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 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 established the Department of Administration (DOA) under the Office of the State Controller (Chapter 271, Session Laws of 1963). 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, 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, the Data Processing Bureau 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 reestablished, and the title State Controller was changed to Director. As of 2024, Department of Administration Divisions include: Director’s Office, Architecture and Engineering, Banking and Financial Institutions, General Services, Health Care & Benefits, Lottery, Risk Management and Tort Defense, State Financial Services, State Human Resources, State Information Technology Services, and State Office of Labor Relations. The Montana Lottery Division was transferred from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Administration in the early 2000s. For a full list of current Divisions, Bureaus, and Administration staff, visit the Department of Administration Directory.