Post-War Reconstruction Fund and Capital Construction Fund appropriation control ledgers

Arranged by department and therein alphabetical by name of facility.

Chapter 660 of the Laws of 1942 created a Temporary State Commission for Post-War Public Works Planning. Its main purpose was to keep records of the progress of design of railroad grade crossing eliminations, highways, parkways, buildings, and other structures and public housing projects for which funds for detailed plans and specifications had been made available to state departments, but for which implementation was suspended during World War II. The commission was to assure that information on the status, scope, cost, employment possibilities, and materials and equipment needed to execute the projects would be promptly available after the war.

It was also charged with ordering and allotting funds for preparation of plans for other state projects, to prepare and maintain progress information on design of post-war projects by municipalities and authorities, and to maintain a liaison with federal agencies on post-war planning. The director of the division of the budget was a member of the commission and served as chairman.

Chapter 661 of the Laws of 1942 amended the State Finance Law to create a post-war planning and capital reserve fund. Through this fund money was dedicated to the preparation and review of plans and specifications and for engineering and other services relating to post-war planning and capital improvements.

The series consists of pre-printed ledger forms accounting for appropriations funded and expended through the Post-War Reconstruction Fund and the Capital Construction Fund by the Division of the Budget. The records reflect the wide-ranging scope of projects for which money was appropriated to various state departments for public works. Facilities include colleges and universities, correctional facilities, and mental health institutions.

Ledger forms for both funds are often present for each facility or institution (the Capital Construction Fund apparently supplanted the Post-War Reconstruction Fund in the mid to late 1950s). This results in a chronological history of appropriations documenting public works spending for each institution. Allocations often span several decades.

The bulk of Post-War Construction Fund ledger forms date from 1944-1951. They are completed in manuscript to include some or all of the following: name of department, division, or institution; amount of appropriation/reappropriation (by chapter/part/year), or amount repealed or lapsed; brief description of project; type of appropriation method; function of appropriation (highways, rehabilitation, equipment, etc.); amount of appropriation available (with code) and date per the Department of Audit and Control; amount of cash expenditures, balance, unpaid obligations, and unencumbered appropriation balance; and "memorandum account" information, including Division of Budget estimates of lapsed amount and cash balance, with date.

The bulk of the Capital Construction Fund ledger forms date from the 1960s. They are completed in manuscript to include some or all of the following: name of department, division, and institution; amount of appropriation/reappropriation (by chapter/part/year), or amount repealed or lapsed; brief description of project; amount of appropriation available (with code) and date per the Department of Audit and Control; amount of cash expenditures, unpaid obligations, and unencumbered balance; and "memorandum account" information, including Division of Budget estimates of lapsed amount and cash balance, with date.

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