BOSTON — A scathing new report by the state’s top government watchdog accuses county sheriffs of overspending their budgets and demands that Beacon Hill lawmakers fix the “broken” system.
The report released Friday by Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro claims sheriffs have been overspending their budgets for years with the approval of state leaders “without any legal exemption or authorization.”
The annual spending plans are crafted with the “understanding” the money will only partially fund their operations, the report claims. The report further states that lawmakers will later “true up” their budgets with supplemental spending.
“Regardless of the sheriffs’ status as elected officials and their offices’ status as independent agencies, there is no legal authority allowing sheriffs’ offices to deficit spend,” the inspector general wrote. “Past practice without a statutory exemption is still a violation of state finance law.”
He emphasized, “The manner by which sheriffs’ offices have been funded and that they have spent beyond their appropriation needs to end this year.”
The Massachusetts Sheriffs Association responded to the report by saying they have been “collaboratively engaged” with the IG’s office during the financial review and “appreciate the work undertaken by the IGO’s team.”
“The sheriffs will closely review the preliminary report’s findings and recommendations and will continue to support efforts that advance transparency and sound fiscal management across the commonwealth,” the group wrote in a statement.
But the report comes amid heightened scrutiny of spending by state’s 14 county sheriffs by Beacon Hill policymakers.
House and Senate budget chiefs withheld $162 million requested by county sheriffs in a supplemental budget to cover costs to their operating budgets in the previous fiscal year amid concerns about the “financial and operational integrity” of their offices.
House and Senate budget chiefs claim sheriffs’ offices collectively overspent their appropriations by more than $162 million in the previous fiscal year.
The sheriff’s association disputes the claim, saying the deficit is closer to $95 million based on projected costs, contractual obligations, and the impact of state-mandated initiatives such as “no-cost” inmate communication, collective bargaining increases, and expanded treatment services.
The IG’s report said its financial review determined that sheriff’s collectively ended the previous fiscal year with a $110 million deficit.
The report maintains sheriffs should be provided with a “reasonable budget” annually to meet their mandate and “then held accountable to operate within that constraint.”
“Supplemental funding should be limited to rare, unforeseen circumstances,” Shapiro wrote in the report. “An effective reform will be one in which the Legislature clearly defines the responsibilities and obligations of the sheriffs.”
Lawmakers have created a new Sheriff Fiscal Oversight Council, which will review the finances of sheriffs on a monthly basis, and a requirement for the IG to conduct regular investigations of spending by the offices.
Shapiro’s office said the report’s findings are preliminary and that it “expects and welcomes feedback from all parties as our review continues.”
Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for North of Boston Media Group’s newspapers and websites. Email him at cwade@cnhinews.com.