Denison, 033031 PAAGO, AGO 7

• Case Date: March 30, 1931
• Court: Pennsylvania

Honorable W. M. Denison AGO 7 Opinion No. 7 Pennsylvania Attorney General Opinions Opinion of the Attorney General March 30, 1931          School Districts—Buildings—Appraisal for Insurance Purposes—Advertising-— Competitive Bidding—Act of 1911, P. L. 309, Sees. 617, 706, 707, 708.          School districts may award to individuals or corporations, without advertising for bids, contracts for appraisal of school buildings and contents for the purpose of determining the amount of fire insurance to be placed thereon.          Honorable W. M. Denison,          Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction,          Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.          Sir: We have examined the letter addressed to your department by Mr. "William T. Budd, Secretary of the School District of the City of Carbondale, Carbondale, Pennsylvania, under date of February 24 1931, in which he requests to be advised whether a school district may award a contract, without advertisement or competitive bids, for appraisal of school buildings and contents for the purpose of determining the amount of insurance against tire to be placed thereon and to assist the district in settlement of fire losses, if any may occur:

(a) Where the appraiser is an individual, and

(b) Where the appraiser is a corporation.

         Property appraisals require knowledge, experience and skill in ascertaining and determining the value of labor and materials in building construction, construction costs, ascertainment and determination of land values as established or conditioned by location and other circumstances, ascertainment and determination of sound values and replacement costs, and they likewise involve skill in analyzing and stating the component parts of appraisal values, capacity to present the results of appraisal, as well as integrity and known responsibility. Similar qualifications are requisite in the ascertainment and determination of appraisal values of personal property.          The Act of May 18, 1911, P. L. 309, in Sections 617, 706, 707 and 708, as amended, provides for competitive bids on construction, etc. contracts and purchase of supplies. There are no other provisions in...