OIG Bulletin, March 2026
This edition of the OIG Bulletin includes information on several OIG reports including the Special Education Transportation study, the preliminary report on Sheriffs' spending, and the Steamship Authority's website project. Also contains information on prevailing wage misconceptions and the benefits of the CM at-Risk delivery method.
Read the BulletinIG Jeffrey Shapiro Testimony Regarding House 5032 – An Act Relative to Preparing Apprentices in the Commonwealth
IG Shapiro urged lawmakers to consider unintended consequences of House 5032 such as creating additional burdens on contractors who wish to bid on public contracts.
Read the TestimonySouth Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to $1.2 Million COVID Relief Fraud
David Breen pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government property, for misappropriating COVID-19 funds for personal use.
Read the Press ReleaseOIG Letter to the House Ways and Means Committee Re: House 5131, the Municipal Empowerment Act
IG Shapiro advocated for commonsense changes to the state's procurement laws contained within House 5131.
Read the LetterTestimony of IG Jeffrey Shapiro Regarding MassDOT Service Plaza Procurement
IG Shapiro detailed the OIG's investigatory findings of MassDOT's flawed service plaza procurement in testimony before the Senate Post Audit Committee.
Read the TestimonyOIG In Your Inbox – Should Your Municipality Appoint a CPO? Yes!
Why should your municipality appoint a Chief Procurement Officer? CPOs have the knowledge and expertise to ensure that procurements comply with the law and follow best practices. They help avoid costly errors and mistakes.
Read the AdvisoryFormer CEO of Worcester Regional Retirement System Abused Public Funds
The OIG investigation found that, despite verbal assurances to the contrary, the former CEO of the Worcester Regional Retirement System (WRRS) continued to operate and in fact grew his private law practice while serving as the full-time CEO of the WRRS.
Read the ReportOIG Finds Former Retirement Board CEO Abused Public Funds
The OIG found that a former CEO of the Worcester Regional Retirement System (WRRS) expanded his private law practice while being paid to work full-time for the retirement board.
Read the Press ReleaseHouse 4924, Boston Inspector General Legislation Letter
IG Shapiro proposes House 4924, An Act to amend the operations of the city of Boston Finance Commission to establish the Boston Inspector General Oversight Commission.
Read the LetterMassHealth and Health Safety Net 2026 Annual Report
During the past year, the OIG has been working on three reviews pursuant to Section 127 of Chapter 9 of the Acts of 2025. The three reviews cover different areas in health safety net spending: supplemental funding; fee-for-service program administered by a third-party; and utilization review based on a specific diagnosis code for MassHealth members.
Read the ReportA Preliminary Review of Sheriffs’ Budgets and Expenditures
The OIG’s review, pursuant to Section 164 of Chapter 73 of the Acts of 2025, finds that the flawed budget process for sheriffs' can be attributed, in part, to numerous unclear and outdated laws that define sheriffs’ responsibilities and authority. It is apparent that the role of the sheriffs’ offices may not be as narrow as some legislative leaders expect, nor as expansive as some sheriffs believe.
Read the ReviewInvestigatory Review of Failed 2025 Service Plaza Procurement
The OIG found that the integrity of the procurement process for a new operator of 18 highway service plazas was undermined by multiple flaws. The OIG firmly posits that no procurement of this size, scope, and significance should rest on a weakened foundation. While no one finding was likely the fatal blow to this procurement,
the OIG’s eight findings in what would have been a 35-year lease should give pause.