MassAnalysis: Drawing data-based comparisons between cities and towns

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Massachusetts has 351 cities and towns—a constellation of communities…

MassPensions: The Leaders and Laggards among Massachusetts Public Pension Systems

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As detailed in a recent study published by the Pioneer Institute,…

MassAnalysis: Understanding local debts

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Although they must maintain balanced budgets, Massachusetts municipalities…

The Connection Between Property Taxes and Pension Funding

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A recent study from economist Evgenia Gorina, published in the…

MassAnalysis: The scoop on Massachusetts municipal crime data

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Preventing crime is a key concern for communities across Massachusetts.…

MassAnalysis: In search of a strong financial footing

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You don't have to be a member of the Finance Committee to know…

Prepare for Town Budget Season with MassWatch

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Online tools to understand your community's financial condition…

MassOpenBooks: A look inside MassPort

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Every day, thousands of passengers pass through Logan Airport,…

A Primer on Secondary Revenue Sources for Local Governments

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Using Pioneer Institute’s MassAnalysis tool, one can find information…

Coastal Towns Charge the Most Permit Fees Per Capita in Massachusetts

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One of the ways local governments raise revenue is by requiring…

Pioneer Institute Celebrates Sunshine Week 2019

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Sunshine Week is dedicated to bringing greater awareness to the…

Guess What Massachusetts Public Employee Earns Over $1 Million

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The State Comptroller’s Office makes available annual salary…

Our Government Transparency Resolutions for 2019

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Government transparency…

How Much Does Your Local Government Raise from Fines and Forfeitures?

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One of the ways local governments raise revenue to fund public…
the Boston skyline overlaid with money.

Overtime Pay Tally Reveals Large Disparities

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The top 50 overtime earners among state employees averaged $99,114…

$40 or Freedom: Uncounted Cash in the Legal System

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Forty dollars isn’t chump change. It’s about three lunches…
A row of files with the city hall seal

Stonewalled at City Hall

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Pioneer Institute interns often visit government offices to obtain…

Making Troopers Transparent: At What Cost?

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In May 2018, The Boston Globe reported on its effort to gain…

Got Milk? The Answer Might Soon Be No in Massachusetts

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It’s not a good time to be a dairy farmer in Massachusetts,…

Falsified Records & Shady Human Resources Policies: The Latest Scandal in the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner

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The Office of the Medical Examiner for Massachusetts is a taxpayer-funded…

Not signed, sealed, delivered

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Even the casual observer has probably heard that Massachusetts…

Should Boston want to be the home of Amazon’s second headquarters?

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Amazon is the kind of company whose mere presence is enough to…

Is local government in Massachusetts too pervasive?

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In a country as culturally and politically diverse as the United…

Troop F Gets an A: State Auditor Overlooks DSP Corruption, Neglects Audits

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The Office of the State Auditor’s (OSA’s) website describes…

“Isn’t Everything Online and Free?” The Exclusivity of MA Law Libraries

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There are 15 Trial Court Law Libraries in Massachusetts to service…
the Boston skyline overlaid with money.

Which State Employees Make More than the Boss?

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In 2017, the Massachusetts Department of Corrections had 20 employees…

Why Did the Department of Corrections Pay a Chef $166,762 last year?

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Pioneer Institute’s MassOpenBooks transparency tool shows an…

True Transparency Needed for SFI’s

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Pioneer has long called for the Statements of Financial Interests…

The role of old industrial districts in residential suburbs

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The City of Waltham was once an aging mill town. Its flagship…

How does the Commonwealth Pay for Roads?

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Maintaining, safe, efficient public infrastructure challenges…