Think tank questions MTA spending
The Maine Heritage Policy Center has released data on spending by the Maine Turnpike Authority, including employee salaries, that the center says shows questionable spending habits.
The conservative, Portland-based think tank runs the website maineopengovernment.org and this week released data it gathered through a Freedom of Access Act on MTA. The data shows that, while MTA reduced the number of toll collectors from 361 in 2006 to 308 in 2009, total payroll increased $3 million, according to Seacoast Online. The number of turnpike employees earning $80,000 or more went from 43 people in 2006 to 74 people in 2009, out of a total 569 employees. The center also criticized the authority's $12 million on a new administrative building in Portland, arguing money should have been spent on the aging York toll plaza instead.
MTA spokesman Bruce Pelletier told the paper the agency had not had the time to go over all the data released, and that several top MTA officials were out of the office or on vacation.
The state's Office of Program Evaluation and Governmental Accountability in May launched a probe of the authority's operations after raising questions on its revenue, bond rating and relationship with bondholders. MTA Executive Director John Violette told Mainebiz the authority's financial health is strong.
Go to the article from Seacoast Online >>
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