At lawmakers’ behest, the state’s Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability will look into the operations of MaineHousing to see if a full investigation is warranted.
Members of the Government Oversight Committee voted 5-3 to direct OPEGA to do preliminary research on the state housing agency after a few committee members expressed concerns, according to the Bangor Daily News. The details of those concerns were not made clear. Sen. Margaret Craven, D-Lewiston, opposed the move, saying there is no evidence of wrongdoing and arguing the move was politically motivated. Executive Director Dale McCormick is a former Democratic lawmaker who has been unpopular with some Republicans, according to the paper.
McCormick told the paper she was not concerned about a possible investigation and said the agency is a “model for how quasi-government agencies should be operated.” The agency services more than 90,000 residents every year through its affordable-housing programs and services. OPEGA earlier this year investigated another quasi-government agency, the Maine Turnpike Authority, and its questions on financial mismanagement led to the resignation of Executive Director Paul Violette.