Louisiana Department of Administration
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| Louisiana Department of Administration | |
|---|---|
| Agency name | Louisiana Department of Administration |
| Formed | 1974 |
| Jurisdiction | Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| Chief1 name | John Schroder |
| Chief1 position | Commissioner of Administration |
| Parent department | State government of Louisiana |
Louisiana Department of Administration is the central administrative agency of the State of Louisiana responsible for coordinating executive functions across agencies such as the Louisiana Department of Health, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Louisiana Department of Education, Louisiana Workforce Commission, and Louisiana Office of Tourism. It provides budgetary, personnel, procurement, information technology, and risk management services to entities including the Louisiana State Police, Louisiana State University, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and local jurisdictions like New Orleans and Shreveport. The department interacts with federal partners such as the United States Department of the Treasury, Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States Department of Education, and United States Department of Transportation in disaster recovery, grant administration, and program implementation.
History
The department traces its roots to executive reorganization measures following the Constitution of 1974 (Louisiana), state administrative reforms during the administration of Governor Edwin Edwards, and fiscal modernization initiatives influenced by national trends exemplified by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, the Gramm–Rudman–Hollings Balanced Budget Act, and post‑Katrina restructuring after Hurricane Katrina. Key milestones include consolidation of purchasing and personnel functions under gubernatorial directives associated with administrations of Governor Kathleen Blanco, Governor Bobby Jindal, and Governor John Bel Edwards, and modernization projects funded through grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Rockefeller Foundation. Litigation and oversight matters have involved parties such as the Louisiana State Legislature, the Louisiana Legislative Auditor, and federal courts including the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Organization and Leadership
Leadership comprises a Commissioner of Administration appointed by the Governor of Louisiana and confirmation by the Louisiana State Senate, working with executive staff drawn from legal advisers with backgrounds in the Louisiana State Bar Association and financial officers formerly with institutions such as the Bank of Nova Scotia and JPMorgan Chase. The senior management team liaises with agency heads at the Louisiana Department of Revenue, the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, and the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, as well as with boards like the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and commissions like the Public Service Commission (Louisiana). Organizational reforms have been shaped by commissions including the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, the Louisiana Commission on Streamlining Government, and advisory groups associated with Pension Review Board matters.
Functions and Responsibilities
Primary functions encompass statewide budget formulation in coordination with the Louisiana State Legislature, payroll and human resources administration supporting employees of the Department of Children and Family Services, procurement and contract management for capital projects with partners like Entergy Louisiana, facility and asset management for properties including the State Capitol (Baton Rouge), and information technology governance interacting with vendors such as IBM, Microsoft, and Oracle Corporation. The department oversees grant management for federal programs administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, disaster recovery finance tied to the National Flood Insurance Program, and oversight of state retirement plans linked to the Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System and the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana.
Budget and Financial Management
Budget responsibilities include preparing the executive budget submitted to the Louisiana Legislature and reconciliations with fiscal officers from the Comptroller of Public Accounts and the Office of Management and Budget (United States). Financial controls involve work with the Louisiana Legislative Auditor, external auditors such as KPMG and Ernst & Young, and credit rating agencies including Moody's Investors Service and Standard & Poor's regarding state debt issuance used for infrastructure financed through instruments like municipal bonds and capital leases. The office administers centralized accounting systems, debt management for projects tied to the Louisiana State Bond Commission, and cash management operations interfacing with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
Programs and Services
Program areas include centralized procurement and the Louisiana Bid System, state payroll and benefits management integrating with the Social Security Administration, risk management and property insurance covering state facilities and disasters akin to Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Rita, and information technology services such as enterprise resource planning that coordinate with the Louisiana Secretary of State and Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism for statewide initiatives. The department operates grant assistance programs that channel federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency to local projects addressing coastal restoration, flood control, and economic development in regions including Acadiana and the Mississippi River Delta.
Offices and Divisions
Major divisions consist of the Office of Statewide Reporting and Accounting Policy, the Office of Risk Management, the Office of State Procurement, the Office of Technology Services, the Office of Human Resources, and the Office of Facility Planning and Control, each coordinating with agencies such as the Louisiana Department of Health, the Department of Veterans Affairs (United States), the Louisiana State University System, and the University of Louisiana System. Specialized units handle legal matters collaborating with the Louisiana Attorney General's Office, federal compliance teams liaising with the Office of Management and Budget (United States), and capital outlay project teams working with the Army Corps of Engineers and state construction contractors.
Accountability and Oversight
Oversight mechanisms include audits conducted by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor, investigations by the Inspector General (state) where applicable, legislative oversight through committees of the Louisiana State Legislature such as the House Committee on Appropriations, and judicial review in state and federal courts including the Louisiana Supreme Court. Transparency initiatives involve public reporting to entities such as the Open Government Initiative and collaboration with civic groups like the Louisiana Budget Project and academic centers at Louisiana State University Law Center and Tulane University Law School for policy analysis and performance evaluation.