County Commissioners v. State Superintendent of Buildings

The State Superintendent of Buildings (Superintendent), acting under G. L. c. 29A, § 4, established $1.95 per square foot as the rent to be paid by the judicial branch for quarters and space in county buildings for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1979 (FY 1980). Five counties and the city of Boston have appealed, asserting both procedural and substantive errors. We reverse the Superintendent’s decision and remand the cases for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

1. Background. Before 1978 counties were responsible for providing suitable court houses. G. L. c. 34, §§ 3, 14, as…