Rhode Island Senate won’t block McKee’s cabinet salary raises despite $250 million deficit

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Rhode Island Senate won’t block Governor McKee’s cabinet salary raises.

Just two days after the Rhode Island House unanimously voted to reject Governor Dan McKee’s proposed salary increases for his cabinet members, the Senate has announced it will not take up the resolution to block them.

The proposed raises would boost the salaries of several top officials, including:
    •    Peter Alviti, Transportation Director: $188,164 to $192,000
    •    Jonathan Womer, Administration Director: $185,589 to $194,888
    •    Richard Leclerc, BHDDH Director: $175,344 to $184,111
    •    Elizabeth Dwyer, Business Regulation Director: $162,737 to $170,874
    •    Wayne Salisbury, Corrections Superintendent: $174,593 to $183,323
    •    Ashley Deckert, DCYF Director: $185,400 to $194,670
    •    Terrence Gray, DEM Director: $167,619 to $176,000
    •    Kimberly Merolla-Brito, Human Services Director: $160,473 to $168,497
    •    Matthew Weldon, Labor & Training Director: $173,512 to $182,188
    •    Thomas Verdi, Revenue Director: $163,963 to $172,161
    •    Darnell Weaver, Public Safety Director & State Police Superintendent: $195,000 to $196,000

Newly elected Senate President Valerie Lawson said the chamber will not consider the House-passed resolution, citing the need to keep Rhode Island salaries competitive. She noted that in some cases, department heads earn less than their subordinates.

“The Senate leadership considered whether this action by the executive branch warrants a highly unusual intervention by the legislative branch. We determined it does not.”

Despite the House’s attempt to block the raises during a year when the state faces a $250 million deficit, the Senate’s refusal to act means the raises could still go through.