(1998)

Dear Ms. Owens:

You have requested our opinion about public access to records reflecting individual bonuses or performance awards paid to merit system employees and appointed officials of Anne Arundel County. In a recent opinion, the County Attorney concluded that the Maryland Public Information Act prohibited disclosure of this information. We respectfully disagree. In our opinion, the public is entitled to inspect records that reflect the earnings of government officers and employees, whether those earnings consist solely of a regular salary or are augmented by a bonus or performance award.

I

A…