AUGUSTA – Lawmakers spend months arguing over spending priorities, but little time, if any, making sure those priorities are being met. That was the thrust of testimony offered in support of a measure to create a nonpartisan Office of Legislative Audit to oversee how state government spends tax dollars.

“We do not do a very good job of looking into how money is being spent,” said Rep. Matthew Dunlap, D-Old Town, a co-sponsor of the bill. “We owe it to the taxpayers to do this.”

Maine is one of a handful of states that does not have such an oversight office. The idea is based on the General Accounting Office of Congress, which conducts wide-ranging studies to determine if a program is accomplishing its goals.

The bill would establish a legislative committee to oversee the new agency that would have professional staff to analyze programs. The price tag on the measure is a million dollars, but supporters contend it will save far more than it costs.

“It is extremely important that this be independent and nonpartisan,” George Smith, executive director of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, told the Legislature’s State and Local Government Committee on Friday afternoon. “This could do so much good in getting to how money is being spent and I can assure you I believe the savings will far outweigh the costs of doing this.”

Smith said there are several examples in which outside reviews of parts of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife have resulted in “millions of dollars” in savings. He said the oversight agency could also help keep track of how federal funds are being spent by state agencies.

“We sometimes forget it’s all tax money,” he said.

Supporters argued that too many programs are receiving no oversight at all. Sen. Edward Youngblood, R-Brewer, a co-sponsor of the measure, said an increasing number of state programs are being implemented by independent agencies, and do not receive even the “cursory” oversight given a program a state agency directly provides residents.

“I am concerned about contracting of services,” he said. “We see in my area where Community Health and Counseling has over a thousand employees providing services, many services, that are paid for by the taxpayers.”

Youngblood said there are many examples of services being paid for by the taxpayers, but provided by such independent agencies. He said that if the taxpayers are picking up the tab, there needs to be some oversight of such agencies.

There were no opponents at the hearing, which was interrupted several times by roll call votes in the House of Representatives on the supplemental budget. But several committee members raised concerns with the complex nature of the legislation and whether the new agency could have too much power.

“I think there are some good ideas here,” said Rep. John McDonough, D-Portland, “but I still have concerns about how it will work.”

Even supporters of the proposal acknowledge it will be difficult to find $1 million to pay for the program. After the pending supplemental state budget is approved, less than $2 million will be left for all of the dozens of measures remaining that have price tags.

“We are at a crossroads,” said Rep. David Trahan, R-Waldoboro, a co-sponsor of the measure. “We have to have the political will to pass this. I know it is complicated language and money is short, but what we have here is good legislation that has addressed many of the problems that have been raised in our discussions over the last two months.”

Trahan said Maine need only look to Florida for an example of how such an office improves programs and saves money. The Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability was created in 1994 and has recommended changes in state programs that have saved taxpayers in that state an estimated $300 million.

The State and Local Government Committee hopes to have the measure to the full Legislature for consideration early next week.