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GENERAL OFTEXAS AUSTIN H.TEXAR WILL WILSON *-L-roRNEY GIENERAX.
Ausust 19, 1959
HonorableHomer Garrison,Jr., Director Texas Departmentof PublicSafety Box 4087, l'iorth Austin Station Austin, Texas opinionHO. ~~-690
Re: Whether appropriatedfuude may be used for the purpose of subscribingto water sex- vice from the City of San Angelo to serve property occupiedby the Department of Public Safety as a radio Dear Mr. Darrieon: Station.
You have requestedour opinionconcerning"whetherappropriated funda may be used for the purposeof eubecrlblngto water servicefrcm the City of San Angelo to serve propertyoccupiedby the Departmentae a radio stationby virtue of an easementfrom Tcm Green County."
On April 1, 1948, the~Comk%aionere'Court of Tom Green County deeded to the State of Texas certainpropertyfor the uee and benefitof the Departmentof Public Safety,to have and to hold such property80 long a8 a radio tranmitter stationwoe maintainedand operatedupon such premises. You state that the water from the well at the radio stationIs now unfit for hman coneumption,requiringthe Departmentof Public Safety to obtain water servicefrom the City of San Angelo to serve the propertymentioned above.
In Attorney General'8OpinionNo. W-585 (1959),it vm held:
"The constructionand maintenanceof these vare- houses, eeeentialas they are to the efficientand economic operationof a State Eigbmy System,need not and should not be oonalderedae isolatedfrom the streetsof a city upon which they are located,nor did the LegislatureIntend that they shouldbe. Free use of the streetupon which a warehoueeie locatedand the right of egressand ingrase HonorableHmner Garrison,Jr., page 2 (w-690)
therefromis necesearyto the operationand maintenanceof a warehouse. A well paved streetadjacentto the varehouee ie deeirablefor the convenienceof the High- Department and its employeesoperatingand using the warehouse. It is, therefore,quite reaeonableto cay that the pro rata cost of paving the streetadjacentto a varehoueeovned and operatedby the State HighwayDepartmentshould be borne by the Department. . . .*
Section 1 of SenateBill 38, Aots of the 55th Legislature, First Called Seesion,1957,Chapter 34, page 99, provides:
"In additionto the authoritynov providedby law, the Texas Departmentof Public Safetymay expendpublic funds for the purpoeeeof paying ealariea,seasonalor contingent help, travel,transportation, automobilemaintenanceand repairs,maintenanceand repairsof aircraft,gas, oil, tires, bond premium, officeand equiment rentals,storage, repair-a,forage,duplicatingsupplies,printing,telephone, telegraph,postage,stationery,clothingand furnishings, express,freiat, drayage,utilities,servicematerials, office supplies,booka, druga,medical,hospitaland laboratory expenee,and funeralexpensewhen death reeulte in line of duty, neceesaryexpensesfor trainingand for operatinglaw enforce- ment trainingschools,miscellaneousoperatingexpenses,pur- chase of equiment, gune, automobiles,aircraft,land and con- structioncosts,and any and all necessaryequipment,services and euppliesfor the enforcementof all laws under the super- vision of the Departmentof Public Safety."
Section2 authorizesthe Texas Departmentof Public Safety to expend moneys appropriatedby the GeneralAppropriationAct of 1957 for the purposes set out in Section1.
Under the facts submittedby you, the obtainingof necessarywater to serve the radio stationoperatedby the Departmentof Public Safety is a necessaryexpenseof the Department,and the Legislaturehas specifically authorizedthe Departmentof PublicSafety to expand publicfunds for the purposeof paying utilities. You are, therefore,advisedthat appropriated funds may be used for the purpoeeof securingwater servicefrcanthe City of San Angelo to serve propertyoccupiedby the Departmentof Public Safety a8 a radio station. HonorableHmer Garrison,Jr., p%ge 3 (WW-690)
Appropriatedfunds to the Departieutof Public Safety may be wed for the purpoeeof securing water servicefrom the