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Seattle Department of Finance Director's Records, 1983-2005

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Seattle (Wash.). Dept. of Finance
Title
Seattle Department of Finance Director's Records
Dates
1983-2005 (inclusive)
1991-2002 (bulk)
Quantity
13.4 cubic feet, (23 boxes)
Collection Number
2700-01
Summary
Director's records, concerning City of Seattle finance, budgets, taxes, public development authorities and other issues.
Repository
Seattle Municipal Archives
Seattle Municipal Archives
Office of the City Clerk
City of Seattle
PO Box 94728
98124-4728
Seattle, WA
Telephone: 2062337807
Fax: 2063869025
archives@seattle.gov
Access Restrictions

Records are open to the public.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for processing this record series was provided through a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
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Historical Note

In 1991, Mayor Norm Rice convened a blue ribbon commission to review the City's financial management functions. That group proposed the formation of a Finance Department under the executive branch of government, to replace the existing elected offices of Comptroller and Treasurer. A City Charter amendment to that effect was referred to the voters at the November 1991 general election. The amendment passed and the details of the reorganization were laid out in Ordinance 115766. Preparations proceeded the following year to determine the organizational structure, responsibilities, and budget of the new department, which was inaugurated in January 1993. The department was organized into four divisions to reflect the main functions of treasury, accounting services, data processing system services, and Finance Department administration. In July 1994, the department's responsibilities were further broadened through a merger with the Department of Licenses and Consumer Affairs. This merger created one central location for obtaining licenses, making utility payments, and getting other types of financial services. The department also became responsible also for the city's animal shelter.

On January 1, 1997, the Finance Department was reorganized into the Executive Services Department. It became known as the Finance Division, and continued essentially the same services performed prior to consolidation.

The new Department of Finance, headed by a Director of Finance, was created in 2001 based on another reorganization outlined in Ordinance 120181. In May 2002 the Department was reorganized again to create two separate departments: the Department of Finance, which focused closely on financial management, and the Department of Executive Administration, which handled the operational and administrative tasks performed by the previous larger department. Finance was responsible for budget development and monitoring, debt management, financial policies, financial planning, performance measurement, and overall financial controls for the City of Seattle. The department also oversaw policy on city taxes, investments, accounting, and related activities.

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Content Description

Records of the Director of the Department of Finance, including correspondence, subject files, financial reports, working papers, committee files, and related material concerning accounting services, budgets, taxes, debt management, investments, other financial issues and capital projects, including development of the downtown civic center. Also included is correspondence of City Treasurer, Lloyd Hara, which predates the creation of the Department of Finance. Dwight Dively’s files span his service as Director of the Executive Services Department and, subsequently, as Director of the Finance Department. Files of staffers of the Executive Services Department and Department of Finance are included which concern the Goals, Actions, Results and Measures (GARMS) of the Mayor's Office and City Council, and strategic planning on transportation, parking, Fire Department and other issues. Files concerning financial oversight of Public Development Authorities were created by the Office Management and Budget, Office of Management and Planning and Strategic Planning Office staff.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[Item and date], Finance Department Director's Records, Record Series 2700-01. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged into five subseries: City Treasurer’s records, PDA Oversight records, GARM records, Director of Finance records and Strategic Advisors’ records.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Bonds--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Budget--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Municipal finance--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Pike Place Market (Seattle, Wash.)
  • Public investments--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Taxation--Washington (State)--Seattle

Personal Names

  • Dively, Dwight
  • Hara, Lloyd
  • Reveal, Elizabeth C.

Corporate Names

  • Seattle (Wash.). Dept. of Finance
  • Seattle (Wash.). Executive Services Dept.
  • Seattle (Wash.). Office of the Treasurer

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.)

Finding aid prepared by Janet Ness
2010

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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