In another bold move, Gov. Deval Patrick is attempting to cut high paying executive salaries in as many of the Massachusetts’ 42 independent state agencies as possible. While many Americans struggle to make bill payments on a month-by-month basis, many of these executives – including the CEOs of the New England Aquarium and Boston YMCA – are in the country’s top fifth percentile in terms of household income. Patrick’s decision, while slightly radical, is uncompromising and shows dedication to the ideals of his campaign platform.
Independent agencies in the Bay State include the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MTBA) and the Massachusetts Port Authority, which is in charge of Logan International Airport. They don’t exclusively receive public funding and, in the past, have been allowed to run on their own – or at least, with minimal impedance. Although some states such as Maryland list independent agencies as part of their state government’s executive branch, previous state administrations in Mass. have displayed a lackadaisical attitude toward these profitable corporations.
Patrick, however, views these agencies as perpetrators of the public sector’s debt and doesn’t believe executives in public domains (such as the New England Aquarium and the YMCA) need to compete financially with CEOs in the private sector. In contrast, their payrolls should be controlled on the basis of managing the state’s deficit. Last year, government-elects vocalized concern about debt reaching $3 billion. In 2009, they were worried about it reaching $800-900 million. If not now, then when will the government have the authority to make inconvenient choices that will help lower the standard of what constitutes a massive deficit?
It may not be a desirable move by Deval’s administration in that independent state agencies are supposed to exist in the absence of government intervention, but if corners have to be cut, this is one area of the debt-ridden state that can stay afloat. Opponents of Patrick’s proposal might argue that cutting payrolls will inhibit competition, but at this point in the state’s economic crisis, competition for high-level positions should take a backseat to making a widespread difference in Massachusetts’ comprehensive fiscal state.
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