So, How Much Ya Make?

When Fanny Seiler still wielded a pen at the state Capitol, a recurring feature of her newspaper column was public salaries. Seiler would list the pay of top officials and even entire offices within state government, with a particular focus on raises.

And just as routinely, this feature drove Statehouse folks up a wall. Phil Kabler has continued that tradition, albeit to a limited extent.

Now, state Auditor Glen Gainer has one-upped them all, and in a major way: he has posted online the 2006 gross compensation of pretty much everyone in West Virginia's employ.

There are 65,594 names listed, in a whopping 1,223-page report. As one might expect, West Virginia University football coach Rich Rodriquez has the highest pay listed, at $1.23 million (this was before the scare involving Alabama's coach hunt). WVU hoops coach John Beilein follows, at $848,983.

One Brenda Turner rounds out the roster, having received 1 cent (As a colleague put it, she must work for DHHR...). A reader correctly notes that the list reflects W2 filings, and so would cover wages as well as overtime, bonuses, etc.

All told, 640 people are listed with six-figure compensation (or better, in the case of coach Rodriguez). The payroll totals $1,454,644,764.24.

The Associated Press has a story. Public Broadcasting's Scott Finn was the first to report on Gainer's mega-list, and also offers audio.