Public Records For All?

In the city of Richland, it's apparent that access to public records is based less on a commitment to observing the letter and spirit of the state's Open Records Act and more on an unfortunate decision to create economic barriers to a free flow of public information.

In Richland, a copy of a police incident report now costs $20. The Madison and Rankin County Sheriff's departments charge $10 for incident reports.

Some other agencies charge less. Florence Police Department charges 50 cents a page for copies.

Richland Board of Aldermen last week signed off on a unified fee system for public records requests. That decision is another in a disturbing trend in government at all levels to price the public out of a free flow of public information to which the law already entitles them at cost.

Public officials, including Richland officials, say they are simply recovering taxpayer costs. Perhaps. But the effect is making public records inaccessible to the poor.

The state Open Records Act was meant to provide access to public records by all Mississippians, not just those with plenty of disposable income. In the vast majority of cases, reproduction of public records by government entities consists of little more than the operation of a copy machine by a city employee.