Mississippi State Treasurer Explained

Post:State Treasurer of Mississippi
Incumbent:David McRae
Incumbentsince:January 9, 2020
Flag:Flag of Mississippi.svg
Insignia:Seal of Mississippi.svg
Termlength:Four years
Constituting Instrument:Constitution of Mississippi
Seat:Jackson, Mississippi
Acting:n

State Treasurer of Mississippi is a post created in 1817 when the state was admitted to the Union. Before the state was formed by splitting the Alabama Territory from the Mississippi Territory, an equivalent post was the Territorial Treasurer General, established in 1802.

History

The position of state treasurer was enumerated as part of the executive branch in Mississippi's first constitution in 1817. The office was filled by the choice of the Mississippi Legislature. The first treasurer, Samuel Brooks, was elected on December 19, 1817. The 1832 constitution stipulated that the treasurer was to be popularly elected to serve a two-year term. The 1869 constitution expanded the officer's term to four years.

Powers, responsibilities, and structure

Under Article 5, Section 134, of the Mississippi Constitution, the state treasurer is elected every four years. Candidates for the office must meet the same constitutional qualifications as candidates for the position of secretary of state; they must be at least 25 years old and have lived in the state for at least five years. The office holder is not subject to term limits.Most of the treasurer's duties are determined by state statute.

The treasurer is responsible for keeping certain financial records for the state, including receipts, deposits, and disbursement of money from the state treasury.[1] The constitution requires the treasurer to review and approve all contracts for the provision of "stationery, printing, paper, and fuel" for state agencies and the legislature. They also oversee public bond issues.[1] The treasurer is ex officio the treasurer of the Mississippi Employment Security Commission and chair of the College Savings Plan of Mississippi Board. They are also ex officio a member of several other state boards, including the State Bond Commission, Public Employees Retirement Board, Mississippi Business Finance Corporation, Mississippi Development Bank, License Tag Commission, Tort Claims Board, Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting Association Board, Mississippi Guaranty Pool Board, Economic Development Strategic Planning Task Force, State Prison Emergency and management board, and the Historic Properties Trust Fund Advisory Committee.[2]

The treasurer's salary is $90,000 per year, but is set to increase to $120,000 annually in 2024.[3]

List of treasurers

Territorial Treasurers General

!scope="col" colspan="2"
Territorial Treasurers GeneralTerm in officePartySource
1Abner Green1802 – 1807
2Samuel Brooks1807 – 1817

State Treasurers

!scope="col" colspan="2"
State TreasurerTerm in officePartySource
1Samuel Brooks1817 – 1818
2Peter Schuyler1818 – 1821
3Samuel C. Wooldridge1821 – 1828
4James Phillips Jr.1828 – 1836
5Charles C. Mayson1836 – 1838
6James Phillips Jr.1838
7J. A. Vanhoesen1838 – 1839
8Silas Bowen1839
9S. Craig1839
10James G. Williams1839 – 1840
11Joshua S. Curtis1840 – 1841
12Richard S. Graves1841 – 1843
13William Clark1843 – 1847
14Richard Griffith1847 – 1851
15William Clark1851 – 1854
16Shields L. Hussey1854 – 1860
17Malcolm Decater Haynes1860 – 1865
18W. B. Weaver1865
19John H. Echols1865 – 1869
20William H. Vassar1869 – 1874
21G. H. Holland1874 – 1875Republican
22M. L. Holland1875
23William L. Hemingway1875 – 1890
24J. J. Evans1890 – 1896
25A. Q. May1896 – 1900
26J. R. Stowers1900 – 1901Democratic
27George W. Carlisle1901 – 1902
28Thad B. Lampton1902 – 1904
29William Jones Miller1904 – January 20, 1908Democratic
30George Robert EdwardsJanuary 20, 1908 – January 15, 1912Democratic
31Peter Simpson StovallJanuary 15, 1912 – January 17, 1916Democratic
32John Peroutt TaylorJanuary 17, 1916 – January 19, 1920Democratic
33Larkin Seymour RogersJanuary 20, 1920 – October 18, 1920Democratic
34William Moseley MurryOctober 18, 1920 – January 19, 1924Democratic
35Ben Shem LowryJanuary 21, 1924 – January 16, 1928Democratic
36Webb WalleyJanuary 16, 1928 – 1932Democratic
37Lewis S. May1932 – 1936
38Newton James1936 – 1940
39Lewis S. May1940 – 1944
40Newton James1944 – 1948
41R. W. May1948 – 1952
42Newton James1952 – 1956
43Robert D. Morrow Sr.1956 – 1960
44Evelyn Gandy1960 – 1964Democratic
45William Winter1964 – 1968Democratic
46Evelyn Gandy1968 – 1972Democratic
47Brad Dye1972 – 1976Democratic
48Ed Pittman1976 – 1980Democratic
49John L. Dale1980 – 1980Democratic
50Bill Cole1980 – 1988Democratic
51Marshall Bennett1988 – 2003Democratic
52Peyton Prospere2003 – 2004Democratic
53Tate Reeves2004 – 2012Republican
54Lynn FitchJanuary 5, 2012 – January 14, 2020Republican
55David McRaeJanuary 14, 2020 – presentRepublican

Works cited

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Government of Mississippi: How it Functions. Clark. Eric. December 2007. Mississippi History Now. Mississippi Department of Archives and History. March 17, 2023.
  2. Web site: Your Treasury. Office of the Mississippi State Treasurer. March 17, 2023.
  3. Web site: Amid vetoes, Gov. Reeves lets pay raises for elected officials pass. Pender. Geoff. April 7, 2022. Mississippi Today. Nonprofit Mississippi News. October 10, 2022.