Massachusetts earned an overall financial transparency score of 77 out of 100, placing it among the better-performing states in fiscal reporting quality, according to a new analysis by the Pioneer Institute published in mid-2026. The report examines the Commonwealth's performance using Truth in Accounting's Financial Score 2025 criteria, which evaluate audit quality, balance sheet accuracy, timeliness, and accessibility. While Massachusetts performs well in most areas, the report finds the state "presents a mixed picture on financial transparency," excelling in some metrics while failing badly in others.
Massachusetts scored just 5 out of 15 points for net position distortions, placing it among the lowest-scoring states on that measure. The state scored zero for timeliness, defined as producing an annual report within 100 days of the fiscal year's end. Massachusetts's fiscal year ends June 30, meaning its financial report should be published by early October, but the state's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report has been consistently published 10 to 11 months after the fiscal year ends. For example, the Fiscal Year 2024 report was published in May 2025. Pioneer Institute gives the Commonwealth a score of 15 out of 100 for providing transparent access to annual public financial disclosures from policymakers and legislators. Truth in Accounting found that transparency scores for all 50 states improved compared to the previous year, with Utah, West Virginia, and Indiana scoring highest and Illinois, Connecticut, and North Carolina scoring lowest.
Massachusetts does offer CTHRU, a public transparency portal managed by the Office of the Comptroller that provides searchable access to statewide spending, payroll, and revenue dating back to 2009. The tool is designed to be updated regularly and covers all three branches of government, as well as agencies like the MBTA. However, according to the report, "even CTHRU has its flaws; as of mid-2026, a processing issue has left its payroll and spending data out of date." Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio has stated that a recent House bill is "unconstitutional and against what citizens voted for in 2024," referring to legislation that would restrict her audit scope despite voters approving broader authority.
The tension over auditor authority reflects a broader accountability problem. In 2024, more than 2.3 million Massachusetts citizens voted yes to Question 1, granting the state auditor authority to audit the Legislature and investigate legislative spending and contracts of taxpayer-funded institutions. The House recently passed Bill 5469, which includes a clause to restrict the audit scope to four specific categories: budgets, official audits, appropriated expenditures, and monetary supplements—most of which is already public information. The report notes Massachusetts is currently the only state where legislative and gubernatorial records are exempt from public records law, making it harder for citizens to access information such as legislative voting records and meeting notes. An initiative that may appear on the November 2026 ballot would subject records held by the state Legislature and Governor's Office to the public records law.
The report concludes that "the debate over the scope of the auditor's authority reflects the tension between the public's opinion and a Legislature that wants to limit oversight, making the push for transparency a constantly evolving endeavor." Massachusetts outperforms peers in key areas related to transparent government operations, yet struggles with timely reporting and producing an accurate balance sheet. The Legislature remains one of the least transparent in the country, and whether voters will get another chance in November to force open records that have been kept from them will determine if the Commonwealth can close the gap between its fiscal reporting strengths and its glaring accountability weaknesses.