A Merrimack County Superior Court Judge has ruled the state Securities Division can subpoena the Local Government Center for financial information.

New Hampshire Public Radio’s Dan Gorenstein reports.

The Local Government Center, or LGC, provides insurance coverage to municipalities and school districts.

Acting on a complaint for mishandling finances, the Secretary of State’s Securities Division wants to investigate whether health insurance contributions are being used exclusively for healthcare benefits.

This October LGC refused the Securities Division’s request for information, arguing, in part, that the division didn’t have regulatory authority.

Assistant Attorney General Anthony Blenkinsop says the investigation will now move ahead.

TAPE: the expectation would be that the administrative process can move forward and the Secretary of State’s Office...will be able to get the documents they’ve requested.

LGC could not be reached for comment.

Last week, the organization released some documents showing that over the past five years it’s moved $14.5 million dollars from two insurance funds into its Worker’s Compensation Fund.

For NHPR News, I’m DG.