Massachusetts’ 42 quasi-public agencies operate largely under the budget radar despite performing vital government functions, some which have been on the front pages recently.
Increasingly, the public, including lawmakers, local officials and the media expect that all government expenditures will be posted online and easily accessible through a Google-like search function. The good news is that the House recently adopted language as part of their fy 2011 budget that includes transparency for quasi-publics as part of broader spending disclosure and accountability reform that includes spending on tax credits. Attention will now move to the Senate, which will debate the budget next week.
The new report calls for a number of reforms, including comprehensive disclosure, creation of an oversight board for quasi publics, and the requirement that contracting at quasi publics to be done through a transparent process like Comm-Pass, to name just a few. For more see executive summary of report.
I look forward to reading this, as a follow-up to the scorecard that ranked Mass. last in fiscal transparency (or gave us an F, more accurately) a few months ago.
<
p>I was surprised to see the transparency language in Charley Murphy’s budget. Not surprised knowing him, but just all the troubles the House had earlier in the year with those DiMasi court fees. I am glad that someone up there is interested in this topic. I am surprised the Governor has never made this a hallmark of his budgets. He’s had a few chances to do so. I think this is the biggest good-government issue that has come up in decades, and it was passed without much of a murmur. The house budget would actually allow a citizen to see where their tax dollars go… imagine that!
<
p>I hope MassPirg is out there loudly objecting when the senate budget comes out today without any transparency language in it. I know I will call my senator to insist it be added on the floor. just as I called my Rep, to make sure he voted for the floor amendment that made the House budget transparency better. This is not the time to try to keep info from the public.
<
p>
A little noticed feature of the Governor’s Budget was the ZERO appropriation for the ‘reformed’ transit agencies – because they can now be ALL funded by bonds (!!) and grants because they are now a Quasi!
<
p>Know how to cut $3 billlion from the budget? Move agencies off the books!
<
p>Transportation reform didn’t abolish the MTA – it just took MassHighway, RMV, Mass Aeronautical, et al – and folded them INTO the Turnpike model and gave it a new name!!!
<
p>AND – as a bonus – the ‘new’ agency isn’t subject to the State Auditor!
<
p>Mullen hasn’t had TIME yet to entirely corrupt the agencies newly placed under his protection – let’s make THAT transparent first!
Sorry to disagree with the tone of the headline and some comments, but I read the report and it is pretty sophomoric. Anyone who has paid even a miimal amount of attention is aware of the fact that Massachusetts (like most larger states) have a large number of indepedent public authorities. Frankly, most are very transparent with true independent public audits, annual reports, comprehensive web sites and detailed agendae and minitues.
<
p>It should not come as a surprise that for many decades the executive and legislative branches have been willingly creating such entities because most can pay for themselves (though, admittedly, not all of them), and are mission oriented. In general, they get the job done as they are removed from many of the convoluted, unnecessary and expensive nonsense rules that make up state government.
<
p>Best advice: 1. take direct action against the few who violate the law, have deviated from their core purpose or who are chronically mismanaged; 2. Insure that qualified individuals are appointed to the governing boards; 3. insure that their activities strictly comply with open meeting and sunshine statutes….and then leave them alone, keep your hacks away (that means you, Governor!) and let them do their job.
<
p>