Mass. inspector general says ‘leadership failures’ led to Brockton schools’ $18M deficit

The Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General (OIG) called Brockton Public Schools’ (BPS) $18 million budget deficit a “critical failure of leadership” that demands “meaningful oversight,” more than two years after the shortfall was disclosed to the public .

Brockton’s deficit was first estimated at about $14 million when disclosed in late 2023, but later audits pushed that figure to more than $18 million .

The condemnations arrived in a 10-page letter sent Wednesday to Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan, BPS Superintendent Priya Tahiliani, Commissioner Geoffrey Snyder from the Department of Revenue and the city’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Troy Clarkson.

It was signed by Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro and copied to city and school leaders, state lawmakers, education officia