The board of public works shall have authority to hire a director of public works, whose salary shall be fixed by the board of public works within the budget appropriation. The board of public works shall have power to employ such professional and lay personnel as it shall deem advisable, subject however to budget appropriations but no budget appropriation shall be necessary where services are employed in connection with acquiring any project and are to be included in the project cost and payable from the proceeds of bonds or special assessments. The cost of any project and of operating and maintaining the same, shall include amounts sufficient to cover the general administrative costs pertaining thereto. The provisions of this section shall be subject to any applicable statutory provisions relating to civil service.