The board of chosen freeholders of any county of this State wherein any child or children shall have been or may hereafter be lawfully committed to the care and control of the trustees or managers of any duly incorporated children’s home located in said county or of any duly incorporated charitable institution in said county, having for or among its objects the care, management and support of orphans, half orphans and destitute children and of affording them moral and useful training, and including care for any children found in circumstances necessitating temporary care and housing, may make an appropriation of a sum of money not exceeding $15,000.00 each year, in the same manner that appropriations for other county purposes are made, which sum so appropriated shall be included in the annual tax levy of such county, and collected in the same manner and at the same time as other taxes and shall be paid to the trustees or managers of such children’s home or charitable institution for the board, maintenance and education of such child or children so committed during their continuance in said home or institution until they arrive at the age of 18 years; provided, that the sum so appropriated shall be in lieu and instead of any sum per week for each and every child so committed to such home or institution.

In the event that there is no such children’s home or charitable institution within the county willing and able to provide the care for which such appropriation may be made, the board of chosen freeholders is authorized to contract with any other organization within the county to provide said care and may expend pursuant to any such contract a sum not to exceed $15,000.00 in any 1 year and which may include the expenditure of reasonable sums for the acquisition of facilities, equipment and services and for the payment of personnel necessary to provide said care.

L.1948, c. 258, p. 1132, s. 1. Amended by L.1964, c. 203, s. 2, eff. Oct. 13, 1964.