Story Archive

The Public’s Right to Know

The local newspaper in Abilene, Texas, the Reporter-News, did a study to see how local government agencies compared to each other, including salaries paid. It found, for instance, that “Abilene Independent School District employees earn the lowest average salary of seven Texas school districts studied.” That’s especially troubling considering that the approximately $35,090 average annual salary includes senior staff; teachers and other employees earn significantly less than those at most other districts, while its administrators made more. That revelation didn’t sit well with Abilene ISD Superintendent Heath Burns: he chastised the paper for revealing to taxpayers what they are paying to school employees. “I know that the compensation of public employees is public information, therefore an open record, according to law,” Burns admitted. “However, I personally object to indiscriminately publicizing the compensation of every teacher, paraprofessional, bus driver, cafeteria worker, school nurse, and maintenance worker,” accusing the newspaper of trying to “just to stir up controversy.” While “administrators are admittedly different,” he says, “I’d prefer the paper not delve into their personal business” — their taxpayer-paid salaries. Burns’ salary is $199,920.05 — the second-highest salary in all the districts studied. (RC/Abilene Reporter-News) ...And he’s worth every tenth penny of that.