All Pawtucket All The Time

Tassoni blasts $250K salary for new EDC chief

             STATE HOUSE – With a $219 million deficit looming in the current budget year and a deficit in the $400 million range projected for next year, Sen. John J. Tassoni Jr. doesn’t understand why “the governor is throwing around money like it’s candy.”

            Senator Tassoni (D-Dist. 22, Smithfield, North Smithfield) was reacting to today’s announcement that a new executive director of the Economic Development Corporation has been hired at an annual salary of $250,000.

            The governor’s office announced today that the EDC board voted unanimously to hire Ioanna T. Morfessis, of Arizona, to a three-year term as director of the agency. In addition to the $250,000 salary and benefit package, she will be compensated for her moving costs, receive use of a car and be furnished with temporary housing money for up to four months.

            The governor defended the compensation package, saying that if the state is serious about changing its economic climate, it must be willing to pay for top talent.

            Senator Tassoni suggested that if the state is serious about changing its economic climate, it should start by tightening its belt and cutting costs where it can, especially what he called an “extravagant” cost for an agency chief.

            “I am sure this individual is highly qualified, but I believe we were told the previous executive director was also highly qualified and his salary was $150,000 a year less. If we are not going to get two-and-a-half times more positive results out of this new director, we are just throwing more money into a black hole,” said Senator Tassoni, who noted that the EDC has had about two dozen directors since the 1980s and continues to be criticized for doing little to help the state’s existing, small businesses.

“Every other department in state government is utilizing its staff as best it can during these difficult economic times,” said Senator Tassoni. “Why can’t we leave the current acting EDC director in place instead of spending this much money on someone brand new to our state, regardless of what she may have accomplished in Phoenix. We cannot afford to take on any more water than we already have.”

“I agree that we need to do something to energize the EDC to do a better job of promoting economic development for our state,” said Senator Tassoni. “I am not convinced spending a quarter-million dollars a year on one person’s salary is the answer.”

Considering that there will be a new governor in 2011, it is possible there could be another new EDC director as well, said Senator Tassoni.