They are gradually being exposed. Just this year, the agency that audits all the local governmental agencies here in Louisiana has included a requirement that the head of each entity (Mayor, Sheriff, Clerk of Court, etc) do a line item entry that breaks down salary, retirement, medical, expense account, etc.
It’s eye-opening. Sheriffs here in Louisiana make $150K to $175K. Every one of them.
Damn, that is a lot of money for Louisiana’s cost of living.