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PRESS RELEASE
February 22, 2011
For Immediate Release
Contact: James Franko
316.634.0218
Transparency Website - Kansas Payroll Expenditures Remain Stubbornly Flat

Updated State Payroll Data Shows Employee Earnings By Agency

Wichita - February 22, 2011 - KansasOpenGov.org, a project of Kansas Policy Institute, now has state payroll data for the 2010 calendar year.  Overtime, total payroll by agency, state employees earnings over $100,000, and a fully searchable database are all available to the public. Total pay declined by 0.8% from 2009 but is still 4.4% higher than in 2007.   State agencies paid out $10.2 million in overtime last year, up 10.4% over 2009.   All data on KansasOpenGov.org comes directly from government agencies.  

"Kansans have busy lives and it shouldn't be a hassle to try to find out how their tax dollars are spent," began KPI president Dave Trabert.  "Even the most dedicated individual would have to navigate numerous databases and documents to get at the information we've placed in one central clearinghouse."

Total pay includes all types of earnings, such as overtime, bonuses, and shift differential from all revenue sources, which may include non-state funds.  The agency reported for each employee reflects the last agency the employee was employed with as of the end of the pay calendar year and is not necessarily the agency the employee worked for during the entire year. 

State Payroll Comparison

KansasOpenGov.org also has carryover cash balances and per-pupil spending and revenue for every school district, retiree payments, state spending history by agency, employment and union contracts and property tax information for every Kansas county.

Trabert concluded by saying, "Better information allows for better decisions.  Our sincere hope is that taxpayers, government officials, and media find this information helpful as the state continues to grapple with a projected $500 million budget deficit."
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Kansas Policy Institute is an independent think-tank that advocates for free market solutions and the protection of personal freedom for all Kansans.  Our work centers on state and local economic policy with primary emphasis on education, fiscal policy and health care.  We empower citizens, legislators and other government officials with objective research and creative ideas to promote a low-tax, pro-growth environment that preserves the ability of governments to provide high quality services. 
To speak with Kansas Policy Institute, please contact James Franko (316) 634-0218.