MCPS Says It Will ‘Hold Firm’ on Fees for Public Records

An increasing volume of public records requests has prompted Montgomery County Public Schools to “hold firm” on charging fees instead of granting waivers, a district official said.

The change in philosophy was included in a district response to a Bethesda Beat request to see public records — credit card receipts for 12 months for school board members and the superintendent.

The Maryland Public Information Act says government bodies must make public records available and may charge a “reasonable fee” to search for, gather and provide copies of records. The first two hours of labor must be at no charge.

The law also says the government body may waive the fee for information if the waiver is “in the public interest.”

In response to the Bethesda Beat public-records request last month, MCPS spokesman Derek Turner wrote that the school system would charge a $115.56 fee to provide the information...

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/mcps-says-it-will-hold-firm-on-fees-for-public-records/