A state watchdog report released Monday describes spending across Massachusetts’ 14 sheriffs’ offices as “chaotic,” citing deficits, lost revenue, and instances of illegal overspending.
The Office of the Inspector General’s report found the departments collectively facing a historic $110 million deficit at the end of fiscal year 2025. The report was mandated by state lawmakers amid concerns about how the offices manage public funds.
According to the OIG, investigators identified multiple financial management issues across the sheriffs’ departments, including the use of accounts outside standard state oversight…