Massachusetts Cultural Council approves $197,000 salary for Executive Director Michael J. Bobbitt and adopts triennial benchmarking policy

The Massachusetts Cultural Council voted April 22 to raise Executive Director Michael J. Bobbitt’s annual pay to $197,000 and to adopt a policy requiring independent third‑party salary benchmarking at least every three years.

Chair Marc Carroll opened the online special meeting and said the Executive Committee had recommended raising Bobbitt’s pay to the midpoint of a range produced by Arts Consulting Group (ACG). ACG’s benchmarking report recommended a range of $179,000 to $215,000 for comparable executive positions; at the time of the request Bobbitt’s salary was $185,000. The minutes correct a misstatement from the meeting and record that a January 2025 3% cost‑of‑living adjustment had already raised Bobbitt’s pay to $190,550.

Donna Haghighat moved and Rhonda Anderson seconded the motion to approve the Executive Committee’s recommendation. By roll call the Council approved the recommendation; the motion was recorded as adopted. The Council noted that the increase is effective April 22 and that no retroactive pay will be awarded.

The Council then considered a separate resolution setting a regular process for future Executive Director compensation reviews. The adopted policy requires the Council to retain a qualified, independent third‑party firm to provide executive salary benchmarking no less frequently than every three years and reserves the Council’s right to determine whether Commonwealth cost‑of‑living adjustments for managers should apply to the Executive Director. Diane Asadorian Masters moved to adopt the policy; Anika Lopes seconded and the resolution was approved by roll call.

Council members raised questions about the scope of benchmarking and how performance would factor into future adjustments. Council Member Simone Early asked that future benchmarking explicitly include comparisons to heads of state agencies with similar budgets; Chair Carroll said he understood the request and that the Council would consider the scope of future studies. Iván Espinoza‑Madrigal emphasized the Council should retain flexibility to make internal adjustments outside the triennial benchmarking cadence, and Catherine Cheng‑Anderson, the Council’s senior director of business operations and chief financial officer, said the senior leadership team is monitoring broader Commonwealth budget conditions and that a likely 2% cost‑of‑living increase in July would apply if authorized.

The meeting ended with a reminder from Chair Carroll about Creative Sector Day at the State House on April 30; a calendar error that morning had incorrectly indicated the event was canceled, and Deputy Chief of Staff Ann Petruccelli Moon said she would send a clarifying notice to members. The Chair adjourned the meeting at 12:32 p.m.