Bill > H2776

This bill directs the Inspector General, a state official responsible for investigating waste and fraud in government, to conduct a comprehensive study of all real estate leasing agreements made by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), which is the agency responsible for providing wholesale water and sewer services to a large portion of the state. The study, which has a budget of up to $150,000, will examine all property the MWRA owns or controls, assess whether these leases are economically beneficial to the ratepayers (customers who pay for the authority's services), and determine if the leases were obtained through proper advertising and procurement processes. The Inspector General is tasked with making recommendations to improve how the MWRA oversees its real estate, and if necessary, proposing new legislation to ensure the authority maximizes its financial returns from these properties for the benefit of its customers, with a deadline for completion and submission of findings by December 15, 2015.