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Library of Virginia
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Processed by: Roger Christman
Confidential information is restricted from public access for 75 years per Code of Virginia 42.1-78 and 2.2-3808.1. Restricted documents have been sealed within the collection. Types of records restricted include, but are not limited to: attorney-client privilege, mediation and settlement discussions, and bank account numbers.
There are no restrictions.
Records of the Virginia Secretary of Finance, 1992; 1994; 2000-2018 (bulk 2013-2017). Accession 52169, State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.
Transferred from the Virginia Secretary of Finance on 8 January 2018.
In 1970, the Governor's Management Commission Study recommended the creation of six "Deputy Governors" to assist the Chief Executive in his managerial duties. Compatible functions of government were grouped under these administrative heads, who would serve as the Governors top management team or "secretariats," as they are called now. The General Assembly in 1972 created six Secretariats positions initially. As government reorganized, that number fluctuated when government agencies expanded or consolidated.
Since the establishment of a secretarial system in 1972, there have been several reorganizations of that system. The financial management function of the state has shifted from under the direction of the Secretary of Finance to the Secretary of Administration; then to Secretary of Administration and Finance and currently back to the Secretary of Finance, through various reorganizations of state government from 1970's to the present. The function of the secretary is to provide sound fiscal management and recommend to the Governor a comprehensive budget for those agencies under his jurisdiction. The secretary's responsibilities are: to monitor programs, services and performance of subordinate state agencies to develop state policies programs for long-range planning and policy formulation; and approve solicitation or acceptance of any donations, gifts or grants; to hold agency heads accountable for their agency's administrative, fiscal and program performance. All secretaries are appointed by the governor and serve at his will.
Governor Terry McAuliffe (2014-2018) reappointed Richard "Ric" D. Brown to serve as Secretary of Finance. Richard Brown was appointed as Secretary of Finance by Governor Timothy Kaine in 2008, reappointed by Governor Robert McDonnell in 2010, and continued to serve until he retired in 2018. Prior to his appointment as Secretary of Finance, Brown worked in the Virginia Department of Planning and budget beginning in 1971. He served as agency head from 2001 to 2008.
Records, 1992, 1994, 2000-2018, of Secretary of Finance Richard "Ric" D. Brown during the administrations of Governor Tim M. Kaine (2006-2010), Governor Robert F. McDonnell (2010-2014) and Terry McAuliffe (2014-2018). The collection is housed in 30 boxes and includes budget and financial presentations, decision briefs, revenue reports, correspondence, and Secretary of Finance department subject files. Information on the state budget, revenue forecasting, Virginia's bond rating, and Medicaid expansion can be found throughout the collection. Also included are records from Brown's tenure at the Virginia Department of Planning and Budget.
This collection is arranged into the following series:
Series I. Correspondence and Subject Files: Secretariat, 2006; 2008-2018; Series II. Bond Rating, 1992; 1994; 2000-2017; Series III. Decision Briefs, 2014-2017; Series IV. Joint Money Committee Meetings Files, 2005; 2007-2014; 2016-2017; Series V. Planning and Budget Files, 2004-2006; 2013-2017; Series VI. Public Relations-Presentations, 2008; 2008; 2010; 2013-2014; 2017; Series VII. Special Projects and Studies, 2012; 2014; 2016-2017.Series I. Correspondence and Subject Files, 2006, 2008-2018, created and maintained by Secretary of Finance Ric Brown, during multiple gubernatorial administrations, is housed in 4 record center boxes. This series documents communication and subject matter with boards and committees that the secretary was a member of: Virginia Tobacco Commission (VTC)/Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission (VTRRC), Virginia Research Investment Committee (VRIC) and Virginia Growth and Opportunity Board (GO Virginia). This series includes agendas, correspondence, handouts, memorandums, minutes, email and reports.
In 1998, the Attorneys General of 46 states signed the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) with the four largest tobacco companies in the United States to settle state suits and recover billions of dollars in costs associated with treating smoking-related illnesses. The Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission is a 28-member body created by the 1999 General Assembly. Its mission is the promotion of economic growth and development in formerly tobacco-dependent communities, using proceeds of the national tobacco settlement. To date, the Commission has created tens of thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars of investment in Southern and Southwest Virginia. Originally called the Virginia Tobacco Commission, the name was changed in 2016. Source: website of the Commission, https://revitalizeva.org/ (accessed 19 July 2024). Originally called the Virginia Tobacco Commission, the name was changed in 2015.
