The funds appropriated pursuant to this act shall be apportioned among the qualifying municipalities for the purpose of enabling such municipalities to upgrade and augment certain municipal services and programs relating to safe and clean neighborhoods, by providing for additional policemen regularly assigned uniformed patrol duties, additional firemen, their related expenses, supervisors and other neighborhood improvements, in the following manner:

a. In order to receive aid under this act, each qualifying municipality shall apply to the director for matching funds equal in value to $1.00 for each dollar appropriated for an approved municipal program designed to upgrade and augment certain municipal services and programs relating to safe and clean neighborhoods;

b. Each qualifying municipality shall be limited in applying for matching funds equal in value to such amount as the qualifying municipality was entitled to receive pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1978, c. 56, as certified by the Director of the Division of Local Government Services;

c. A qualifying municipality that did not receive State aid pursuant to P.L.1978, c. 56, and that is eligible for such aid is entitled to participate in this act in an amount not to exceed an amount equal to that which the qualifying municipality would have received pursuant to P.L.1973, c. 46, as supplemented, if it had been eligible at that time, as certified by the Director of the Division of Local Government Services;

d. If additional funds are appropriated, a qualifying municipality may apply to the director for an increase in matching funds equal in value to a sum in proportion to that received pursuant to the provisions of subsection b. of this section;

e. If funds remain unapportioned, as certified by the director, after a qualifying municipality has had an opportunity to apply, there shall be established a discretionary fund, and participating municipalities may make application for such funds as still remain unapportioned, as determined by the director;

f. The number of policemen employed in 1982 with funds appropriated pursuant to this act shall not be reduced in any subsequent year in order to employ additional firemen pursuant to this amendatory act.

L.1979, c. 118, s. 3, eff. June 28, 1979. Amended by L.1981, c. 527, s. 1; L.1983, c. 64, s. 1, eff. Feb. 9, 1983.