Follow the money.

That should be the message from taxpayers to the board of the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay.

Commission members recently OK'd a staff reorganization that shuffles duties, changes titles and includes one hefty pay raise.

Port General Manager Jeffrey Bishop, hired in January, now will be known as the agency's executive director. Martin Callery, longtime director of communications and marketing, now will have the title of director of communications and freight mobility. And Director of Operations Mike Gaul received a new title - deputy executive director - and an additional $15,000 a year.

The new executive director will be paid more than $137,000 in wages and benefits to market the port as a maritime facility. Gaul, who will manage the port's daily operations, will receive almost $107,000 in wages and benefits.

The revamping approval is a major step by the port's Board of Directors, a relatively new group appointed by Gov. Ted Kulongoski in 2004. The governor had opted not to reappoint two port board members and sought resignations from others. He wanted new ideas and he appointed people well-known for their volunteerism, dedication to good business principles and ability to compromise.

There's no doubt previous port commissions were fractious. Meetings often were colored by fiery debates and disagreement. There was plenty of discussion and when the smoke cleared, it was usually apparent why they took action. It's distressing the new commission members made these important - and expensive - decisions with little public dialogue.

It's understandable that port commissioners believe their key managers should earn salaries comparable to those paid at other Oregon ports. How else can Coos Bay attract the best skilled individuals to help revive the port? It's perplexing, though, that the philosophy is reserved only for management, when journeyman laborers here earn substantially less than wages paid to their counterparts at other ports.

When they received the oath of office, the commissioners were charged by the governor with establishing a vision and moving the port into profitability. With little explanation, the board took a step that is costing nearly a quarter of a million dollars annually for two employees. As the journey continues, taxpayers should insist on being let in on where this board's vision is taking the port, and on a clear accounting of what they're getting for their money until it gets there.