Massachusetts General Laws Part I. Administration of the Government (Ch. 1-182) Ch. 44, § 43

The director shall annually require the auditor or other accounting officer of each city and town to submit schedules to provide for uniform returns giving detailed statements of all receipts classified by sources, and all payments classified by objects, for its last fiscal year; a statement of the public debt showing the purpose for which each item of the debt was created and the provision made for the payment thereof; and a statement of assets and liabilities at the close of the fiscal year. The director may prescribe standard forms intended to promote the systematic accounting of financial transactions and the publication of the same in the city and town reports. The director shall collect from the proper local authorities such other information pertaining to municipal affairs as in the director's judgment may be of public interest. All auditors, accounting officers and other officials and custodians of public money of cities and towns shall properly complete and promptly return all schedules required of them to the director. If a city or town fails, within 60 days after a request has been made by the director, to furnish the information to be collected under this section, the director may obtain the information in accordance with section 41.