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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

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State Employees Weigh in on Salary Controversy

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Monday, June 25, 2007   


State employees are weighing in on the controversy over the release of their personal salary information. The flap surfaced recently when the Sioux Falls Argus Leader requested the names, jobs and salaries of all 14,125 state employees. Corey Landeen with the South Dakota State Employees Organization says the public has a right to know how their tax dollars are being spent, but the privacy, safety and security of state workers is also a major concern, especially for those who work in corrections, social services, and child protection.

“When you put their names out there, then it's very easy to look in a phone book after you know someone's name and see where they live. If it only happens once, it would be one too many times. But, that's something the public needs to weigh on, and we can have a debate on this as we go forward. Once the debate’s over, I think people will say, “OK, I think the information is out there. I think I can find a way to access that if I really truly want to know without exposing people to unnecessary risks.’”

Landeen notes that salaries are posted on the state's Web site for different job classifications.

“If you know what position a person holds such as a social worker or construction tech or DOT truck driver, you can look and see what range they're in, and you know that they're going to be making between x dollar amount versus y dollar amount. So you're going to say a person makes between $12 and $15. You can get a general idea of what a particular position in state government makes.”

Some state department heads have already released salary information in response to the newspaper's request.

Landeen adds that South Dakota is a small state, and releasing personal employee information would lead to low morale and a drop in services.

“I can assure the people of South Dakota that state employees are not overpaid. We rank behind all of our surrounding states. So, if that's the concern out there, I think it's unwarranted. State employees are providing valuable essential services, and they're doing it at a very efficient rate, and we're getting very good quality services. We're recognized nationally for the work we do.”



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