Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Privacy protected information closed for 100 years after date record created. Types of records restricted include, but are not limited to: federal and state income tax returns, W2s, death certificates, financial records and records with social security numbers that were sent to the Secretary of Finance and are part of the constituent correspondence series. Privacy protected material has been sealed but has not been removed from the collection.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Virginia Secretary of Finance, 1998-2001. Accessions 38947 and 38989, State Records Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Transferred from the Office of the Secretary of Finance on 11 January 2002.

Biographical/Historical Information

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 Governor's top management team or "secretariats," as they are called now. The General Assembly in 1972 created six Secretariat 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 the Secretary of Finance and Administration and currently back to the Secretary of Finance, through various reorganizations of state government from the 1970s 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 service and policy formation; 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.

Currently the Secretary of Finance is responsible for the direction or jurisdiction over the following state agencies and boards: Department of Accounts, Department of Planning and Budget, Department of Taxation, Department of Treasury, Treasury Board, Department of State Internal Auditor, Virginia Public Building Authority, Virginia College Building Board, Board of Commissioners of the Virginia Public School Authority and the State Council on Local Debt.

Governor George Allen appointed Ronald L. Tillett secretary in August 1996 following the resignation of Paul W. Timmrek. Governor James S. Gilmore III reappointed Tillett in January 1998. Tillett resigned in June 2001 and was replaced by his deputy, John W. Forbes. Forbes served until the end of the Gilmore administration.

Scope and Content Information

The records of the Secretary of Finance consist of correspondence and subject files relating to the fiscal management of state government (accession 38947) and constituent correspondence to the Governor referred to the secretary for response (accession 38989). The secretary's correspondence are arranged chronologically and consist of invitations, congratulatory notes to Tillett on his reappointment as Secretary of Finance, and letters to the editor in response to editorials or op-ed columns concerning fiscal issues including the car tax. Additional correspondence are arranged by department. The subject files are organized by headings. Notable topics include the car tax (Personal Property Tax Relief Act of 1998), queries from members of the General Assembly, Freedom of Information Act requests, briefing material for Governor-elect Mark Warner, presentations made by the secretary before the General Assembly's joint money committees, annual meetings with representatives of the major bond rating agencies and monthly revenue reports.

Constituent correspondence are arranged by tracking numbers assigned by the Governor's office and date received. Subjects included are taxation, budget concerns and suggestions, funding requests and complaints/requests for assistance in dealing with the Virginia Department of Taxation.

Arrangement

Accession 38947 arranged alphabtically by series name. Accession 38989 arranged numerically by constituent correspondence tracking number.