State Puts Boston Olympic Bid Under Microscope

(ATR) Massachusetts political leadership has hired a consulting firm to review the revised bid plan for Boston 2024.

Governor Charlie Baker, state Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo, and state Senate President Stanley Rosenberg confirmed the hiring of the Brattle Group on Jun. 1 in statement.

Initially, the political leaders had hoped to have a consultant in place in April, but the plan was delayed after only four firms bid for the contract. A plan to have an independent firm review the Olympic bid was proposed by DeLeo on Mar. 3.

The Brattle Group will receive $250,000 for their efforts, and will produce an independent analysis on the bid by mid-August. In addition to the independent analysis, the group will look to see if taxpayer money is being used for the bid.

"Hosting the Olympic Games is an opportunity to showcase to the world what makes Massachusetts great and, as the process continues, having a robust analysis of this massive undertaking will be extremely helpful in ensuring transparency and protections for taxpayers," Charlie Baker said in a statement announcing the hiring.

"We look forward to this work and the ability of the Massachusetts public to review Boston 2024’s plans when they become available in the coming weeks."

Boston 2024 has pledged that no taxpayer money will be used in the revised bid plan after a leaked version of the original bid book was shown to use municipal bonds to finance land acquisition for Olympic venues.

The revised bid plan is expected to be released during the month of June.

Written by Aaron Bauer

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