Mass. Auditor Seeks New Powers to Investigate Charities
September 1, 2011 | Read Time: 1 minute
The top government-aid oversight official in Massachusetts is seeking broad new authority to investigate charities and other private groups that spend state money to provide government services, writes The Boston Globe.
Suzanne M. Bump, the state’s auditor, called on legislators to adopt a “follow-the-money” bill that would empower her office to audit the use of state funds by any organization, be it governmental, commercial, or nonprofit.
Ms. Bump said a significant portion of the $2.3-billion Massachusetts awards annually to private social-service providers goes to subcontractors who have no obligation to cooperate with her efforts to monitor how state money is spent.
She cited her examination of two state special-education collaboratives for alleged financial improprieties, investigations she said have been hampered by affiliated nonprofit organizations that refused to turn over records.
