Mission Statement
The Department of Administrative Services (DAS) exists to mitigate risk by being a front-end to back-end human resources and administrative solutions provider. We solve problems and we mitigate risk when problems arise.
Vision Statement
We solve problems and mitigate risk for three main reasons:
- To assist the Governor in achieving her goals.
- To assist state agencies and the individuals within state agencies in achieving their goals.
- To be good stewards of taxpayer dollars.
Role of DAS
Most state agencies in Iowa government provide services for Iowans directly. Services include:
Helping Iowans find jobs (Iowa Workforce Development)
Maintaining Iowa's roads (Department of Transportation)
Assisting Iowans in need (Health and Human Services)
At DAS, we provide services mainly for other state agencies and employees. Some of these services include:
- Maintaining the buildings and grounds for the Capitol Complex
- Processing paychecks for all state employees
- Managing benefits for all state employees
- Representing the State in hearings, appeals, and contract negotiations
- Maintaining a fleet of vehicles for state travel
History of DAS
DAS was created on July 1, 2003, by the Iowa Legislature. At that time, agencies providing services for other state agencies and employees were combined into one large agency (DAS). This was a radical idea for its time. The formation of DAS was the first and largest undertaking of this kind in the country.
The idea was that state agencies would not need to outsource various services. Instead, DAS would provide these services. The result was lower costs and more time for agencies to focus on their core missions: serving Iowans.
DAS Funding
Most state agencies receive an appropriation, or a specific amount of money, from the Iowa legislature out of the General Fund for operating expenses.
At DAS, we receive funding mainly from the other state agencies who use our services. See Services and Rates to learn how this works.