Comments on: Look up your public employee friend’s salary

By: Jack

Jack — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:05:37 +0000

This information has always been available to the public but never this easy to access. The complaints I hear sound a lot like those when Hennipen County first published property tax values online.

Is there a public sector employee who didn’t know this was public info? In some ways they should be grateful that they don’t also have access to pension and all the other benefits that exist in the public sector but not in the private. Then again we each make our choice where to work and take the good with the bad as no one makes us stay in our current job.

By: Kara McGuire

Kara McGuire — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:15:10 +0000

llp: My husband is a state worker and I started my first column in 2004 when I was writing freelance and working part-time at MPR as follows:

“I make $43,200 and change, give or take my latest harebrained moneymaking scheme. I owe $17,000 in student loans. Then there’s the mortgage and home-equity line of credit on the fixer-upper that my husband and I call “The Monster of the Midway” (and not because it’s big). Assets? There’s my Roth IRA, 403(b) and some savings bonds.

Why am I telling you this? Because if you’re like most people I know, the question would cross your mind when you read this column, so I figured I might as well get it out of the way.”

By: llp

llp — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:07:23 +0000

One more thought, Kara you mention that the site doesn’t bother you. Have you listed your salary publicly? Have you listed your spouses? Both my husband and I work for the government, so our family’s household income is public knowledge. Would you and your readers care to share yours (your full names and salaries)? If not, then maybe a little more sympathy is in order.

By: llp

llp — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:57:12 +0000

State Worker made my point exactly. If the idea is to inform the public about their tax dollars, then job title and salary is all that is needed. Searching by name is just up for gossip sake. I’m embarrased that soon family and friends will find out how little I make!

By: Jack

Jack — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:07:21 +0000

If they’re going to list ALL privite salaries then it shouldn’t matter as that’s full disclosure but of course that’s not going to happen so not much point in spending time debating.

If what you’re really asking is should they publish individual salaries for all public employess I say why not as we the tax payers are footing the bill and every individual is an expense just like an office chair, computer, or the price for a new bridge so the tax payers should be able to see what their dollars are paying for.

I will say that I find the job titles more interesting than the salaries as I never saw so many assitant this and deputy thats or combinations of what I would think are traditional job titles as it appears that they didn’t want to promote someone to the next level so a new middle ground position was created to fit a salary need.

By: tlange

tlange — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 02:51:23 +0000

It would not bother me because I do not make what I should be making commensurate with my educational level (M.A.) and work experience. Company that I work for is known for not paying well!

Besides most of my friends make 3-4 times more than I do…

By: Kara McGuire

Kara McGuire — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:11:07 +0000

But Jack, say private salaries were also listed. How would you personally feel?

By: Jack

Jack — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:58:12 +0000

Don’t really care but then again I’m not a public employee.

By: Naomi

Naomi — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:58:51 +0000

Public employees data has ALWAYS been available, just not always easily searchable or published. I work at the U, and I feel like its almost better to know, to keep an eye on the going rate for employees in a similar position.

By: BL

BL — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:15:54 +0000

I’m a public university employee in Iowa, and all our salaries–along with the salaries of State of Iowa employees–are published each year and available in searchable databases. Doesn’t bother me a bit to have people know what I make, but I have been bothered in the past when I’ve found out what my…um…”less motivated” colleagues were making a year.