Title 11, CITIES

The city controller may appoint a deputy controller and may select individuals to serve as assistants and employees in the city controller's office. The number of assistants and employees permitted, if any, shall be fixed by council. Assistants and employees in the city controlle…

Council shall provide, by resolution, for the appointment of an independent auditor. The independent auditor may be a certified public accountant or a firm of certified public accountants.

(a) Annual audit.--The independent auditor shall conduct an annual audit of all accounts of city officers, departments and offices which collect, receive and disburse public money or are authorized with the management, control or custody of public money on which the independent a…

In case of the sickness, absence or inability of a city controller to perform the city controller's duties, if no deputy controller has been appointed by the city controller, council may appoint a temporary deputy controller to serve during the sickness, absence or inability of t…

The appointment of an independent auditor in accordance with Subchapter B (relating to independent auditor) shall not abolish the office of city controller. The elected controller shall continue to exercise the powers retained for the controller in this subchapter.

(a) Audit report.-- (1) At council's first meeting in March of each year, the independent auditor shall submit a report to council that includes the audits made of the accounts of the officers authorized with the custody, control or disbursement of public money. The report shall …

The fiscal year of each city shall begin on January 1 and end on December 31.

(a) Appointment.--Council shall appoint a chief fiscal officer. In filling the position of chief fiscal officer, council may appoint the director of the department of accounts and finance or the city administrator if one is an individual appointed under Chapter 111 (relating to t…

(a) Appointment.--Council may authorize the chief fiscal officer to appoint, subject to the approval of council, a deputy chief fiscal officer whose compensation shall be fixed by council. (b) Bond.--The deputy chief fiscal officer shall furnish a bond in accordance with section …

(a) Debt.--Debt may not be incurred by any department of the city except in accordance with law. (b) Appropriations.--Money may not be paid out of the city treasury except by an appropriation made in accordance with law and a document authorizing payment drawn by the proper offic…

(a) General rule.--Council shall have power to provide the following: (1) The investment of city sinking funds as authorized by 53 Pa.C.S. Pt. VII Subpt. B (relating to indebtedness and borrowing). (2) The investment of money in the general fund and in special funds of the city, …

(a) General rule.--The chief fiscal officer shall countersign all documents, in the form approved by council, authorizing payment from the city treasury. (b) Prohibition.--In countersigning documents authorizing payment from the city treasury, the chief fiscal officer shall not p…

The chief fiscal officer or other official or employee of the city designated by council shall have charge and keep a record of accounts, under appropriate titles, to show separately and distinctly the following: (1) All of the assets and property vested in the city. (2) All trus…

The chief fiscal officer shall have the supervision and control of the accounts of all of the departments and may require at any time a statement in writing of all money or property of the city under any department's control.

The chief fiscal officer may, and when council directs shall, suggest plans to council for the management and improvement of the city finances.

(a) Introduction.--Each year at the last stated meeting in November, the chief fiscal officer shall, on behalf of council, present to council for introduction a proposed budget ordinance. The proposed budget ordinance shall show the estimated receipts, expenditures and liabilitie…

(a) General rule.--During the month of January following the expiration of a past fiscal year, in furthering its fiduciary responsibility, council may amend the budget and the levy and tax rate to conform to its amended budget ordinance. A period of 10 days' public inspection at …

(a) General rule.--When all estimates for the receipts, liabilities and expenditures for the ensuing year are made, council shall proceed to make the annual appropriations and shall fix the tax rate at the figure that will, in combination with all other estimated receipts of the …

In accordance with 53 Pa.C.S. Pt. VII Subpt. B (relating to indebtedness and borrowing), cities may: (1) borrow money in anticipation of current revenues to an amount of not more than the anticipated current revenues, which shall be pledged for the payment of the loan or loans; a…

(a) Annual report.--The chief fiscal officer shall make a report, verified by oath or affirmation to council at a stated meeting in April of each year, of the public accounts of the city and of the trusts in its care for the preceding fiscal year, exhibiting all of the expenditur…

(a) General rule.--The uniform financial report forms under this chapter shall be prepared by a committee consisting of four representatives of the Pennsylvania Municipal League and the Secretary of Community and Economic Development, or the secretary's agent or designee who shal…

The chief fiscal officer shall prepare or cause to be prepared and submit to council, as council shall direct, a complete and itemized report of all policies of insurance contracted by the city for the information and consideration of council. The chief fiscal officer shall prepa…

(a) General rule.--Each city may execute contracts for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this part and the laws of this Commonwealth. In addition to and consistent with the requirements of this chapter, council shall, by ordinance, provide for and regulate the procedu…

(a) General rule.--Except as provided in section 11901.4(b) (relating to contracts or purchases not requiring advertising or bidding), all contracts or purchases in excess of the base amount of $18,500, subject to adjustment under section 11903.1 (relating to adjustments to base …

