(1) Notwithstanding section 19 through 19d, the board of county road commissioners of a county operating under the county road system may provide for the lighting, by artificial means, of roads, highways, and bridges under its jurisdiction, located outside of the limits of incorporated cities and villages. The township board or boards of a township or townships in which county roads, highways, and bridges are located may also provide for the lighting, by artificial means. Boards of county road commissioners and township boards may also provide for the lighting by joint action, and by dividing the expense of the lighting between the county or counties and the township or townships affected as may be determined by joint meeting of the boards. The board of county road commissioners or township board, acting separately or in conjunction with other boards of county road commissioners or with a township board or township boards, may enter into a contract with a person for a period not exceeding 10 years for the lighting upon terms and conditions as may be agreed upon, and may also contract for the extensions of lines or service to furnish the lighting. The boards of county road commissioners may pay from available highway funds under their control and jurisdiction sums required to provide for the extensions and furnish the lighting. If funds are not available, the board of county road commissioners shall submit to the county board of commissioners a statement and budget designating the roads, highways, and bridges to be lighted, and the estimated cost of the lighting. At the next October session of the county board of commissioners, the board shall pass upon the statement and budget, and, if a majority of the county board of commissioners agree, the sum required shall be apportioned among the several townships and cities of the county according to their equalized valuation. The supervisors or other assessing officers in the townships and cities shall levy and apportion the tax so apportioned as provided in this section, to their respective townships and cities. The tax shall be collected and paid to the county treasurer and disbursed by him or her upon orders of the board of county road commissioners, the orders to be signed by the chairperson and countersigned by the clerk of the board. The county board of commissioners shall raise a sum which, together with the other funds available, is sufficient to provide the lighting for which the facilities have, under an existing contract, been previously installed and operated.

    (2) With the approval of the director of the state transportation department, boards of county road commissioners and township boards acting together or separately, may, with respect to state trunk line highways and bridges located in whole or in part within their respective counties and townships, provide for the lighting of these highways and bridges by artificial means and may contract in the same manner as for county roads. In such case, the entire expense shall be borne by the boards of county road commissioners or township boards, or by both.