WLOS: High-paid executive director of performing arts center nonprofit defends pay
WLOS picked up on my post yesterday calling into question the pay of James Baudoin, the executive director of the Asheville Area Center for the Performing Arts. Despite making little progress on actually getting a new performing arts center built, Baudoin pulled down a $217,000 salary in 2009-’10, about $8,000 than the year before. He’s one of the highest paid arts professionals in Asheville. Good for WLOS to follow up.
From the WLOS story on the performing arts center:
Today, Baudoin says the project is realistically around 30-million and a copy of their 2009 tax form reveals only about 1-point-4 million dollars in assets. The 990 tax form also reveals the non profit has taken in some grant money, funds likely provided by taxpayers. His pay, however, remains 217-thousand 900 dollars including benefits. He defends his pay saying it’s what he was paid in his previous arts center position and in line with national surveys. His board president says “he’s like the quarterback of a superbowl game” and someone you trust to get the job done.
But the reality remains that the scaled back project is still only a model in the Grove Arcade building 5 years after launching their campaign. The proposed site adjacent to city hall is still a parking lot with no sign of construction. Baudoin and board president Bill Miles insist the project will begin in 2013 and hold its opening night performance in 2016.
Category: News