With regard to all contracts or purchases not in excess of the base amount of $18,500, subject to adjustment under section 11903.1 (relating to adjustments to base amount based on Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers), the following shall apply: (1) The purchases or contr…

The amount of the contract shall be the entire amount which the city pays to the successful bidder or the successful bidder's assigns in order to obtain the services or property, or both, and shall not be construed to mean only the amount which is paid to acquire title or to rece…

(a) Not in excess of base amount.--City contracts or purchases, if not in excess of the base amount of $18,500, subject to adjustment under section 11903.1 (relating to adjustments to base amount based on Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers), shall not require advertisin…

(a) Advertisement.--If advertisement and bidding are required, the advertisement shall specify the time and place bids will be received and the time and place for the opening of bids. (b) Bids.--Bids received pursuant to advertisement shall be opened publicly by council or its de…

(a) Bid security.--The following shall apply to bid security: (1) Council may require that bids received pursuant to advertisement be accompanied by bid security, in a reasonable amount, which shall be in the form of a certified or bank check or a bond provided by a surety compan…

Every contract subject to this chapter shall comply, as applicable, with the provisions of the act of August 15, 1961 (P.L.987, No.442), known as the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act, the act of December 20, 1967 (P.L.869, No.385), known as the Public Works Contractors' Bond Law …

No individual, consultant, firm or corporation contracting with a city for purposes of rendering personal or professional services to the city shall share with any city officer or employee, and no city officer or employee shall accept, any portion of the compensation or fees paid…

For purposes of this chapter, the lowest responsible bidder need not be the bidder submitting the lowest dollar amount bid. The city may also consider the quality of goods or services supplied, ease of repair, compatibility with other city equipment or services, responsiveness, p…

The following shall apply: (1) No elected or appointed official or officials of any city shall evade the provisions of this chapter requiring advertising for bids by purchasing or contracting for services and personal property piecemeal for the purpose of obtaining prices under t…

Adjustments to the base amounts specified under sections 11901.1 (relating to contracts or purchases in excess of base amount of $18,500), 11902 (relating to evasion of advertising requirements) and 11909 (relating to separate bids for plumbing, heating, ventilating and electrica…

With regard to any contract, council may direct the city administrator, chief fiscal officer or other designated official or employee to furnish information concerning the availability of appropriated money to satisfy required payments under the contract. Nothing in this section …

Council of each city shall have power to permit, subject to any terms and conditions as the city may impose, any fire company, rescue company and ambulance company in the city to participate in purchase contracts for petroleum products entered into by the city. Fire company, resc…

The following shall apply: (1) In the preparation of specifications for the erection, construction and alteration of any public building, when the entire cost of the work shall exceed the base amount of $18,500, subject to adjustment under section 11903.1 (relating to adjustments…

(a) General rule.--All contracts executed by any city which involve the construction or performance of any work involving the employment of labor shall contain a provision that the contractor shall accept and file with the city, proof of compliance with or exemption from the act …

Where the whole or any part of the cost of an improvement is to be paid by assessments upon the property abutting or benefited, the city may enter into an agreement with the contractor pursuant to which the contractor shall take an assignment of the assessments in payment of the …

(a) Bidding.--It shall be unlawful for any architect or engineer in the employ of any city to bid on any public work of the city. (b) Award.--It shall be unlawful for the officers of any city, charged with the duty of letting any public work, to award a contract to any architect …

Except as may be prohibited by 66 Pa.C.S. Pt. I (relating to public utility code) or Federal or other State regulation of transportation or commerce, a city may, as it deems necessary for the public benefit and convenience, contract with a person owning a public transportation se…

(a) General rule.--Council shall fix, by ordinance, the number, grades and compensation of the members of the city police force, who shall, except as provided in section 12002 (relating to designation of chief), be appointed in accordance with the civil service provisions of this…

The chief of police shall be designated by the mayor from within the ranks and may be demoted without cause in the same manner, but not to any rank lower than the rank which was held at the time of designation as chief of police. In the event that no qualified officer from within…

The mayor may appoint extra police officers, whenever it is necessary in the judgment of the mayor for the public safety or to preserve order, to serve for a period designated by council, not to exceed 30 days and whose compensation shall be fixed by council.

Police officers shall be ex-officio constables of the city and shall enforce the laws of this Commonwealth or otherwise perform the functions of their office in accordance with 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 8952 (relating to primary municipal police jurisdiction) and 8953 (relating to Statewide …

Police officers shall have authority to serve and to execute criminal process or processes issued for the violation of city ordinances and shall charge the same fees and costs as pertain by law to the constables of the city for similar services, but the fees and costs shall be pa…