What do all forms of optional county charter plans in New Jersey maintain?

In New Jersey, optional county charter plans are established to provide flexibility and customization in governance, while still adhering to certain structural requirements across all plans. One of the key features that all forms of these plans maintain is centralized purchasing procedures. This approach ensures that procurement activities are streamlined and managed efficiently, allowing for standardized processes and potentially cost-saving measures through bulk purchasing.

Centralized purchasing enables counties to maintain control and oversight of procurement activities, ensuring compliance with state laws and regulations, while also fostering accountability and transparency in spending. This structure allows the county to better manage its resources, negotiate contracts effectively, and consolidate purchasing power.

The other options, while they may exist in some contexts, do not universally apply to all optional county charter plans. For instance, decentralized financial authority or independent purchasing boards may not be consistent across all charter forms, and local vendor preference policies can vary significantly based on specific county regulations and practices. Therefore, the focus on centralized purchasing procedures aligns with the overarching intention of these charter plans to enhance operational efficiency and governance in county-level purchasing activities.