PROVIDENCE – Gov. Donald L. Carcieri today announced he plans to nominate Gary S. Sasse, currently the state revenue director, to succeed Jerome F. Williams as director of the R.I. Department of Administration. The position is subject to confirmation by the state Senate.
The news comes 14 months after Sasse was nominated as the first executive director of the new R.I. Department of Revenue. (READ MORE) The East Greenwich resident previously had served for 30 years as executive director of the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council, a business-backed research and policy group that was influential in the Revenue Department’s creation.
Before joining RIPEC, he had served the City of Memphis as assistant chief administrative officer and deputy director of finance and administration from 1974 to 1977; and the State of Tennessee, as director of the office of urban and federal affairs and a member of the governor’s staff from 1972 to 1974. A political science graduate of Florida State University, he holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
“Since coming on board my administration, Gary has been a tremendous asset to the Department of Revenue, implementing new policies that have improved reporting and analysis, enhanced revenue collections and successfully found operating efficiencies and cost savings across all divisions,” Carcieri said.
“With more than 30 years of experience in crafting and analyzing sound fiscal policies and sustainability for government programs, Gary has earned the respect and trust of legislators, the media and the public alike, and is a vital part of the team as we navigate the state through this financial crisis.”
During his tenure at the Revenue Department, Sasse has led the adoption of new reporting and analysis guidelines, including monthly revenue reports and property-tax analysis; has implemented an aggressive tax-compliance program; and has taken steps to modernize the department’s Division of Motor Vehicles. And in May, he was named to lead a 21-member Tax Policy Workgroup that Carcieri established to examine and revise what the governor today described as “our archaic tax policies” and develop a long-term strategic plan; its recommendations are due later this month. (READ MORE)
“The work being done by Sasse and the Tax Policy Group will lay the foundation for a more sound tax policy that will make Rhode Island competitive,” Carcieiri said. “Transforming the tax policy, which has driven out businesses, young people and retirees for far too long, is critical to the long-term future success of Rhode Island.”
The sentiments are similar to those expressed by Sasse last January, in a PBN interview shortly after he took over from interim Revenue Director Beverly Najarian. (READ MORE)
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“It has been a pleasure working closely with Gary for the past year to bring greater transparency and operating efficiency to all aspects of state government,” said Williams, the cost-cutting executive who took over the Administration Department in June and previously had led the R.I. Department of Transportation since early 2007. The veteran public servant last month announced plans to leave state service to accept the position of senior vice president and chief business and administration officer at Roger Williams University in Bristol. (READ MORE)
“I am confident he will bring the same commitment and energy to the Department of Administration as he has brought to Revenue,” Williams added. He will continue to work closely with Sasse during the transition, and will continue to serve as the state revenue director while the state seeks a replacement, the governor’s office said.
“Jerry Williams has put together an amazing team of knowledgeable and hard-working professionals that strive for the betterment of state government, and I am honored to work with him and his staff through this transition,” Sasse said.
News and information from the R.I. Governor’s Office are available at www.governor.ri.gov. Information about the R.I. Department of Administration is available at www.admin.ri.gov.
