“Improving the department’s image is long overdue and Director Corrigan has already shown she is willing to take the necessary steps,” said MacMaster, R-Kewadin. “I’ve only been a representative a short time but I’ve heard for years complaints about the department. In this day of tight budgets and limited workers, it’s important that residents are getting the best bang for the buck from any and all state services.”

MacMaster and Agema said frequent concerns from the public have included at least a perception that the department’s programs are bloated and wasteful of taxpayers’ dollars, and some of its activities go beyond reasonable measures, unnecessarily adding to the manpower costs.

            “In the past, these audits have indicated a lack of oversight, noncompliance with federal guidelines and other severe deficiencies with little to no internal control, which have plagued the Department of Human Services and left the department open to criticism,” said Agema, R-Grandville. “While it’s apparent Director Maura Corrigan has her hands full in rectifying past problems, we are confident that she and the department will successfully address the recent audit findings based on how quickly she has already attacked abuses within the system.”

            Both MacMaster and Agema pledged to assist Corrigan by sponsoring any legislation necessary to help the department become more efficient and accountable to taxpayers.