LITTLE ROCK — Gov. Mike Beebe named his spokesman, Matt De-Cample, as communications director for his office Wednesday.
That position had been held by Grant Tennille, who was appointed director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission on Tuesday. He had served as interim director for the commission since the death of Maria Haley last year.
DeCample will still serve as the governor’s spokesman.
DeCample will earn $85,000 in the position, an increase of about $3,700 from what he earned before the promotion. He said he is the only employee whose salary and position will be affected by Tennille’s departure. He was also one of 20 employees in the governor’s office who got raises earlier this fiscal year after lower payroll and operating costs saved enough money to fund some merit-pay increases in the governor’s office. Effective July 1, DeCample received a $2,999 merit pay increase to $81,269.
Two additional employees in the governor’s policy office received $5,000 raises last week. They are taking over the duties of another employee who left and is not being replaced.
Salaries for most state employees were flat this fiscal year — the Legislature increased the maximum salary for state employees by 1.86 percent as a cost-of-living adjustment for fiscal 2012, but lawmakers did not provide the $9 million in general revenue needed to pay for it.
Arkansas, Pages 14 on 03/22/2012