The Inspector General's mandate is to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse in the expenditure of state, county, and local funds. The Inspector General's Office aids state and local agencies in preventing government waste, achieving efficiency, complying with statutes and regulations, performing audits and management reviews, and reviewing proposed legislation.

The Office also assists the Attorney General, District Attorneys, and other investigatory agencies in the review of allegations of fraud and abuse, many of which are received through a statewide complaint "hotline." The Inspector General's Office reports results of investigations to the Attorney General or the United States Attorney General when it finds there has been a probable violation of state or federal criminal law.

Budget Recommendations

The Fiscal Year 1999 budget recommendation includes an additional $112,000 for personnel (0910-0200) and $200,000 to expand the Inspector General's retained revenue account (0910-0210) for the Public Purchasing Official Certification Program.

Budgetary Direct Appropriations

OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
0910-0200	For the operation of the office of the inspector general	1,886,756

Budgetary Retained Revenues

PUBLIC PURCHASING CERTIFICATION RETAINED REVENUE
0910-0210	The office of the inspector general is hereby authorized to expend an amount not to exceed $300,000 from revenues collected from fees charged to participants in the Massachusetts public purchasing official certification program, for the operation of said program; provided, that notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the office may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate therefor as reported in the state accounting system	300,000