I have heard much recently regarding the cuts that Gov. Paul LePage says need to be made in regard to the Department of Health and Human Services.
I am aware of, and have no problem with, the idea there are those in Maine who have need of services that DHHS provides.
What I do have a problem with is the bureaucracy of DHHS. According to the latest figures on maineopengov.org, DHHS has a payroll of $188,024,073 for 4,289 personnel. From what I could find, DHHS has by far a larger budget for personnel than any other department in the state. That’s not counting all of their sub-contracts.
That comes out to each person in the state of Maine being responsible for $142 and change for just DHHS’s payroll.
A look at a DHHS organizational chart shows myriad sub-departments and sub-sub-departments that all have their own group of directors. The problem isn’t the services provided, but the vast bureaucracy.
The system itself is broken and has been for a long time. As many other departments, DHHS must start over and cut back on the top-heavy side of the house, not the actual workers.
On another subject, the idea of a mega-school in Auburn is nothing but insanity. Auburn taxpayers are taxed to the limit right now. Also, it has been demonstrated that it is not good to mix lower grades with higher grade students.
Alan Elze, Auburn
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