OPEN RECORDS REQUEST

Texas Government Code, Chapter 552, gives you the right to access government records, an officer for public information and the officer's agent may not ask why you want them. All government information is presumed to be available to the public. Certain exceptions may apply to the disclosure of the information. Governmental bodies shall promptly release requested information that is not confidential by law, either constitutional, statutory, or by judicial decision, or information for which an exception to disclosure has not been sought

Procedures to Obtain Information

You may make your non-Police Department records request one of four ways:

• Submit an open records request online (using this option emails your request directly to the City Clerk)
• By mail to: City Clerk, 400 Porter Street, Taylor, TX  76574
• By email to: City Clerk’s Office
• In person at: City Hall, 400 Porter Street, Taylor, TX 76574

Procedures to Obtain Police Department Records

Visit the Police Department Records webpage.

Tips When Considering Submitting a Request

Include enough description and detail about the information requested to enable the governmental body to accurately identify and locate the items requested.

Cooperate with the governmental body's reasonable efforts to clarify the type or amount of information requested.

The City of Taylor puts a large amount of information on our website for the public to access without having to do an open records request. The City is not obligated to release records that are readily available on our website. 

The City does not answer questions posed in an open records request. The Act only allows the public to request documents that exist at the time of the request.

The City of Taylor does not handle Marriage Licenses or Birth or Death Certificates. Please contact the Williamson County Clerk's office for these items.  

The City has adopted the Texas State Library retention schedules and destruction policies. Some records requested may no longer be available because they have met their retention period and have been destroyed per The Texas State Library guidelines.

All information pertaining to our residential utility customers is private and confidential unless they have submitted a disclosure form requesting that we disclose account information to a specific person. Section 552.101 of the Act allows the City to withhold all information regarding a customer’s account without requesting a ruling from the Attorney General’s Office.

If you need special accommodation pursuant to the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact our City Clerk, Lucy Aldrich, at 512-352-3676.

Information to be released

• You may review it promptly, and if it cannot be produced within 10 working days the public information officer will notify you in writing of the reasonable date and time when it will be available.
• Keep appointments to inspect records or pick up copies or risk losing the opportunity to see the information.

Cost of Records

• You must respond to any written estimate of charges within 10 days of the date the governmental body sent it or the request may be deemed withdrawn.
• If estimated costs exceed $100 (or $50 if a governmental body has fewer than 16 full time employees) the governmental body may require a bond, prepayment or deposit.
• You may ask the governmental body to determine whether providing the information primarily benefits the general public, resulting in a waiver or reduction of charges.

Information that may be withheld due to an exception

By the 10th business day after you file your request, a governmental body must:

• Request an Attorney General opinion and state which exceptions apply;
• Notify the requester of the referral to the Attorney General; and
• Notify third parties if the request involves their proprietary information.

Failure to request an AG opinion and notify the requester within 10 business days will result in a presumption that the information is open unless there is a compelling reason to withhold it.

Requesters may send a letter to the Attorney General arguing for release and may review arguments made by the governmental body.

For complaints regarding failure to release public information please contact your local District or County Attorney.

You may also contact the office of the Attorney General, Open Records Hotline, at 512-478-6736 or toll free at 1-877- 673-6839.

Open Records Rights and Responsibilities

Open records requests to the City of Taylor are processed through the City Clerk's Office and in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas as outlined below.

The Public Information Act

Texas law gives you the right to access government records and government officials may not ask why you want them. All government information is presumed to be available to the public. Certain exceptions may apply to the disclosure of the information. Governmental bodies shall promptly release requested information that is not confidential by law or information for which an exception to disclosure has been sought.

Rights of Requestors

All people who request public information have the right to:

•  Receive treatment equal to all other requestors
•  Receive a statement of estimated charges in advance
•  Choose whether to inspect the requested information, receive a copy of the information, or both
•  Be notified when the governmental body asks the OAG for a ruling on whether the information may or must be withheld
•  Be copied on the governmental body’s written comments to the OAG stating the reason why the stated exceptions apply
•  Lodge a complaint with the OAG regarding any improper charges for responding to a public information request
•  Lodge a complaint with the OAG or the county attorney or criminal district attorney, as appropriate, regarding any alleged violation of the Act

Responsibilities of Requestors

All people who request public information have the responsibility to:

•  Submit a written request according to a governmental body’s reasonable procedures
• Include enough description and detail of the requested information so the governmental body can accurately identify and locate the requested items
•  Cooperate with the governmental body’s reasonable requests to clarify the type or amount of information requested
•  Respond promptly in writing to all written communications from the governmental body (including any written estimate of charges)
•  Make a timely payment for all valid charges
•  Keep all appointments for inspection of records or for pick-up of copies

Rights of Governmental Bodies

All governmental bodies responding to information requests have the right to:

• Establish reasonable procedures for inspecting or copying information
• Request and receive clarification of vague or overly broad requests
• Request an OAG ruling regarding whether any information may or must be withheld
• Receive timely payment for all copy charges or other charges
• Obtain payment of overdue balances exceeding $100 or obtain a security deposit before processing additional requests from the same requestor
• Request a bond, prepayment or deposit if estimated costs exceed $100 (or, if the governmental body has fewer than 16 employees, $50)

Responsibilities of Governmental Bodies

All governmental bodies responding to information requests have the responsibility to:

• Treat all requestors equally
• Complete open records training as required by law
• Be informed of open records laws and educate employees on the requirements of those laws
• Inform the requestor of cost estimates and any changes in the estimates
• Confirm the requestor agrees to pay the costs before incurring the costs
• Provide requested information promptly
• Inform the requestor if the information will not be provided within ten business days and give an estimated date on which it will be provided
• Cooperate with the requestor to schedule reasonable times for inspecting or copying information
• Follow attorney general rules on charges; do not overcharge on any items; do not bill for items that must be provided without charge
• Inform third parties if their proprietary information is being requested from the governmental body
• Inform the requestor when the OAG has been asked to rule on whether information may or must be withheld
• Copy the requestor on written comments submitted to the OAG stating the reasons why the stated exceptions apply
• Comply with any OAG ruling on whether an exception applies or file suit against the OAG within 30 days
• Respond in writing to all written communications from the OAG regarding complaints about violations of the Act