In the past year Maine has seen unprecedented economic turmoil with a biennial budget shortfall of more than a billion dollars – auditing problems at the Department of Human Services topping $100 million and scandals in the Department of Education with the Migrant Worker Program to the tune of approximately $6 million as well as the intentional manipulation of $434,000 by a DHS worker.

Almost daily we see problems with the Augusta Mental Health Institute, Togus, federal mutual fund companies, SAD 40 and, most recently, the passage of Question 1A that, if passed next June, will force the Legislature to fund GPA at 55 percent, or an additional $250 million a year in revenue. In the shadow of this troubling news and the clear message from desperate property tax payers is an incredible opportunity for unprecedented government spending reform that cannot be missed. This opportunity will begin on Nov. 17 and, given a chance, could change the way the state governs for decades.

Three years ago the Maine Legislature created the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability. This new office was designed to independently examine state programs for efficiency and effectiveness. It replaced a system of self-evaluation by Maine state departments, which was called the Government Evaluation Act. This act was virtually ignored by the Legislature and led to no accountability for the taxpayer since its inception in 1996.

OPEGA was designed to utilize professional program analysts free of partisan interference to give credible recommendations to legislators to help make better-informed decisions when spending your money. This new office was under the direction of a bipartisan legislative committee that could examine any entity receiving tax dollars. Established offices in other states have been widely successful in saving billions and drastically improving the services of countless state programs.

OPEGA was modeled after several of the 44 state offices around the country, including Idaho, Kansas and Florida. The Legislature’s State and Local Government Committee worked with the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability Director John Turcotte. Their knowledge and input was invaluable. OPEGA was passed by the Legislature and funded in the 2003 biennial state budget. Even with this success, like any complicated initiative, many questions and policies were left unresolved leaving some within the Legislature uncomfortable. Unfortunately, concerns have led to delays in implementing this program; and Senate membership to the Oversight Committee has not been appointed.

On Nov. 17 those concerns and the apprehension can be resolved. Speaker of the House Pat Colwell and OPEGA supporters have arranged for Turcotte to come to Maine and meet with the Legislature to get this new office off the ground. Turcotte is the teacher of teachers whose resume includes directing two large offices spanning 33 years. He has directed more than 760 program evaluations as well as founding the National Program Evaluation Society and chaired that organization and its 30,000 legislative staff nationwide. He is revered around the country in assisting states with evaluation and he will be in Augusta to assist us for three days.

This opportunity could springboard this new office and empower the Legislature to tackle the spending problems facing this state. Credible reviews of state programs could trim waste, make programs more user-friendly, free up revenue and resources to fund education and reduce the need to raise taxes.

A recent SAD 40 review conducted by the Department of Education revealed stunning inadequacies in school safety, auditing and general administration and will lead to an overhaul of those midcoast schools. These reviews are common in Florida and have led to recommended savings of $1.2 billion, each with one unique feature – all recommendations for school cost savings must stay within the school district, thus, direct savings to the property tax payer. These reviews are uncommon in this state; but if such a system was designed in Maine that utilized state resources for such things as bulk purchasing programs, eliminating waste and duplication and building cooperation, the potential to reduce school costs is endless.

Gov. Baldacci has indicated support for school consolidation, a drastic step meant to save money, but one that could change communities forever. In light of the potential closing of some Maine schools, there is an urgency to act swiftly. Finding ways to save precious tax dollars could ease the need to close schools, preserving the character of many Maine communities. The man who designs these systems is coming to Maine and it is imperative that we at least explore this option.

We believe the current economic turmoil was inevitable. The effect of any government that is not accountable to the people is an evolution into sloppy spending practices and a blatant disregard for rules of government administration. Our challenge now is to design a system of accountability that is founded on credibility and integrity. We have an opportunity to start that process on Nov. 17 and we hope our fellow legislators do not miss it.

The preceding commentary was written by Rep. A. David Trahan, R-Waldoboro; Sen. Edward Youngblood, R-Brewer; Sen. Peggy A. Pendleton, D-Cumberland; and Rep. Matthew Dunlap, D-Old Town.