By Hannah Dreier, AP

LAS VEGAS — Critics in Nevada are calling new regulations that excuse cities and counties from posting public salaries online a strike against transparency.

A legislative commission Thursday passed regulations allowing cities and counties to post only aggregate salary expenditures on their websites. Previously, they had been required to post individual salaries.

Nevada Press Association Executive Director Barry Smith says the move could open the door to fraud and abuse. He notes that local governments spend most of their taxpayer dollars on payroll.

The new regulations implement a 2011 law ending a requirement that local governments posting quarterly financial statements in the newspaper.

State Sen. David Parks of Las Vegas said cities and counties should not post employee salaries because it is an invasion of privacy.