Journal-World, 6News file lawsuit to see KU records

By J-W Staff Reports     Jan 31, 2004

A lawsuit filed Friday in Douglas County District Court asked a judge to force Kansas University to disclose public records relating to the salary and benefits being paid to athletic director Lew Perkins.

In the suit, the Journal-World and 6News argue the university’s repeated refusal to make the records available is in violation of the Kansas Open Records Act, which is intended to ensure public agencies and those spending public funds conduct their business in public.

The newspaper and television station since late December have asked the university to make public a variety of documents — including an employment contract — that would put to rest speculation about the extent of compensation to Perkins, who has been athletic director since July. The requests have been made formally both by the newspaper and its attorney.

The university earlier disclosed Perkins received an annual base salary of $400,000 and fringe benefits including two automobiles, family memberships to two country clubs and two season tickets to men’s basketball games.

It also said “contingent supplemental compensation is potentially available” under his contract.

That supplemental income has been said to boost Perkins’ annual compensation to about $1 million.

According to comments attributed to individuals associated with the athletic department, Perkins will receive deferred annual compensation ranging from $400,000 to $600,000 a year during the life of his five-year contract.

Faculty members and others from the university community have told the Journal-World the question must be put to rest, as current estimates of Perkins’ compensation are causing concern among their associates.

But the university has said such information is not required to be made public under state law. Base salary information for virtually all KU faculty, staff and employees is available through annual state budget documents, however. And the Journal-World has been given access to contracts for athletic directors at other universities in the Big 12 Conference.

Because of the wide interest in matters relating to the cost of the athletic department and continuing state and university budget shortfalls, such disclosures are important and will continue to be sought by the Journal-World, its managers have said.

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