Contract for Wildlife Chief Caps Pay at $218K

Compensation for the head of the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources would be capped at $218,000 for the next year under a contract expected to be reviewed by the state Legislature's Government Contract Review Committee next month.

The contract sets the salary of Wildlife Commissioner Jon Gassett at $134,000 and adds $53,000 in benefits, pushing total compensation to $187,000. Additional language in the contract that runs through June 30, 2014, sets the $218,000 cap but allows it to be raised with the approval of the Finance and Administration Cabinet and the Government Contract Review Committee.

The contract has approval from Fish and Wildlife Commission Chairman Stuart Ray and Tourism Secretary Marcheta Sparrow and is awaiting the approval of the Government Contract Review Committee in a June 11 meeting.