The City of Brownsville fully complies with the Texas Open Records Act (Texas Government Code, Chapter 552, also known as the Public Information Act).
If you are the Requestor:
1. Make your request clear. Whenever possible, provide time parameters. Broad requests usually result in higher labor charges.
2. Ask for what you want. Avoid language such as "any and all" or "any other records related to this matter". If the document exists in several places, you may receive multiple copies of that document, therefore increasing your charges.
3. If you can, avoid calling a record by a specific name. Rather, request the information you believe the record will contain, such as "a copy of the report that shows your annual expenditures". This may help you avoid charges for data manipulation.
4. Be aware that the nature of the request has more impact on the labor charges than the amount of information you receive. Requests for very specific or old information may result in few pages, but could be labor intensive, which will be reflected in the charges.
5. Governmental bodies keep their records in the manner that is most effective for their functions. Before you ask for a special format, determine if the format in which it already exists will suffice for your purposes. It may save you money.
FEES: There is a copy fee of .10¢ per letter and legal sized page and .50¢ per ledger sized page. Other fees are listed within our Ordinance Number 2007-1220-I .
There is a search fee of $15.00 per hour of staff time used to compile the requested information. The requestor will be notified of the estimated cost of such documents prior to producing the information, as other fees may apply.
Public Information that is readily available, may be inspected by the requestor. Fees of any copies made will be charged according to the fee schedule.
Information Requests must be made in writing and may be submitted via regular mail, e-mail, fax or delivered in person.
Your requests will be worked on once we have received your acceptance of the estimated fees. Should the fee amount be larger than estimated, you will be billed. Future requests will not be provided until any fee amount owed is paid.
Download the Public Information Request Form
Out of town or voluminous / lengthy requests, will be mailed out upon acceptance of the invoiced cost. In-town requests can be picked up at this office upon payment.
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