Gov. Dan McKee wants to give raises to a dozen of his cabinet members, with the most significant salary hikes for the state health director and health and human services secretary.

The proposed pay increases are slated for a public hearing on Tuesday, March 19, per state law which provides for a vetting of state department leaders every March, followed by legislative approval.

The latest round of salary hikes comes as the state prepares to lose its interim health director, without a successor in sight. 

Dr. Utpala Bandy, who has served as interim health director since June 2023, submitted notice of her intent to resign effective March 31. Her resignation is the latest in a string of turnovers for the Rhode Island Department of Health, which has gone without a permanent director since early 2022. Health officials and advocates blamed the turnover and retention on uncompetitive pay relative to private employers and other states.

McKee’s office did not immediately respond to inquiries for comment on Thursday explaining his proposed salary increases, or the state health director search. 

McKee has proposed a 42% salary bump for the state health department director propelling the existing $175,383 annual pay to $250,000 a year. McKee in his revised fiscal 2024 budget also asked to exempt the health director salary from legislative approval for this year only, allowing him to set the salary unilaterally.

All other 11 cabinet salaries recommended for raises are subject to review by the Rhode Island General Assembly, which has 30 days to reject the proposed pay increases, or else they automatically take effect.

The Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services is in line for a 23.4% salary increase, from $182,684, to $238,597. Health and Human Services Secretary Richard Charest was promoted to lead the $3.6 billion agency in May 2023. Meanwhile, Rhode Island Commerce Secretary Liz Tanner, tapped to lead the economic development agency in 2022, is poised for a 6.2% raise, from $224,653 to $238,597.

Another nine positions would be subject to 3% raises, including embattled state transportation director Peter Alviti and the head of the troubled Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals. The Rhode Island Senate is scheduled to vote Thursday afternoon to confirm McKee’s pick, Richard Leclerc, as the next BHDDH director. As proposed, Leclerc’s pay would jump by $5,101, to $175,344.

Alviti, whose leadership of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation has come under increasing scrutiny following the emergency December closure of I-195 westbound lanes of the Washington Bridge, would see his base salary increase to $188,164.

Other cabinet positions proposed for 3% salary increases include the directors of the Department of Administration; the Department of Corrections; the Department of Children, Youth and Families; Department of Environmental Management; Department of Labor and Training, Department of Revenue; and Department of Public Safety.

Neither the governor’s office nor the state Department of Administration immediately responded to questions about other cabinet positions left out from proposed pay increases.

The Department of Administration will hold a public hearing on the proposed pay increases at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19, at the William E. Powers Building in Providence. Remote access and participation is available by Zoom.