The GAO report shows that organizations that are managing the stimulus money are overwhelmed. They need people, and in order to hire people, they need cash.
I think that one percent of the $787 billion stimulus should go to oversight. That’s $7.87 billion. For the $7.2 billion broadband stimulus, the organizations involved would get $72 million.
Assuming they’re hiring someone for a year at 40 hours per week for 50 weeks, at a rate of $50 per hour, each person costs $100,000. Assume the total cost of hiring and benefits etc. brings that to $150,000 per person.
That hires 480 people, which is reasonable. Some visit projects, at least one in each state _and territory_ and some work in DC helping evaluate grants.
Overall, this money would employ about 48,000 people — which may seem a lot — but they’re needed!
Furthermore, to the extent that the stimulus is primarily about creating jobs and secondly about not wasting money, this $7.2 billion expense would be well spent, according to the goals of the program.