Appeals Court Upholds Salary Disclosure Ruling

A state appeals court has ruled that the public’s right to know how government spends money trumps a public employee’s right to privacy.

The state Court of Appeal for the 1st Appellate District rejected arguments Monday that high-earning public employees’ salaries should be kept secret to protect their privacy.

The San Francisco-based appeals court’s finding upholds a ruling the Contra Costa Times won last year in Alameda County Superior Court. In July 2004, the newspaper sued Oakland after the city refused to disclose the names and salaries of employees earning $100,000 a year or more.