GOVERNOR, TREASURER PLAY HOT POTATO WITH CULTURAL COUNCIL
The governor’s office and state treasurer are playing hot potato with the Mass Cultural Council — neither wants to touch it.
A spokesman for Gov. Charlie Baker said the council is an “independent agency” that is not subject to any Corner Office control. He suggested calling the treasurer’s office.
A spokeswoman for Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg said they don’t oversee the cultural council, the governor’s office does.
Meanwhile, the $174,700-ayear cultural council Executive Director Anita Walker drives a state-leased Toyota Prius C III and has a taxpayer-paid parking spot around the corner from her downtown office, as the Herald reported yesterday. She also has a state-issued credit card to gas it up.
The Prius is leased for $404.63 a month, while the parking garage space costs $340 a month, records obtained under the state’s Public Records Law show.
That’s on top of the $3,700 the cultural council spent on take-out from Davio’s To Go over a recent 12-month period using that state-issued “P-card,” according to expenditures reviewed by the Herald.
The use of taxpayer funds for lunch and costfree transportation for the council boss has been under a microscope, yet nobody is claiming ownership of the agency.
“Someone has to be responsible for them. It seems to be a perfect issue for the governor,” said Tom Whalen, a Boston University political history professor. “He’s fiscal Charlie. I’m surprised his office hasn’t come up with a solution, especially since we’ve just gone through a difficult budget process.”
Baker and the state Legislature agreed to a $42 billion compromise budget a month into the new fiscal year, earning the designation as the last state in the nation to ink a deal. The cultural council was awarded $16 million in that budget.
Brendan Moss, Baker’s spokesman, said in an email yesterday the council is “an independent state agency and is not subject to the executive branch policy” drafted by Baker that limits the use of take-home cars and P-card spending on food.
The council is within, but not subject to the jurisdiction of the treasurer’s office, the email added. Any directive from Baker, Moss explained, can be ignored.
Emma Sands, a spokeswoman for Goldberg, said in an email the council’s budget is “submitted to and approved by A&F (Administration and Finance), and the Executive Director and Board are appointed by the Governor.” The cultural council “sits under Treasury, but as the law states it is not under our control,” she added.
Jay Gonzalez, Democratic candidate for governor and head of A&F under former Gov. Deval Patrick, said last night it’s ridiculous Baker isn’t taking charge.
“This is the governor trying to pass the buck again. When is he going to take responsibility?” Gonzalez said. “He appoints every member of that board, including the chairman, who hires the executive director. It couldn’t be more clear.”
He added: “This is the kind of thing that makes taxpayers lose trust in government.”