Salary storm
Talk about a firestorm.
The Houston Chronicle has put a database on its site of more than 80,000 Harris County and City of Houston public-sector employees. But quite a few of those listed aren’t happy about it.
As of 5:30 p.m. today, more than 330 people commented on the posting of the database, with many objecting that the newspaper used their full names and salaries. The Drudge Report even picked up the Houston database and gave it a breathless description: “Newspaper posts database with salary of EVERY city of Houston employee — by name…”
The paper knew its data might be controversial, but noted that it is performing a valuable watchdog role and a public service by consolidating several existing data sources. Still, here’s a few of the comments from the newspaper’s Web site:
ellejustice wrote:
Thank you Houston Chronicle. Now, my full name and salary information is readily available to everyone in the entire world. Great work! I have already been the victim of identity theft. Now, you have made me a worldwide target.
Yes, as a lawyer, I believe in free speech. I love the Constitution; however, I am forced to question your motives in making personal information so readily available to the public. This is terribly offensive and irresponsible.
I am certain that murder defendant I am sitting across from in court is giddy to possess this information. Do you even care about public servants? What happens when, God forbid, you have trouble? When someone breaks into your car or home? When someone molests, assaults, or murders your loved one?
7/9/2008 5:19 PM CDT
This reader is a little more understanding:
HPDWife wrote:
johmia305 wrote:
For all those folks are this list complaining, GET A PRIVATE SECTOR JOB! We as tax paying citizens that pay your salaries and ridiculous OT, have the RIGHT to know to where, what and WHO this money is going to. You have a PUBLIC service job. You don’t want you information posted in PUBLIC, QUIT!!!!
Here in Oklahoma, the state recently posted its salary database of state employees at the Open Books site. (There’s also a link under the “Data” section on our Your Right to Know page.)
To get started, go to the left side and click on “Search Financial Data by Agency or Function of Government.” Then choose an agency from the drop down menu, click “Go” and then click on the green “Payroll” tab.
For example, to find Gov. Brad Henry, you’d pick “Governor” from the first drop-down menu. Hit “Go” and then click on the “Payroll tab.” The database has only last names and initials, so the Guv is listed as “Henry, C.B.” Turns out he makes $11,666.67 a month.
–Paul
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Comments
Thanks for writing about our database project, Paul.
Giving citizens in Houston visibility into how much their public employees earn is consistent with the watchdog role that the Chronicle and other news organizations perform. It helps the public monitor how its dollars are being spent, and gives it insight into whether the money is being used wisely. For example, details in the database like incentive pay and overtime help citizens understand how public employees are managed. Shedding light on details like this can also uncover news stories that wouldn’t emerge if the information were not easily accessible by citizens.
It’s an issue that goes to the core of how our governments operate. Taxpayers pay the wages of public employees and are entitled to know how much is being paid. And what is being earned isn’t trivial; employee salaries often make up the single largest item in governments’ budgets.
The database includes no more personally identifying information than is necessary, specifically, the employee’s name and job title. It does not include information such as employee identification numbers, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and Social Security numbers. Also, the information presented in the database is publicly available to any person; the Chronicle is making it easier to access, and is providing useful context and a venue to discuss issues around the pay of public employees.
If the intention was to show where the money goes and for what, then why is it necessary to publish full names of non-management personnel? By publishing the names you give enough information for someone who really wants to abuse the information the opportunity to cause major financial problems for honest hard working citizens who by the way also pay taxes. What is next? Maybe the salaries and benefits for all military personnel? If you goal was to eliminate the desire for anyone to take a public service job you are on the right track but you might want to remember that it is public servants who make the system run. Remember that the next time you call 9-1-1 or need help from a public agency.
Gary,
This has been mentioned above, but *all* of these people listed in both Oklahoma’s Open Books database and the Houston Chronicle’s database are public employees. This kind of salary information has been available in the *offline* world for quite some time. The Internet has just made it easier for residents and taxpayers to see where their tax money is going.
And sorry, I just don’t see where publishing a name and salary would open up that person to identity theft. Take a look at the posting I made earlier this year (http://blog.newsok.com/datawatch/2008/03/19/a-step-backward-part-ii/) for some more information on the real and perceived dangers of identity theft and public documents.
–Paul
Paul
Nothing like the idiot stampede that occurs when people start worrying about identity theft. Studies have shown, along with an attorney general’s opinion in Washington, that there’s little evidence public records EVER contribute to identity theft.
Besides…a boss deserves to know what his employee makes, right? The taxpayers are the boss.