BOSTON -- Some call them the fourth branch of government in Massachusetts – quasi-public agencies. They’re not fully private entities, but not fully a part of state government, either.

“It literally is like a disease that can't be controlled,” said Sen. Mark Montigny, D-New Bedford.

Team 5 Investigates’ Janet Wu reported Wednesday that even reading the names of the dozens of quasi-public agencies can be confusing. The words economic, finance, development and technology show up in most titles.

“You never know what is buried in those cans of worms because it's not fully transparent,” said Montigny.

Critics said what makes these half-public/half-private hybrids dangerous is that they are not fully accountable to either the free market or to state lawmakers.

Gov. Deval Patrick agrees. “They have an influence on a whole host of very important parts of the government mission without being accountable,” he told Wu. “That concerns me.”

Established by the state legislature, and using seed money from state and federal governments, the Massachusetts Technology Development Corporation invested $83 million in 130 companies over three decades. But its tiny staff has a massive budget, $1.3 million for just six staff members.

Robert Crowley, head of the quasi-public Massachusetts Technology Development Council, replied, “This game is a little like being Reggie Jackson, OK? If you hit a home run in the bottom of the ninth in the seventh game of the World Series, it doesn't make any difference how many times you struck out.”

Wu: “The state treasurer manages billions of dollars. You manage millions of dollars. He makes significantly less.”

Crowley: “Apples and oranges.”

Wu: “What justifies your higher salary over his?”

Crowley: “I didn't know if you need an answer to that.”

In fact, Team 5 Investigates discovered many quasi employees earn more than the treasurer, even more than the governor.

While Patrick has asked for a review of high salaries at quasi-public agencies, just last year he created the $1 billion Massachusetts Life Science Center where president and CEO Susan Windham Bannister earns $285,000, vice president Luis Barros earns $185,000, COO Melissa Walsh earns $180,000, and another vice president, Angus McQuilken, is paid $125,000.

Wu: “Nearly everybody makes six-figure salaries. How do you justify that in this day and age?”

McQuilken: “Yeah, our salaries are comparable to the salaries that are offered at other quasi-public authorities.”

McQuilken is partially correct. While seven of the 10 employees at the Massachusetts Life Science Center receive six-figure salaries, Team 5 Investigates reviewed 2008 payroll at 10 quasi public agencies. Of 502 employees, 107, or 21% of them earn more than $100,000 per year.

That includes Robert Culver, president of the Mass Development Finance Agency, who earned $310,500 in 2008.

Mitchell Adams, executive director of the Mass Technology Collaborative pocketed $263,925.

Massachusetts Technology Development Council chief Robert Crowley took home $208,815 in 2008, including a raise and a $25,000 bonus he proposed to the board, which ultimately approved it.

“This is at a time we are laying off police and firefighters,” said Montigny. “Every single one of these quasi publics serve the commonwealth and that means the taxpayers, toll-payers or fee payers ultimately spend the money.”

A spokesperson for the Massachusetts Development Finance refused an interview but defended its salaries as a way "to recruit and retain the kinds of skilled people" the agency needs from the high-paying banking and real estate industries.

Even Governor Patrick admits it's time to reform.

“Is it time to look at collapsing a number of these combining missions,” he asked. “Yes, is the answer.”

“Perhaps the most cynical out there would say, you need to just starve or kill the beast because you'll never cure it,” said Montigny.