HARRISBURG — Penn State University must disclose the salaries of head football coach Joe Paterno and the school's top administrators.

A divided state Supreme Court today upheld a ruling by Commonwealth Court. The justices said the court properly balanced the public's interest in knowing financial details about the publicly supported institution and the effects that disclosure might have on reputation and personal security.

The case was the result of a request by The Patriot-News in Harrisburg, which in 2002 sought the salaries of Paterno and three other Penn State officials from the State Employees' Retirement System.

The retirement board granted the request, but it was put on hold while the university appealed.

Justice Cynthia Baldwin, a Penn State trustee, didn't participate in the case.