COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The CEO of the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority is the highest-paid housing authority lead in the nation, with a $550,000 salary his colleagues say is well-deserved. Just months later, however, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's inspector general said some families getting assistance from the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority lived in houses that were not always “decent, safe and sanitary.” The CMHA is one of many public housing authorities across the country, but Chairman James L Ervin Jr. said the leadership of President and CEO Charles Hillman sets it apart. Ervin said the nearly $150,000 pay increase was fitting. Is Ohio's school funding system Constitutional? The raise came after a consulting firm found Hillman's pay was uncompetitive when examined alongside other presidents or CEOs of local nonprofits, top real estate leaders and other public housing authority executives. The firm recommended increasing Hillman’s salary to $616,982.27 in December, and the board approved $550,000. Ervin clarified none of his salary came from state or federal funds, nor did any other CMHA executives' salaries. Ervin said Hillman pushes the CMHA to do things untraditionally, gathering revenue outside the scope of traditional public housing authorities. He said Hillman’s leadership has driven CMHA to create more than 7,000 jobs and added several billion dollars to Ohio’s economy. According to the CMHA, for every $1 the organization spends, Ohio’s economy gets a $2.24 return on investment. “Mr. Hillman has led CMHA to leverage innovative finance strategies, strategic investments, create large-scale development projects and generate additional revenue,” Ervin said. “This is leadership we want to keep, so it is essential to offer a competitive salary.” Ervin said most public housing authorities focus on two core programs: housing choice vouchers that offer support so low-income families can afford private housing, and maintaining a system of public housing units. What does a 'yes' or 'no' vote mean for Issue 1? Ervin said Hillman’s raise was warranted by his ability to move the CMHA beyond the two core programs to generate revenue. However, a June 2024 audit by the HUD inspector general found CMHA’s work in one of those two core programs – the housing choice voucher program – fell short of federal standards for housing quality. The audit looked at 84 homes in the program and found nearly 250 deficiencies across 48 of the houses they sampled. The audit found 29% of the homes with deficiencies had life-threatening concerns that needed to be addressed within 24 hours, including missing or broken smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, electrical hazards and a lack of safe exits. Photos in the audit showed rotted window frames, rested ducts and actively leaking ceilings. According to the HUD Inspector General, CMHA failed to oversee its contractor, who had performed the inspections. Further, the audit said when CMHA inspectors did their own inspections, they failed to note issues the Inspector General’s office identified. The audit estimated CMHA will pay more than $36 million in housing assistance for units that do not comply with federal housing quality standards by July. According to CMHA, 13,000 Ohioans participate in the voucher program in the audit.