N.J. Stat. § 27:17-8
The commissioners shall be entitled to the use and possession of all property and plant of the county used for maintaining, lighting and repairing such road and may employ such agents, servants and employees as they may deem necessary for the proper performance of the work to be done under this chapter, and may fix their compensation which shall be paid out of the fund appropriated for the used of the commission as hereinbefore provided.
During the first year in office of the commissioners, where the board of chosen freeholders shall have appropriated a sum for the maintenance, lighting and repair of such road, exclusive of salaries or compensation to employees, the board of chosen freeholders shall, if required so to do by the commissioners, pay such salaries and compensation for services, leaving to the commissioners the fund so appropriated by the board of chosen freeholders for the specific purpose of maintaining, repairing and lighting such road to be disbursed by the commissioners for those purposes.
N.J.S. § 27:17-8