WPRO News and the Associated Press
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) – Republican lawmakers say the facilities operated by the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority are too often empty, managers there need to do more to control costs and their marketing plans aren’t attracting enough new business.
Republican members of the House formed a policy group to identify wasteful spending. The group issued its first report about the authority’s finances Wednesday.
The authority operates the Convention Center, the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, Veterans Memorial Auditorium and two parking garages.
The report says the state’s taxpayers pay the authority’s debt obligations and operating and maintenance costs for the convention center.
It says that with such favorable terms, the authority’s executives bear little to no repercussions for low revenues, missed profit targets or mismanagement.
The authority declined to comment until it has reviewed the report.
