Judge: State must release salary data

HELENA (AP) — A judge has ordered the Montana Department of Administration to release salary information for 14,000 state employees to a Bozeman-based think tank.

Lee Newspapers of Montana reports District Judge Dorothy McCarter of Helena recently ruled in favor of the Montana Policy Institute, which advocates for free-market economic policies. Her ruling said citizens have the right to examine the operations of government agencies.

Department of Administration Deputy Director Sheryl Olson said Monday agency officials were reviewing the decision and had no immediate comment.

Olson initially de...