The Journal-World and 6News formally asked Friday that Kansas University disclose public records relating to the salary and benefits being paid to athletic director Lew Perkins.

In a letter from its attorney, the newspaper asked the university to make public or face litigation to force it to disclose a variety of documents — including an employment contract — that would put to rest speculation about the full extent of compensation to Perkins, who has been athletic director since July.

The newspaper first requested the documents last month under the Kansas Open Records Act.

“As we are all aware, there is strong and widespread concern among friends, faculty and staff of the University over the issue,” wrote Gerald L. Cooley, the newspaper’s attorney. “This community of concern also pertains to the cost of employing coaches and other administrators within the athletic department. For the university to ignore this request for information, which could very well serve as a starting point for full disclosure of these economic issues which appear to be the frequent subject of public rancor, would, in my opinion, be both illegal and poor public relations.”

Cooley also wrote that if the university should “choose to hide behind the statutory cloak of permissive nondisclosure,” the Journal-World was prepared to seek a judge’s opinion.

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.”

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

6Sports video: Perkins’ compensation a mystery (1-17-04) KU refuses to release athletic-department salaries (1-6-04)

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 was 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, said Managing Editor Richard Brack.