Orrall: Numbers not adding up
Contender challenges treasurer’s claim
Challenger Keiko Orrall is discrediting Treasurer Deb Goldberg’s claim of Massachusetts as the “Number One” state in the country in returning unclaimed property.
Massachusetts trails other states both in the percentage of unclaimed property returned in 2017 and in the total amounts returned, including Florida and Illinois. The amount in unclaimed property has jumped from a reported $2.4 billion in 2017 to $3.4 billion.
“We’re number one in the country in returning unclaimed property,” Goldberg said yesterday. When pressed by a WGBH reporter hosting the debate on what she meant by “number one,” Goldberg said, “The percentage of getting it back to people and getting the most back.”
On both accounts, Goldberg was mistaken.
A comparison of 2017 figures from Massachusetts with data available from Illinois and Florida show both states have a better percentage of returning funds.
“Treasurer Goldberg is not telling the truth that she is falling further and further behind in giving back the money and property that is rightfully owed to the people of Massachusetts,” said Chris Kivior, campaign manager for the Orrall for Treasurer campaign. “She is not getting the job done, and now the problem is even worse under her watch as the total in unclaimed property has jumped to $3.4 billion.”
Massachusetts processed 123,000 claims and returned $104 million, for an average claim of $845. The amount returned in 2017 equaled about 4.3 percent of the $2.4 billion in total unclaimed property.
Goldberg’s office disputed Orrall’s allegations.
“In 2017 the Unclaimed Property Division implemented a new database and a new public website which made it faster and easier for individuals and businesses to search for and claim their lost property. The year prior to the new database the Division opened 84,100 claims and paid out 44,276 claims. In the immediate 12 months after the new database was live the Division opened 467,720 claims and paid out 137,458,” wrote Goldberg’s Deputy Chief of Staff Chandra Allard in an email to the Herald. “This new technology triggered a 450% increase in the amount of claims which were initiated and a 310% increase in the amount of claims paid. As a result of this unprecedented influx of claims, the Division did experience a temporary backlog. Today, after making adjustments and further streamlining business processes, we are caught up.”