Denison, 082332 PAAGO, AGO 58

• Case Date: August 23, 1932
• Court: Pennsylvania

Honorable W. M. Denison, AGO 58 Opinion No. 58 Pennsylvania Attorney General Opinions Opinions Of The Attorney General August 23, 1932          Administrative Departments and Departmental Boards—Construction of and Alteration to Buildings—Jurisdiction of Department of Property and Supplies where cost exceeds $10,000.          Under Section 508 of The Administrative Code, no administrative department or departmental board, except the Department of Property and Supplies, may erect or alter buildings where the total cost exceeds $10,000.          The amounts of separate contracts involved in a project must be Included with the amount of any so-called general contract in determining whether the total cost exceeds $10,000, and whether the work must be conducted by the Department of Property and Supplies.          Honorable W. M. Denison,          Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction,          Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.          Sir: You have stated to us that you desire to have certain alterations and additions made to a building which is under the control of your department, and that the cost of the work has been estimated as follows: General construction—$9,000.00, plumbing—$7,000.00, heating—$1,000.00, and electrical work—$500.00. You ask whether, by separating the contract for the general construction from those covering other work, the project may be carried out directly by your department, rather than through and by the Department of Property and Supplies.          The situation is governed by Section 508 of The Administrative Code of April 9, 1929, P. L. 177, as amended by the Act of June 1, 3931, P. L, 350, 71 P. S. 188. The relevant portion of that section is as follows:

"(a) No administrative department, except the Department of Property and Supplies, and no administrative board or commission, shall, except as in this act otherwise specifically provided, erect or construct, or contract for the erection or construction of, any new building, or make, or contract for making, any alterations or additions to an existing building, involving an expenditure of more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), and, in any case in which any other department or any board or commission is by this act authorized to erect or construct buildings, or make alterations or additions, such erection or construction shall be under the

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