Welcome to all our new subscribers! We’re excited to present the second issue of the Public Records Briefing to you today. Let’s jump into it.
Fun Fact
If a records requestor makes a request for the Microsoft Excel version of your agency’s budget, the requester is legally entitled to it — in Excel!
We’ve noticed -- at many of our in-person trainings -- this fun fact often strikes terror into the hearts of public officials. But Ohio law [R.C. 149.43(B)(6] is quite clear: A person making a public records request is entitled to a copy “in the same medium as the public office keeps them.” So as long as the public agency has a copy of the Excel spreadsheet, it’s obligated to produce it when requested.