Charging for Public Records

• Estimating Costs for Public Record Requests: "Just how much is this going to cost?"

  How can governmental bodies and requesters avoid an ugly surprise when the expenses are totaled up?

• Charges Under the Public Records Law: Impose Only Actual Costs!

  The law strikes a balance between public access and the burden on government by authorizing governmental bodies to charge the requester for the costs of retrieving, copying and supervising the records.

• Personally Examining Records -- Giving a "Free Peek"

  Do you know what obligations public offices have when a citizen asks to see a public record?

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