COMPTROLLER OF THE
TREASURY

Louis L. Goldstein, Comptroller of the Treasury

Goldstein Treasury Building
80 Calvert St.
Annapolis, MD 21404—0466 (410) 974-3801

The office of the Comptroller of the Treasury was
established by the Constitution of 1851. The Consti-
tution enumerates the Comptroller's duties, beginning
with the broad mandate to exercise "general superin-
tendence over the fiscal affairs of the State, preparing
plans for the improvement and management of reve-
nue to support the public credit." More specifically, the
Comptroller is to "preserve all public accounts, and
decide on the forms of keeping and stating accounts",
to "grant, under regulations prescribed by law, all
warrants for money to be paid out of the Treasury",
and to "superintend and enforce the prompt collection
of all taxes and revenues." Jointly with the State Treas-
urer the Comptroller supervises the Central Payroll
Bureau. The Comptroller (or deputies) countersigns
all checks drawn by the State Treasurer upon the
deposits of the State. The Comptroller prescribes the
formalities for the transfer of other evidence of the State
debt and countersigns such papers.
The Comptroller administers and collects the fol-
lowing taxes: income tax, both personal and corporate,
retail sales and use taxes, motor vehicle fuel tax, road
tax on motor carriers, State tobacco tax, Maryland
estate tax, and excise taxes on beer, wine, and liquor.
Also administered by the Comptroller are the Aban-
doned Property and Dormant Bank Account Laws.
Revenues collected by the Maryland Racing Commis-
sion, as well as motor vehicle revenues, are distributed
to political subdivisions by the Comptroller's Office.
Admissions and amusement tax revenues are collected
by the Tax Compliance Division, at rates set by local
officials, and distributed to political subdivisions.
The Comptroller prescribes the form of all licenses
required by the State licensing laws, which are issued
through the Clerks of the Courts of the various
counties. Each month the Comptroller collects license
revenues, State property transfer taxes, death taxes,
and real and personal property taxes from the Clerks
of the Courts, Registers of Wills, and County Treas-
urers of each county. Distribution of certain taxes and
revenue is made to the cities, towns, and counties of
the State and to other State agencies as prescribed by
law (Code 1957, Art. 78B, sec. 19, Code Tax—Gen-
eral Article, secs. 2-201 through 2-203, 2-301, 2-
302, 2-606 through 2-609, 2-614, 2-617, 2-901,
2-902, 2-1001 through 2-1004, 2-1506, Code
Transportation Article, secs. 8-401 through 8-407).
By law, the Comptroller of the Treasury serves
on the Board of Public Works, the Board of Reve-
nue Estimates, the Maryland Industrial Develop-

ment Financing Authority, the Banking Board, the
Capital Debt Affordability Committee, the Mary-
land Food Center Authority, the Maryland Agri-
cultural Land Preservation Foundation. The
Comptroller also serves on the Board of State
Canvassers, the Hall of Records Commission, the
State Use Industries Advisory Committee, the
Maryland State Employees Surety Bond Commit-
tee, the State Employees' Health Insurance Advi-
sory Council, and the Board of Trustees for
Maryland State Retirement and Pension Systems.
The Comptroller is elected by popular vote for
a term of four years (Const., Art. VI, sec. 1). The
number of terms a Comptroller may serve is not
limited. Neither the Constitution nor the Anno-
tated Code of Maryland states qualifications for this
office. Yet, the Comptroller must give a bond and keep
the office at the seat of government. The Comptroller
begins his duties on the third Monday in January
following election.
The Office of Comptroller of the Treasury is
organized under two main functions: Admmistra-
tion, and Revenue Operations.

ADMINISTRATION

Robert L. Swann, Deputy Comptroller
(410) 974-3805

Formed in 1994, Administration is responsible
for four units the Board of Revenue Estimates, the
Central Payroll Bureau, the Data Processing Divi-
sion, and the General Accounting Division.

BOARD OF REVENUE ESTIMATES

Ex officio: Louis L. Goldstein, Comptroller of the
Treasury, Richard N. Dixon, State Treasurer,
Frederick W. Puddester, Secretary of Budget &
Management.

Ann O'Brien Franklin, Executive Secretary

P. O. Box 466
Goldstein Treasury Building
Annapolis, MD 21404 (410) 974-5442

Created in 1945, the Board of Revenue Estimates
is concerned with revenues that will fund State govern-
ment (Chapter 991, Acts of 1945). The Board studies
the findings and recommendations of the Bureau of
Revenue Estimates. The Board then sends to the
Governor, for submission to the General Assembly, an
itemized statement of anticipated revenues for the next
fiscal year. With the itemized statement, the Board
submits its recommendations to the Governor.
The Board has three ex officio members. The
Director of the Bureau of Revenue Estimates serves
as Executive Secretary (Code State finance and
Procurement Article, secs. 6-101, 6 -102, 6-106).