How can one get the salary of a public employee???

[glo]

Aren't the salaries of people who work for the goverment (City or state) accessible to anyone? DOes anyone know how to do this?

I have an issue and need to find this out?


Any ideas?

 

[TennVolTony]

I wouldn't think so Glo unless they were "elected" to a particular job. Salary info is confidential.

 

[Gail T AGAIN]

Glow, I know by Randolph every yr a book comes out with all the saleries of the toen people. I am not sure how to get them for people working the state if it is for a town go to that town and you can look up their yearly salary. I hope you find what you need.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Glo, I believe it depends on state statute. Here in Florida everything is open to inspection including public employees salaries and home addresses (exception to the address thing being law enforcement officers and their family and code enforcement officers and their family). Of course Florida is one of the most "open" states when it comes to this.

 

[glo]

If you are emplyed by the people I know that in MA you can find out the salary, I just do not know how to go about it....anyone else???

 

[Tess]

All salaries of city employees are public record in our town. The salary records are approved by city manager and council and are obtainable in the city offices. Elected official's salaries are also public record and may be located at the state capital building--probably could be readily obtained by contacting your local elected official.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Sorry Glo I missed where you said how do you do it.

Here a person has to go to the governmental agency it is requesting the information from and fill out a public records request. If it's not local, I guess it's something you could send in. Again it depends on your state's laws.

 

[Goofyposter]

I agree that it may vary from state to state...I also think all elected people this is absolutely in public domaine...as to the 'underlings'...it maybe completely transparent...or..they may only offer a pay scale (or range) per job classification...ie.
"assistant dog catcher" = $ 20K-25K etc..

 

[glo]

that would do goofyposter

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Here Glo, this should help you or at least get you on your way. http://www.state.ma.us/sec/pre/prelaw/lawfaq.htm

 

[Goofyposter]

that would do

Well then Glo....if it's a town position...I'd start by calling the town Clerks office...If they didn't know the procedure I'm sure they can direct you as to who to go thur. If it's a commonwealth job....maybe you could start by calling the AG's office to ask?

 

[Doctor P]

Yes, it is public record. However, you should know that it may actually be more difficult to find out the number than you think even with the records in hand. Many times public employees are paid out of multiple funds and you have to go through each fund to figure out the total they are paid. There is only an obligation to not keep the information secret and to release it, not to release in the form that you necessarily desire it (I'm not saying that there is any deliberate attempt to deceive, but rather that it can be difficult to determine from the information you might receive).

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Dr P, you're right. We are not obligated to create documents that don't already exist. So if the info is scattered you get it that way.

 

[Deb in IA]

Originally posted by TennVolTony
I wouldn't think so Glo unless they were "elected" to a particular job. Salary info is confidential.

Not exactly, Tony.

My salary is PUBLISHED in our local newspaper every year, along with every person who works at our STATE university. By the mere fact that I work for the University of Iowa, I am considered a "state employee", but this is definitely NOT an elected job. Also, only about 9% of my salary actually comes from state funds (funds designated for educational purposes; ie. teaching medical students), the remainder of my salary comes from our Faculty Practice Plan, or funds generated from patient revenues. So, when we Professors of Medicine, with six digit saleries are listed next to Professors of English with $40K salaries, it looks bad. But, in actuality, the English professor is probably taking in MORE taxpayer bucks as ALL of his salary comes from state funds.

Now, I think that the paper should only publish the portion of my salary that comes from STATE funds -- but they don't.

 

[goofy4tink]

In our town every town employee's salary is listed in our Annual Report. Ours always come out just before Town Meeting. Don't know what happens if your town doesn't have town meeting. I would check with your town clerk. Hopefully they are more helpful than ours!!!