The Borough of Tinton Falls operates under the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, using the Mayor-Council form of municipal government (Plan 6), implemented by direct petition as of July 1, 1985. The borough is one of 71 municipalities (of the 565) statewide governed under this form. The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the Borough Council. The Mayor is the chief executive officer of the Borough and is directly elected for a four-year term of office. The Borough Council is the legislative body, comprised of five members elected at-large on a non-partisan basis for four-year terms on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats up for election every other year as part of the November general election, with the mayoral seat up for vote at the same time that two council seats are being chosen by voters. A business administrator reports to, and may act on behalf of the Mayor, in the Mayor's absence. The Borough Council voted in May 2010 to shift its elections from May to the November general election, as part of an effort to increase participation of voters and to cut costs associated with the May elections, with savings estimated at nearly $100,000 during the first decade after the change was implemented in the November 2011 vote.