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Department of Administration outlines statewide facilities, procurement and sustainability role and budget request
Summary
Commissioner Tamar Grenville told the Senate Committee on State and Local Government that the Department of Administration manages statewide real estate, procurement, fleet and preservation functions and is seeking modest operating increases and a new account to leverage federal funds for renewable energy projects.
Tamar Grenville, commissioner of the Department of Administration, told the Senate Committee on State and Local Government on Jan. 23 that Administration (Admin) operates a broad central-service portfolio that supports state agencies, local governments and Minnesotans.
"As commissioner, I'm really proud that admin's real estate and construction team ran the project management for building that new veterans home as well as the other 2 new veterans homes that opened, here in Minnesota," Grenville said, describing recent capital projects in Montevideo, Preston and Bemidji.
The nut graf: Admin manages facilities, purchasing and insurance across state government and proposes ongoing operating adjustments in the governor's budget, including a new account to accept federal rebates for renewable energy projects at state-owned facilities.
Grenville described key Admin programs and scale: the agency oversees annual statewide purchasing she described as "3,700,000,000 in goods and services," negotiates and manages roughly 650 property leases, administers more than 320 annual construction projects and operates a vehicle fleet she placed at about 23,100 vehicles. She said Admin serves as the state's insurance agent for roughly $22,400,000,000 in insured state assets. Grenville said the general fund comprises about 26% of Admin's total budget and that the agency uses a mix of general fund appropriations, enterprise and service funds, special revenue and federal dollars.
On the governor's budget, Grenville said Admin requests a modest operating increase and listed proposals including: an increase in ongoing operating funds to cover higher health-care, compensation, utilities, IT and legal costs; an increase in the in-lieu-of-rent appropriation that covers public areas in the Capitol and spaces used by the House, Senate and veterans' organizations; and creation of a "state building renewable energy storage and electric vehicle account" intended to let Admin accept federal cash rebates and reuse them for future renewable energy and EV projects at state facilities.
She also described proposed technical and budget changes: Admin proposes eliminating an unassigned fiscal agent appropriation that previously carried $500,000 in ongoing funds and said it will correct the account cited for a $100,000 transfer tied to the insulin repayment program.
Committee members asked about federal EV mandates and the agency's workforce. Grenville said Admin is evaluating federal actions and "making sure that we comply with the law," and she said more than half of Admin's workforce must work on-site because of business needs; other employees are required to come into the office on a regular basis based on divisional requirements.
Ending: The committee did not take votes on the presentation. Grenville said she would follow up with requested lists of state-owned buildings and lease details if the committee members wanted more information.
