Massachusetts Geographic Information Systems

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Governor Patrick    FY2011 House 2 Budget Recommendation:
    Issues in Brief

    Deval L. Patrick, Governor
    Timothy P. Murray, Lt. Governor

 

MassGIS

A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer system capable of assembling, storing, manipulating and displaying geographically referenced information (i.e. spatial data). This type of system is a critical component of the Commonwealth’s infrastructure in the modern age.  State agencies, municipalities, businesses, and residents all use GIS services and products to plan investments, establish policies and conduct a wide array of other activities.  MassGIS is the Commonwealth’s official agency for the collection, storage, and dissemination of geographic data, and is legislatively mandated to set standards for geographic data and to ensure data compatibility across the Commonwealth. 

Governor’s Proposal

The Governor’s fiscal year 2011 budget proposes moving MassGIS from its current location within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) to the Information Technology Department (ITD) within Executive Office for Administration and Finance (A&F).

Currently at EEA, MassGIS provides vital services to agencies throughout the Commonwealth. Since a number of mission-critical initiatives depend on GIS services (such as E-911, Broadband, technical assistance to municipalities, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s re-organization, energy facility siting and the Ocean Management Plan) it is crucial that MassGIS function efficiently and produce accurate and up-to-date products and services. However, the current service infrastructure is inadequate and data products are incomplete and out-of-date. 

By bringing MassGIS closer to the center of state government, within ITD, a department focused primarily on information technology infrastructure, the Commonwealth can achieve several key outcomes: 

The fiscal year 2011 budget proposes to fund MassGIS through two appropriations with funds transferred from EEA to ITD, a direct appropriation for $70,000 (1790-0150) and a retained revenue account for $55,000 (1790-0151). The retained revenue account will consist of revenue from providing copies of data and standard map products to other state agencies, federal agencies and other entities.  Additional funding will be made available from the capital budget.


Prepared by Sarah Glassman, Executive Office for Administration and Finance ·
www.mass.gov/budget/governor
For more information contact: contactanf@massmail.state.ma.us (617) 727-2040