Minnesota Agencies

The commissioner of finance shall: receive and record all money paid into the state treasury and safely keep it until lawfully paid out; manage the state's financial affairs; keep the state's general account books according to generally accepted government accounting principles; keep expenditure and revenue accounts according to generally accepted government accounting principles; develop, provide instructions for, prescribe, and manage a state uniform accounting system; provide to the state the expertise to ensure that all state funds are accounted for under generally accepted government accounting principles; and coordinate the development of, and maintain standards for, internal auditing in state agencies and, in cooperation with the commissioner of administration, report to the legislature and the governor by January 31 of odd-numbered years, on progress made.

In addition to these duties, the commissioner has the powers and duties given to the commissioner in chapter 43A.

In 1973 all the powers, duties, and responsibilities then vested in and imposed upon the state auditor were transferred to the department of finance.

A 2008 merger combined the former departments of Finance and Employee Relations and the Management Analysis Division from the Department of Administration.

Commissioner; term, 4 years or pleasure of governor: Edward Ziegler, August 1973-April 1975; Gerald Christenson, June 1975-December 1978; Wayne Burggraaff, February 1979-August 1981; Allan Rudell, January 1982-August 1982; Gordon "Gus" Donhowe, exact dates unknown; Jay Kiedrowski, May 1985-August 1987; Nelling Johnson (acting commissioner), exact dates unknown; Tom Triplett, October 1987-December 1989; Peter Hutchinson, January 1990-December 1990; John Gunyou, January 1991-October 1994; Laura King, October 1994-October 1996; Wayne Simoneau October 1996-December 1998; Pamela Wheelock, January 1999-December 2002; Ann Berry (acting commissioner), exact dates unknown; Dan McElroy, January 2003-January 2004; Peggy Ingison, February 2004-December 2006; Tom Hanson, December 2006-May 2008.