Attorney General's Opinion 1969-70 #317A

June 18, 1970

HONORABLE W. O. JONES
Treasurer of Nansemond County

69-70 317A

This is in reply to your letter of May 26, 1970, in which you state that you have been requested by various citizens' groups to furnish to them "salary information on different departments, especially the school board and all of its office personnel." You inquire as to the extent to which you are authorized to divulge the information.

The right of the public to access to public records in proper circumstances is founded on consideration of strong public policy, and has long been recognized by statute and discussed in numerous prior opinions of this office. Section 58-919 of the Code provides in part that "the treasurer shall keep the books, papers, and moneys pertaining to his office at all times ready for inspection of . . . any taxpayer of the county. . . ." See 54-55 Va. AG 240. In an opinion of this office reported in 62-63 Va. AG 237 it was ruled that while there was no duty imposed on a school board to compile data relating to teachers' salaries, a citizen would have the right to examine the records and make memoranda therefrom. Section 2.1-342 of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, provides for the open inspection and copying of public records under the conditions specified therein.

In view of the fact that the information which you have described could have been obtained from the school board, and in light of the language of § 58-919, there is no limitation upon your authority to permit access to the described records. None of the foregoing authorities require you to compile the information, although this may be done if you find it desirable to do so.