimed or found to have occurred, and to prescribe forms necessary for the administration of this Article. Should a cannabis establishment fail or refuse to provide adequate information to the chief financial officer to determine the amount of tax due, the chief financial officer may use information provided to the chief financial officer from other sources (i.e., the Commission or Department of Treasury) to determine the amount of tax liability.

6.1 It shall be the duty of the chief financial officer to collect and receive the taxes, fines, and penalties imposed by this Article. It shall also be the duty of the chief financial officer to keep a record showing the date of such receipt. The chief financial officer is authorized to enter into agreements with the State of New Jersey to obtain information to facilitate administration of the tax.

6.2 The chief financial officer is hereby authorized to examine the books, papers and records of any taxpayer to verify the accuracy of any declaration or return, or if no declaration or return was filed, to ascertain the tax due. Every taxpayer is hereby directed and required to give to the chief financial officer, or to any agent designated by him/her, the means, facilities and opportunity for such examinations and investigations, as are hereby authorized.

SECTION 7.
Chapter 509, Article II, is amended to include section 7 titled “Recordkeeping.” Taxpayers liable for the transfer tax are required to keep such records as will enable the filing of true and accurate returns or the tax and such records shall be preserved for a period of not less than three (3) years from the filing date or due date, whichever is later, in order to enable the chief financial officer or any agent designated by him or her to verify the correctness of the declarations or returns filed. If records are not available in the municipality to support the returns that were filed or which should have been filed, the taxpayer will be required to make them available to the chief financial officer either by producing them at a location in the municipality or by paying for the expenses incurred by the chief financial officer or his agent in traveling to the place where the records are regularly kept.

SECTION 8.
Chapter 509, Article II, is amended to include section 8 titled “Returns.” All cannabis establishments operating in the municipality are required to file a transfer tax return with the chief financial officer to report their sales during each calendar quarter and the amount of tax in accordance with the provisions of this Article. Returns shall be filed and payments of tax imposed for the preceding calendar quarter shall be made on or before the last day of April, July, October, and January, respectively. A taxpayer who has overpaid the transfer tax, or who believes it is not liable for the tax, may file a written request on an amended tax return with the chief financial officer for a refund or a credit of the tax. For amounts paid as a result of a notice asserting or informing a taxpayer of an underpayment, a written request for a refund shall be filed with the chief financial officer within two (2) years of the date of the payment.

SECTION 9.
Chapter 509, Article II, is amended to include section 9 titled “Confidentiality.” The returns filed by taxpayers, and the records and files of the chief financial officer respecting the administration of the transfer tax, shall be considered confidential and privileged and neither the municipality nor any employee or agent engaged in the administration thereof or charged with the custody of any such records or files, nor any former officer or employee, nor any person who may have secured information therefrom, shall divulge, disclose, use for their own personal advantage, or examine for any reason other than a reason necessitated by the performance of official duties any information obtained from the said records or files or from any examination or inspection of the premises or property of any person. Neither the chief financial officer nor any employee engaged in such administration or charged with the custody of any such records or files shall be required to produce any of them for the inspection of any person or for use in any action or proceeding except when the records or files or the facts shown thereby are directly involved in an action or proceeding under the provisions of the State Uniform Tax Procedure Law or of the tax law affected, or where the determination of the action or proceeding will affect the validity or amount of the claim of the municipality under the tax provisions of this Article.

SECTION 10.
Chapter 509, Article II, is amended to include section 10 titled “Audit and Assessment.” The chief financial officer may initiate an audit by means of an audit notice. If, as a result of an examination conducted by the chief financial officer, a return has not been filed by a taxpayer or a return is found to be incorrect and transfer taxes are owed, the chief financial officer is authorized to assess and collect any tax due. If no return has been filed and tax is found to be due, the tax actually due may be assessed and collected with or without the formality of obtaining a return from the taxpayer. Deficiency assessments (i.e., where a taxpayer has filed a return but is found to owe additional tax) shall include taxes for up to three (3) years to the date when the deficiency is assessed. Where no return was filed, there shall be no limit to the period of assessment.

Upon proposing an assessment, the chief financial officer shall send the taxpayer an interim notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, which advises the taxpayer of additional taxes that are due. Should the taxpayer wish to dispute the assessment administratively by requesting a hearing with the chief financial officer, it must do so within thirty (30) days of the date of such interim notice. If, after the chief financial officer sends an interim notice, a taxpayer fails to timely request a hearing with the Chief financial officer or requests a hearing and after conducting a hearing, the chief financial officer determines that the taxes are due, the chief financial officer shall send the taxpayer by certified mail, return receipt requested, a final notice.

SECTION 11.
Chapter 509, Article II, is amended to include section 11 titled “Time Limitations.” The following periods of limitations shall apply to suits for collection of taxes: When a return has been filed but no tax paid, any suit brought to recover the tax due and unpaid shall be filed within two (2) years after the return was due or filed, whichever is later. Where no return was filed or a fraudulent return was filed, there shall be no limits to file suit for the collection of taxes. Where, before the expiration of the time prescribed in this Article for the filing a lawsuit against the taxpayer, both the chief financial officer and the taxpayer have consented in writing to its extension after such time, the suit may be filed at any time prior to the expiration of the period agreed upon. The period so agreed upon may be extended by subsequent agreements in writing made before the expiration of the period previously agreed upon.

SECTION 12.
Chapter 509, Article II, is amended to include section 12 titled “Hearings.” Any person who receives an interim notice from the chief financial officer may within thirty (30) days after the date of an interim notice, request a hearing with the chief financial officer. Any person who fails to request a chief financial officer’s hearing in a timely manner waives the right to administratively contest any element of the assessment. The chief financial officer shall accept payments of disputed tax amounts under protest pending appeals; however, any request for refund of such monies must be filed in accordance with this Article.

SECTION 13.
Chapter 509, Article II, is amended to include section 13 titled “Appeals.” Any aggrieved taxpayer may, within ninety (90) days after the mailing of any final notice regarding a decision, order, finding, assessment, or action hereunder, or publication of any rule, regulation or policy of the chief financial officer, appeal to the Tax Court pursuant to the jurisdiction granted by N.J.S.A. 2B:13-2a(3) to review actions or regulations of municipal officials by filing a complaint in accordance with the New Jersey Court Rule 8:3-1. The appeal provided by this Article shall be the exclusive remedy available to any taxpayer for review of a final decision of the chief financial officer in respect to a determination of liability for the tax imposed by this Article.

SECTION 14. SEVERABILITY AND REPEALER
Should any part or provision of this Ordinance be declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the same shall not affect the validity of this Ordinance as a whole or any part thereof other than the part held invalid.

SECTION 15. EFFECTIVE DATE
This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon adoption and publication in accordance with law.

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Vernon Township

21 Church Street
Vernon, NJ 07462

Phone: 973.764.4055 

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Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

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Emergencies Dial 9-1-1
Non-Emergencies Dial 973-764-6155

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