March 28, 2024

Commentary: Bob Rodericks on School Safety and Tax Dollars

Posted

$2.9 Million to Run RI Governor's Office? Give Much of that to Local Taxpayers for School Security, etc...

Much of the nation is engaged in conversation on ways in which to provide more security for our school children. I know that East Providence is also very concerned. I can agree that it is time to add a police school resource officer in every school, with two in our large high school. But I strongly disagree with proposals to arm our teachers. While it isn't a great feeling to have armed police roaming our school campuses it has now become a sign of the times. We need a police presence, at least for awhile.

Teachers need to teach and it is for the police to protect our schools as much as they humanly can. Through the years many teachers have broken up fights or have shielded children from danger. Most are not hesitant to step in and protect students. But they should not have to carry a gun. Two to three hundred loaded guns in our high school does not help security in my mind. The same goes for all other schools. So until a solution to the school shooting problem is found, we count on our police force for protection. The question is how do we afford this. While there is no price on the security of our kids, teachers and staff, reality does hit home. We do have budgets provided by taxpayers.

One recommendation I have is to filter some of the money paid to some statewide departments for high-paying advisory aides. It is safe to say that the Governor, Lt. Governor, Treasurer, Sec. of State and some others in the state house, all have press spokespersons, communication directors, speech writers, chiefs of staff, policy aides, etc. Many of these jobs pay in the range of six figures. If one is smart enough to be a Governor, one should be able to write one's own speech and answer questions from the public or the press. These officials don't need a Public Relations director and a communication director, for example.

Here is a list of Governor Gina Raimondo's office staff and salaries for 2016. The figures are probably higher now as this list is substantially higher than one I have from 2015:

RI Governor's Office Jobs (source: GoLocalProv):$2.9 Million in Salaries:

Legislative Director, $178,899; Chief of Staff, $170,460; Deputy Chief of Staff, $155,564; Executive Counsel, $155,385; Deputy Chief of Staff (two), $146,026; Director of Governor's Office, $146,026; Deputy Counsel, $126,951; Deputy Counsel, $122,186; Director of Communications, $122,186; Special Counsel,$98,340; Policy Advisor, $93,575; Press Secretary, $88,798; Director of Public Engagement, $82,572; Education Policy Advisor, $69,144; Executive Assistant to the Governor, $67,508; Special Assistant to the Governor, $64,940; Community Affairs & Outreach Advisor, $61,751; Office Manager, $63,793; Legal Administrative Assistant, $59,036; Policy Analyst (two), $56,982; Director of Constituent Services, $56,694; Director of Scheduling, $56,694; Outreach Manager, $52,272; Special Assistant to the Governor, $53,003; Special Assistant to the Governor, $48,973; Appointment Special Assistant, $48,715; Executive Administrative Assistant, $47,228; Protocol Manager, $44,271; Special Assistant to Deputy Chief of Staff, $44,271; Legislative Aide, $40,895; Communications Associate (two), $36,471 and a Director of Appointments, $5,000.

All of the above jobs are appointees for one office. None of these persons were elected by taxpayers and voters. I am not naive, some of these positions are needed by a Governor. Speechwriters can help, but I certainly think we could streamline this office, especially when we are struggling with old schools, decrepit roads, unsafe bridges, poor water systems and failed state computer services to mention a few problems.

Why is this a local issue? Because we need a high school, better roads and other infrastructure work in East Providence. Our water system needs major attention. The decades-old main water supply feed to East Providence is laying on the bottom of the Providence River where it connects from Cranston via the Situate Reservoir. If that fails, look out.

The almost $3 million dollars spent to run a Governor's office, not counting similar expenses for other state office holders, could be diverted to help taxpayers in most cities and towns. These jobs don't include the many department positions throughout state employment. Departments such as the Courts, Transportation, Environmental Management, Motor Vehicles, Education, Health, DCYF and many more.

There are also other staff positions in the state house paying large salaries. A Providence Journal reporter was recently hired to a $121,340 position to work with the RI Senate. I'm not sure of her duties. The position had been vacant for awhile.In an unrelated but illustrative matter, why does the City of Providence need to hire a retired State Police official to be a public safety commissioner? I would think the Fire Chief and Police Chief as well as the Mayor would handle their respective public safety issues. Do these things matter to East Providence? Do they involve the EP City Council election? Sure they do. This is a small state. Much of our education dollars and roads and water system operation receive state funding.

If elected to our Council-at-Large seat I will do my best to avoid a similar layer of administrative spending as we set up a first-ever Mayor - City Council government. And I will urge state leaders to allocate more funding for school security measures instead of hiring highly paid bureaucrats in their offices. Let's get "Back to Basics." We are all local, state and federal taxpayers. Yes, it does matter.

(This commentary is solely the opinion of Bob Rodericks. Shared items do not necessarily reflect the views of this publication. It is not our intent to take sides on any issues, but to present content that is interesting to all individuals. We reserve the right to alter / remove any and all content.)

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