Chronological
The Virginia Research Investment Committee (VRIC) and the Virginia Research Investment Fund were established by the General Assembly in 2016 as a part of the GO Virginia Initiative. To position the Commonwealth as a national leader in science-based and technology-based research, VRIC makes investments in innovative and collaborative research, development, and commercialization projects and programs from Virginia’s public colleges and universities that have a high potential for economic development and job creation opportunities. Source: website GO Virginia, https://govirginia.org/initiatives/research-and-innovation/ (accessed 19 July 2024).
Chronological
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) is the state economic development authority for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Created in 1995, VEDP collaborates with local, regional, and state partners to encourage the expansion and diversification of Virginia’s economy. VEDP works to accomplish these objectives through a variety of activities, including marketing and lead generation; business retention, expansion, and attraction; trade development; business intelligence; competitive benchmarking; site development; performance-based incentives; and talent solutions. Source: website of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, https://www.vedp.org/(accessed 19 July 2024).
Chronological
GO Virginia is an initiative by Virginia’s senior business leaders to foster private-sector growth and job creation through state incentives for regional collaboration by business, education, and government. GO Virginia Coalition launched in July 2015 by Virginia's senior business leadership with broad bipartisan support. These records document the creation of GO Virginia. Source: website of GO Virginia, https://govirginia.org/(accessed 19 July 2024).
Chronological
Series II. Bond Rating, 1992; 1994; 2000-2017, created and maintained by Secretary of Finance Ric Brown, during multiple gubernatorial administrations, is housed in 3 boxes. This series documents the fiscal health and credit worthiness of the Commonwealth as it pertains to obtaining and defending its bond rating. Included are meeting records between Commonwealth officials and three credit rating companies: Fitch, IBCA; Standard and Poor's; and Moody's. This series includes reports, presentations, agendas, meeting notes, and correspondence.
Series III. Decision Briefs, 2014-2017, created and maintained by Secretary of Finance Ric Brown, during the administration of Governor Ralph Northam, is housed in 3 boxes. This series documents the history of decision briefs sent by the staff to the Secretary of Finance or the Governor for approval. This series includes decision memoranda and supporting documentation from assigned agency heads asking the Secretary's permission to perform a major function or policy initiative within their agency. Arranged in reverse chronological order by last action taken.
Series IV. Joint Money Committee Meetings Files, 2005; 2007-2014; 2016-2017, created and maintained by Secretary of Finance Ric Brown, during multiple gubernatorial administrations, is housed in 4 boxes. This series contains presentations to the Joint Money Committee (House Appropriation and Senate Finance) and supporting documentation (correspondence, speeches, meeting notes and reports). Subjects include the state budget, revenue reports, tax impact assessments, and fiscal trends and forecasts.
Series V. Planning and Budget Files, 2004-2006; 2012-2017, created and maintained by Secretary of Finance Ric Brown, during multiple gubernatorial administrations, is housed in 13 boxes. This series documents the interactions between the Office of the Secretary of Finance and the Governor's staff, state agencies, and the Department of Planning and Budget regarding the development and modification of the Commonwealth's budget. This series may include, but is not limited to: incoming and outgoing correspondence, email, budget reports, budget amendments, capital outlay, notes and supporting documentation. This series appears to be in loose chronological order by legislative session. Capitol Outlay records are in loose reverse chronological order. While some records were foldered, none of them were labeled. Subjects include the state budget, state agency budget reduction plans, Medicaid expansion, legislation, revenue forecasts, and the Governor's Advisory Council on Revenue Estimates.
Series VI. Public Relations-Presentations, 2008; 2010; 2013-2014; 2017, created and maintained by Secretary of Finance Ric Brown, during multiple gubernatorial administrations, is housed in two boxes. This series documents presentations made by the Secretary of Finance not covered in other series.
Series VI. Public Relations-Presentations, 2008; 2010; 2013-2014; 2017, created and maintained by Secretary of Finance Ric Brown, during the gubernatorial administrations of Robert McDonnell and Terry McAuliffe, is housed in two boxes. This series documents the office's interaction with and oversight of various projects and studies. The four projects and studies for the Secretary of Finance were: Catalog of State and Federal Mandates on Local Governments, Amazon (Retail Sales and Use Tax) Washington Redskins (now Washington Commanders) (financial incentives to move their practice facility to Richmond), Petersburg financial crisis, and Capital Outlay.
The City of Petersburg had a major financial crisis in 2016. Tax collections were below 60 percent due to the closing of a pharmaceutical plant and the move of Brown and Williamson's corporate headquarters to Georgia. Petersburg City Council hired the DC based Robert Bobb Group to help with the city's finances. The Bobb Group worked with Secretary of Finance Ric Brown to secure needed funding for the city to pay its' bills. These records arranged loosely in chronological order document the actions taken by the secretary to stabilize Petersburg's finances in 2016 and 2017.