Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz’s publishing of county government employee salaries on the county government’s website has upset many employees. County employees are concerned about whether the availability of such information will make identity theft easier for criminals. In addition, some employees wonder what other information could be accessible through county websites.
County employees should know that under the Maryland’s Public Information Act certain information about public employees CAN NOT be revealed. This information includes personal information, financial information, and personnel records. In other words, a state or county employee’s address, driver’s license number, social security number, telephone number (or any identification number), medical records, or disability information, CAN NOT be revealed.
In addition, information pertaining to public employee’s finances, such as assets, income, liabilities, net worth, bank balances, financial history, or credit worthiness, CAN NOT be revealed.
Public employee names, salaries, job classifications, entry duty dates, or places of employment are not personal, but are matters of public record and, as such, the publication of such information is permissible.
State and county employees should know that no information, other than that which is legally permissible, may be published on the county government’s website.
