Salaries

Interesting that The Sun posts all Baltimore County Public Schools salaries. I feel you have every right to dig into our monetary lives for all to view, yet as quid pro quo, why don't you feel the pain of posting all of your employees' salaries? I'm sure you'd gain serious media attention, especially due to the growing lack of support for newspapers. Thanks again for reminding me why I do not spend my hard-earned money to read your newspaper. Talk about a teachable moment, yes?

Baltimore County's average teacher salary is the lowest among large school systems in Maryland, but its two top officials are some of the highest-paid, according to data collected by the state. On average, teachers in the county earn $60,272 — less than the averages for Montgomery, Howard, Anne Arundel, Frederick and Prince George's counties. The highest average teacher pay in the state is $75,000 in Montgomery and the lowest is $52,594 in Dorchester County. "Not only are we behind the large suburban counties, we are behind many other counties," said Abby Beytin, president of the Teachers Association of Baltimore County.

Whispers Keep an eye on the Blue Jays when teams start throwing around money this fall. After brilliantly ridding themselves of Vernon Wells and Alex Rios, the Blue Jays are expected to become major players in free agency within the next two years. Like the Rays, they are big fans of adding a second wild card in each league. … Despite commissioner Bud Selig's push to get one, there will be no hard slotting for the draft in the upcoming labor deal, at least not if Selig wants it finalized in time to be announced during the World Series, as he did the current one in 2006.

Since 55 million retirees have received no cost of living increases for the last two years it only seems fair to freeze all government and elected officials' salaries until jobs in the private sector grow and tax revenues increase. Moreover, there should be no bonuses for government employees until the economy becomes healthy enough to increase tax revenues. These are ominous times and really tough decisions are needed. Printing and borrowing more money is not the answer. Bill Huppert

Haloti Ngata, the mammoth All-Pro defensive tackle who draws extra attention every Sunday, found himself attracting similar treatment today in the Ravens locker room a day after signing a five-year, $61 million deal. "Nobody asked me for a loan. They just asked me to give them money," said Ngata, who will get $40 million over the first two years of the deal, which he agreed to Tuesday about an hour before the deadline to sign franchise players to long-term extensions. "There's no loan in it. " Ngata's deal, which could keep the 27-year-old, two-time Pro Bowler in purple and black at least through the 2015 season, is the Ravens' latest move to lock up a player that the organization drafted, developed, and views as a franchise cornerstone.

Organizers of the Baltimore Grand Prix have sought to raise an additional $1.5 million from investors to pay bills including salaries, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The filing shows that Baltimore Racing Development LLC hopes to raise the money from existing investors. Already, $423,000 has been raised from more than 20 investors who wanted to "step up their interest or to protect their interest," said Jay Davidson, the company president and chief executive, in an interview.

Fifty big-time college presidents recently met at a retreat in Indianapolis to discuss the sordid state of college football. They left for home, and a new scandal made the news. This time it's at the University of Miami (which plays Monday's home opener at the University of Maryland). The scandal before that was at Ohio State. And while that one was still foremost in their minds, the presidents continued in their staunch belief that their players were student-athletes, basically amateurs.

In the months since his retirement, former Maryland men's basketball coach Gary Williams has been deployed by the university as a fundraiser and high-level salesman. For his work - and perhaps also in deference to his 22 years of service - Williams is being well compensated. Three sources familiar with his deal have said in recent weeks that Williams is earning an annual salary of $400,000. Maryland isn't apologizing for the longtime coach's contract. The athletic department - which must weather the sour economy as it pays off the debt required to modernize Byrd Stadium's Tyser Tower - is eager for new donors and increased revenue.

In his letter to The Sun printed Aug. 18 ("O'Malley correct on church-state separation"), Arnold Paskoff suggests there should be "no representation without taxation. " This implies that he thinks Archbishop Edwin O'Brien pays no taxes. I believe this is incorrect. Archdiocesan priests, who are not members of religious orders, (e.g., Franciscans, Jesuits, etc.), receive salaries from their parish, or the Archdiocese, or from whatever organization employs them. This salary is subject to federal and state income tax and Social Security tax. But taxation is beside the point.

As Anne Arundel school board members discussed efforts to address the achievement gap in the system on Wednesday, they called upon county citizens to not only get involved but to understand that the arduous task needs to be properly funded. The board's action came two days after the County Council struck down its efforts to move budget funds from administration to instruction, citing salary agreements the board struck with the teachers' union. "If you really want to do something for these kids, this is what it's going to cost,'" said board member Eugene Peterson.