And Another Seeks Change at Treasurer's Office

 Republican candidate for state treasurer Elizabeth Dionne pledged in an interview this week that she would "get rid of tens of millions of dollars of wasteful spending" following a complete audit of all Treasury departments if she is elected this fall. During an appearance on InsideLowell's Daily Pulse, the Belmont Select Board member said she was among the 72% of voters who supported the 2024 ballot question to give the auditor the power to audit the Legislature and said she is frustrated it has not happened. "But as treasurer, I have the power to walk in on day one and audit all 12 of those departments so that we know where the money's going, where the problems are," Dionne said. "Again, every dollar saved is a dollar that can go back to taxpayers or cities and towns. So I've pledged to get rid of tens of millions of dollars of wasteful spending." Dionne said there is precedent for such an investigation: she said Republican Joe Malone, who was elected in 1990 after the Treasury was under Democrat Bob Crane's leadership for more than a quarter-century, brought in Bain and three of the major auditing firms to conduct "a complete audit and strategic plan for the treasurer's office at no cost." She said she would also cooperate with the state auditor, should that office turn its attention to the Treasury. "But that said, I can do this on my own," she said. Dionne added, "There are lots of avenues that we can go, and it's actually always helpful to have multiple sources of information. So I would absolutely pledge to work cooperatively with the auditor. But if her budget is being cut, she might not have the resources that she needs to do the full audit, so maybe I do need to go seek private partnerships."

The Treasury includes more than a dozen departments: the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, Asian American & Pacific Islanders Commission, Cash Management, Debt Management, Defined Contribution Plans, Office of Economic Empowerment, Massachusetts School Building Authority, State Retirement Board, Massachusetts Clean Water Trust, Massachusetts Lottery, Pension Reserves Investment Management Board, Unclaimed Property Division, and Veterans' Bonus Division ... - Colin A. Young, SHNS