SALARY SUNSHINE GETS COMPLAINTS - What State Employees Make

(02/19/2007)
A million people have checked the State Auditor's web site this past week, checking to see what the State of West Virginia is paying their workers.

Auditor Glen Gainer has made available the salaries of the 65,000 state employees. He says it's information that's always been available.

Now, he says, it's just easier to find and easier to read.

It's part of his effort, he says, to have a more open government.

"People need to understand and know how we spent almost $12 billion last year in state government."

Gainer says he's received lots of e-mail and phone calls complaining about the accessibility of the list following publicity last week.

"A lot of the criticism has been centered around people that are embarrassed that they make such a low amount and that it's out there and that now their friends or their neighbors know what they make."

Gainer says the list also shows how underpaid many state workers are.

Click to view the salaries