Archives West Finding Aid

In 1951, the Montana Legislative Assembly created the Office of State Controller to assume the duties of the state accountant. The state controller was appointed by the governor for an eight year term and was directed to establish a system of financial control, install a uniform accounting and reporting system, examine appropriation requests, and submit a revised and final budget to the legislature. The controller was also the ex-officio State Purchasing Agent.

In 1963, the Montana legislature created the Department of Administration under the Office of the State Controller. The State Controller was made the chief executive of the Department, with Divisions for Accounting, Purchasing, Architecture and Engineering, and General Services. The controller became responsible for centralized mailing and telephone systems for state government, allocation of office space, custodial care of the Capitol and other state property, records management for state records, preparation of building programs, appointments of architects, supervision of construction and renovation of state buildings, disposal of state property (including the Montana Centennial Train), purchasing of major equipment for state agencies, and distribution of surplus commodities.

The controller also oversaw several advisory bodies including a council to create construction standards for state buildings (this later became the Building Code Council), a fiscal coordinating committee, a personnel study committee, the State Board of Review which studied pro rata charges, and a committee on data processing equipment which worked to coordinate the selection of computer systems and equipment in state government. As a result of this latter committee, a Data Processing Division was created within the Department of Administration. A Management Systems Unit was also created and worked to produce the Statewide Budget and Accounting System (SBAS) that went into operation in 1972.

As a result of the Executive Reorganization Act passed in 1971, the Department of Administration was reconstituted and the title state controller was changed to director.

Those serving as state controller included W.F. Koch, Walter Anderson, Ralph Kenyon, Doyle B. Saxby, H.F. (Mike) Weggenbaum, and Jack Crosser.