Sherrif's Request for Public Records to Cost Taxpayers $1 M.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio is spending close to $1 million in taxpayer money on what some say are calling a political witch hunt, according to Maricopa County’s Litigation Director.

“What we've heard from people is that they think it's about intimidation, they think it's just harassment, they think it's a fishing expedition,” Wade Swanson said.

The sheriff submitted a public records request Jan. 30 asking for every e-mail, calendar and phone record for 36 county employees.

The county budget office estimates gathering and reviewing the approximately 500,000 documents will cost taxpayers $911,157.

The county is legally obligated to fulfill the request.

Read more here.

Court Backs Faster Fublic Record Response

Government can’t make people wait for weeks or months for public records, the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday.

In a unanimous decision, the judges said Arizona’s public records law, unlike some other states, requires that the custodian of the items “shall promptly furnish such copies, photographs or printouts.” And it says any request not promptly honored is deemed to have been denied.

Judge Murray Snow, writing for the court, acknowledged the law does not define “promptly.”

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/108312

State Bills Aim to Open CPS Records

State lawmakers are moving to make some child-welfare records, court proceedings and state employee personnel records open to the public in an attempt to shine light on the actions of Child Protective Services.

The proposals are part of a package of bills expected to be introduced soon by Reps. Jonathan Paton, R-Tucson, and Kirk Adams, R-Mesa, in the wake of legislative hearings this fall on the deaths of three children from Tucson whose parents had been investigated by CPS.

The underlying theme of the bills, which were unveiled at a legislative committee hearing Tuesday, is that "transparency will breed accountability," Adams said.

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0116cps0116.html

Police reports are public record

Gathering the news from official sources is a mixed bag for reporters and newspapers in general. Some government agencies are helpful when a reporter makes a request, especially if it's something the director of the agency wants the public to read.

But that same individual can also erect roadblocks if someone wants to hide that information.

http://www.paysonroundup.com/section/opinion/story/32257