Warren County operates under the County Commissioner form of county government. The Board of County Commissioners consists of three Commissioners each elected at large for staggered terms of three years. The Commissioner Director is chosen by the full board at the board’s annual reorganization meeting in January. The Commissioners supervise, direct and administer all county services and functions through the various departments, autonomous boards, agencies, and commissions. Reporting to the Board of County Commissioners is an appointed County Administrator.

In addition to its fiscal administration and the responsibility of linking the county’s municipalities with State and other local governmental units, the Board of County Commissioners has these duties:

To fulfill the following legislative responsibilities:

1. Formulating county policies;
2. Developing new county programs;
3. Appointing members of the various commissions and boards; and
4. Appropriating funds required from the 22 municipalities of the county to maintain all county services.

And to provide for the following services:

1. General government;
2. Regulations;
3. Roads and bridges;
4. Correctional and penal;
5. Health and welfare; and
6. Education.

Prior to a change in New Jersey law that took effect Jan. 1, 2021, the governing body was known as the Board of Chosen Freeholders. The term “freeholder” originated in England, dating back to at least the 16th Century. Originally, a Freeholder was a person in the British Royal Court who was considered responsible in character or otherwise in favor with the King, and therefore a worthy recipient as an owner (holder) of land grants in the new American colony.

Many years later, on July 2, 1776, just two days before the Declaration of Independence was adopted in Philadelphia, the Provincial Congress of New Jersey met in Burlington and declared its separation from King George and the British parliament. The meeting provided that qualified voters were to elect various officers under the “hands” (approval) of six Freeholders. Legislation in 1798 set the make-up of Freeholder Boards at one elected representative for each municipality, and in 1904 smaller boards were authorized. Warren is the only remaining county in New Jersey to have a three-member board.

The Wayne Dumont, Jr. Administration Building in White Township contains the office and meeting room of the Warren County Board of County Commissioners, as well as other county departments. Opened in 1986, the building is named for State Senator Dumont (1914-1992) of Phillipsburg, who represented Warren County for 37 years.