The council, in cities of the second class, may appropriate a sum of money for the direct use of the department of supplies, as hereafter provided. Upon the passage of an ordinance making such appropriation, the treasurer shall draw, by warrant countersigned by the controller and the mayor, a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) from such appropriation, and deposit it in a fund, to be known as the department of supplied special fund, in the same city depository from which it was drawn. Said fund may be drawn upon by the director of the department of supplies, or his assistant, in payment of items purchased by him: Provided, That no item so purchased shall cost more than the sum of five dollars ($5).
53 P.S. § 22723