WPRO News and the Associated Press
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island taxpayers have paid more than $6 million last year to private companies that provided communication and marketing services for state government agencies.
The Providence Journal reports that records show the state paid a Providence firm about $4 million during the budget year that ended June 30. It has paid $876,884 so far this year for work for various state agencies.
The state paid an advertising firm more than $80,000 in the previous fiscal year for work done for the general treasurer’s office and other state departments.
The firms’ work includes promoting government projects and programs such as the Rhode Island Obamacare program known as HealthSourceRI. Some of the firms that were used are on the state’s on-call list for communications and marketing at previously agreed-upon rates.
