Charlotte officials say a public records request from a school board candidate in 2007 cost the city $61,014.91. The candidate never picked up the documents, prompting the city to ask whether the request was in the public interest.
The city attorney estimated that it cost another $2,000 to compile data for the above linked Charlotte Observer story on the request.
Such records appear to be the exception rather than the rule:
Ran Coble, executive director for the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research, pointed out that such extensive requests are rare. While the potential for abuse exists, especially during elections, most people ask for much smaller amounts of information.
?Ninety-nine percent of the time it’s more of a short request ? one day, one conversation,? he said.
