About Us

Dauphin County General Authority (the General Authority) is a Pennsylvania public Authority organized under the Municipality Authorities Act of 1945, now known and simply referred to as the Municipality Authorities Act. The General Authority was incorporated on March 7, 1984 by the Board of Commissioners of Dauphin County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for the following purposes: acquiring, holding, constructing, improving, maintaining, and operating, owning and leasing, either in the capacity of lessor or lessee, projects of the kind and character contemplated by law for a general purpose Authority, as authorized and permitted by the Municipality Authorities Act.

Under Pennsylvania law, public Authorities like the General Authority exist for a term of fifty (50) years, and for such further periods as may be provided in articles of amendment. By Articles of Amendment filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State in 2019, the term of existence for the General Authority has been extended to June 13, 2069.

The General Authority is governed by a five-member board, all of whom are appointed by the Dauphin County Commissioners to staggered five-year terms. Except for the power of appointment, the Dauphin County Commissioners have no official role in the governance of the General Authority, and the General Authority itself is not a part of county government. Instead, as a separate body politic and corporate created under Pennsylvania law, all matters involving the General Authority are governed and determined by its five-member board.

The board has adopted bylaws for the management and regulation of the General Authority’s corporate affairs. The bylaws establish officers of the General Authority, as follows: Chairman; Vice-Chairman; Secretary; Treasurer; and Assistant Secretary/Assistant Treasurer.

Under the bylaws, the Chairman is the General Authority’s chief executive officer and has general charge and supervision of the business of the General Authority. The Vice-Chairman may perform the duties of the Chairman in his/her absence or disability, and otherwise performs such duties assigned by the board The Secretary keeps the minutes of all board meetings, and otherwise performs duties typical of a corporate secretary. The Treasurer has the duty to receive, have custody of, and disburse the General Authority’s moneys or funds. The Assistant Secretary/Assistant Treasurer is authorized to perform the duties of the Secretary and Treasurer in their absence or disability, and otherwise performs duties assigned from time to time by the board.

The General Authority’s current projects include: (i) ownership and operation of Riverfront Office Center, a five-story government office building located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; (ii) ownership and operation of Dauphin Highlands, a 18-hole public golf course located in Steelton Borough and Swatara Township, Dauphin County, about 5 miles from downtown Harrisburg: and (iii) ownership of six one-story office buildings which are used to house magisterial district judges, whose magisterial districts are situated in Dauphin County.

The board meets publicly on the third Wednesday of each month, starting at 8:00 A.M. Special meetings can be held throughout the year on such dates and at such times as circumstances may require. All board meetings are held in the conference room of the clubhouse at Dauphin Highlands Golf Course, 650 South Harrisburg Street, Harrisburg, PA 17113. Public notice of all board meetings, regular or special, is timely given. The public is most welcome to attend.

The board has retained an Administrator for purposes of addressing the day-to-day needs of the General Authority and its official projects. All questions concerning the General Authority or its projects should be directed to:

Jay Wenger, Administrator
Dauphin County General Authority
650 South Harrisburg Street
Harrisburg, PA 17113

Telephone: 717-680-3124
Email: [email protected]