How should staff respond to public records requests for fee schedules or revenue data, per public records laws?

How should staff respond to public records requests for fee schedules or revenue data, per public records laws?

• A. Provide non-confidential information and comply with court policy.
• B. Release all data without restrictions.
• C. Refuse all requests.
• D. Release only with a court order.

Answer: (A)

Public records laws require agencies to disclose information that isn’t confidential while protecting sensitive details and following the applicable procedures. Fee schedules and revenue data are typically public because they reveal how the government operates and funds itself, but any personal identifiers or sensitive items should be redacted or provided in aggregate to protect privacy. The right approach is to share non-confidential information and adhere to agency policies and statutory requirements for disclosure. Releasing everything without restrictions could expose confidential or personally identifiable information. Refusing all requests would ignore legal duties to disclose public records. Releasing only with a court order adds an unnecessary hurdle for information that agencies are required to provide routinely under public records laws.

Public records laws require agencies to disclose information that isn’t confidential while protecting sensitive details and following the applicable procedures. Fee schedules and revenue data are typically public because they reveal how the government operates and funds itself, but any personal identifiers or sensitive items should be redacted or provided in aggregate to protect privacy. The right approach is to share non-confidential information and adhere to agency policies and statutory requirements for disclosure.

Releasing everything without restrictions could expose confidential or personally identifiable information. Refusing all requests would ignore legal duties to disclose public records. Releasing only with a court order adds an unnecessary hurdle for information that agencies are required to provide routinely under public records laws.