The Executive Office for Administration and Finance oversees the fiscal and administrative activities of the Executive Branch of state government. The Executive Office ensures the financial stability of state government by managing balanced operating and capital budgets.

The Office of the Secretary manages reserve accounts for unemployment health insurance payments for state and local employees and provides subsidy payments to the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, the Massachusetts Corporation for Educational Telecommunications, and the Massachusetts Information Technology Center. The Office of the Secretary also manages the reserve account for incentive payments to agencies participating in revenue optimization projects.

Through its four administrative services divisions (the Information Technology Division, the Fiscal Affairs Division, the Operational Services Division, and the Human Resources Division), the Office of the Secretary enables line agencies to focus their energy on program development and delivering quality services to the Commonwealth. To that end, the Office provides line agencies with centralized expertise and processing in the technical support areas of information technology, fiscal policy, procurement, and human resources.

Other major functional areas under the supervision of the Office of the Secretary are: tax collection; child support enforcement; support to local municipalities; group insurance evaluation; state facilities construction, management, and maintenance; and veteran services. Also located within the Office of the Secretary is the Central Business Office (CBO) which was established in October of 1996.

The CBO provides central administrative services to Executive Office for Administration and Finance agencies, which allow those agencies to focus more resources on their core service delivery areas. The agencies served by the CBO include the Executive Office, the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council, the Division of Administrative Law Appeals, the Appellate Tax Board, the Fiscal Affairs Division, the Bureau of State Office Buildings, the Human Resources Division, the George Fingold State Library, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, the Civil Service Commission, the Information Technology Division, the Massachusetts Office of Dispute Resolution, the Massachusetts Office on Disability, and the Operational Services Division.

Objectives

In Fiscal Year 2000, the Office of the Secretary will:

• work closely with the Information Technology Division to ensure a smooth transition into the Year 2000;
  


• continue its efforts to streamline government operations by reducing unnecessary or duplicative regulations;
  


• transfer the functions of the abolished Essex county government to the Commonwealth;
  


• continue to seek legislation to renovate the Saltonstall State Office Building, initiate renovations, and support the relocation of remaining occupant agencies;
  


• implement the recommendations of the Construction Reform Task Force, thereby improving the quality and timely completion of the Commonwealth’s construction projects; and
  


• work with the Office of the Treasurer to implement the Central Artery/Third Harbor Tunnel financing plan and to provide additional sewer and water financing assistance to cities, towns, and ratepayers.
  

Budget Recommendations

The amount recommended for Fiscal Year 2000 will enable the Executive Office for Administration and Finance to achieve its missions as outlined above. This recommendation includes a new appropriation (1100-1116) of $250,000 to fund a construction reform program which will provide technical and business development services to small contractors seeking to do business with the Commonwealth.