The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth ensures that the public has access to historic as well as current public information. In addition, the Secretary is responsible for a variety of administrative tasks that are vital to state government, including the supervision of voter registration and elections procedures, the provision of voter information, and access to public agencies' documents. The Secretary continues to update and improve the Central Voter Registry Computer System, increasing network capabilities and the number of agencies that are electronically linked.

The Secretary's Office is the principal information agency for the Commonwealth. It maintains the State Archives, which houses Massachusetts historical documents and artifacts; and the State Records Center, the repository for recent records of public agencies. The Secretary publishes changes to state laws and regulations; advertises city, town and state procurement of goods and services; and increases access to governmental information through efficient and accurate record keeping. Information is further disseminated through information resources such as the "Citizens' Guide to State Services," mailings, and a library of local zoning laws, maps, and regulations.

The Secretary registers all Massachusetts corporations, lobbyists, securities brokers, and investment advisors; provides on-line access for corporate and securities information; and aggressively enforces the Investment Advisor Statute requiring that all financial advisors are registered and licensed. The Office's One-Stop Shopping Program eases new business formation by providing individuals with government documents pertaining to licensing, state and federal taxes, and education and training.

The responsibility for protecting and preserving the Commonwealth's valuable history is managed by the Secretary's Office with the Massachusetts Historical Commission. The Commission administers the Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund which provides grants as seed money to enable local communities to raise matching funds for the preservation of historical buildings in their communities. The Secretary's Office also provides historical tours of the State House and educational information for the 100,000 tourists that visit the State House each year.

In Fiscal Year 1998, the Secretary assumed responsibility for the operations of the Registries of Deeds in the former Franklin and Middlesex counties. The Hampden Registry of Deeds and the Worcester Registry of Deeds will be transferred to the Secretary in Fiscal Year 1999. The Secretary will oversee the purchase and installation of computer hardware and software technology for the four Registries transferred to the Commonwealth.

Budget Recommendations

The Fiscal Year 1999 recommendation is $30.3 million. This level of funding includes $4.4 million for the two additional Registries of Deeds, and $1.8 million of the revenue collected from Deeds Excise Stamp Tax Fees that will be retained by the Secretary to purchase computer equipment and software for the Registries of Deeds.

Budgetary Direct Appropriations

SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH ADMINISTRATION
0511-0000	For the operation of the office of the secretary of the commonwealth	6,839,511

ARCHIVES DIVISION ADMINISTRATION
0511-0200	For the operation of the state archives division	555,783

RECORDS CENTER ADMINISTRATION
0511-0230	For the operation of the records center	178,560

ARCHIVES FACILITY OPERATIONS
0511-0250	For the operation of the archives facility	673,839

COMMONWEALTH MUSEUM OPERATIONS
0511-0260	For the operation of the commonwealth museum	193,270

PUBLIC DOCUMENT PRINTING
0517-0000	For the printing of public documents	1,289,008

ELECTIONS DIVISION ADMINISTRATION AND EXPENSES OF PRIMARIES AND ELECTIONS
0521-0000	For the operation of the elections division, including preparation, printing, and distribution of ballots, and for other miscellaneous expenses for primary and other elections	3,719,731
	Local Aid Fund 100%

CENTRAL VOTER REGISTRATION COMPUTER SYSTEM
0521-0001	For the operation of the central voter registration computer system	2,958,538
	Local Aid Fund 100%

INFORMATION TO VOTERS
0524-0000	For providing information to voters	1,001,713
	Local Aid Fund 100%

MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
0526-0100	For the operation of the Massachusetts historical commission	1,100,000

BALLOT LAW COMMISSION
0527-0100	For the operation of the ballot law commission	17,500

RECORDS CONSERVATION BOARD
0528-0100	For the operation of the records conservation board	35,110

FRANKLIN REGISTRY OF DEEDS
0540-1100	For the operation of the Franklin registry of deeds	452,264

HAMPDEN REGISTRY OF DEEDS
0540-1200	For the operation of the Hampden registry of deeds	2,030,783

MIDDLESEX NORTHERN DISTRICT REGISTRY OF DEEDS
0540-1400	For the operation of the Middlesex north registry of deeds	1,412,277

MIDDLESEX SOUTHERN DISTRICT REGISTRY OF DEEDS
0540-1500	For the operation of the Middlesex south registry of deeds	3,662,429

WORCESTER NORTH REGISTRY OF DEEDS
0540-2000	For the operation of the Worcester north registry of deeds	397,171

WORCESTER REGISTRY OF DEEDS
0540-2100	For the operation of the Worcester registry of deeds	2,001,206

Budgetary Retained Revenues

STATE HOUSE GIFT SHOP RETAINED REVENUE
0511-0001	The secretary of the commonwealth is hereby authorized to expend an amount not to exceed $30,000 from revenues derived from the sale of merchandise at the Massachusetts state house gift shop, for the purpose of replenishing and restocking gift shop inventory	30,000

DEEDS EXCISE TAX STAMP FEES RETAINED REVENUE
0511-0011	The secretary of the commonwealth is hereby authorized to expend an amount not to exceed $1,771,050 from revenues derived from deeds excise stamp tax fees, for the purchase and installation of computer hardware and software technology for registries of deeds according to a plan developed by said secretary in collaboration with the registers of deeds whose operations have been transferred to the jurisdiction of said secretary	1,771,050

Intragovernmental Service Spending

PUBLICATIONS AND COMPUTER LIBRARY INTRAGOVERNMENTAL CHARGEBACK
0511-0003	For the costs of providing electronic and other publications purchased from the state bookstore, for commission and notary fees, and for direct access to the secretary of the commonwealth`s computer library, pursuant to a schedule of fees established by the secretary	25,000
	Intragovernmental Service Fund 100%

RECORDS CENTER INTRAGOVERNMENTAL CHARGEBACK
0511-0235	For the costs of destroying obsolete records of state agencies	100,000
	Intragovernmental Service Fund 100%

Federal Grant Spending

MASSACHUSETTS STATEWIDE HISTORICAL SURVEY AND PLAN
0526-0105	For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Massachusetts Statewide Historical Survey and Plan	10,000

HISTORIC PRESERVATION SURVEY AND PLANNING
0526-0114	For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Historic Preservation Survey and Planning	496,000
	Non-Budgetary Funds 100%

MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION - FEDERAL PRESERVATION GRANTS
0526-0115	For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Massachusetts Historical Commission - Federal Preservation Grants	250,000
	Non-Budgetary Funds 100%

GLOUCESTER NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES NOMINATION
0526-0117	For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Gloucester National Register of Historic Places Nomination	15,000

Trust and Other Spending

0526-6600

MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION TRUST

17,758