How much should someone have to pay to view the redistricting records?
Is $2,000 a reasonable fee for a GRAMA request?
"The Democrats' lawsuit over redistricting is on hold because of a dispute over the party's open records request to the state.
They can get the documents, but they'll need to pay up." . . . Billy Hesterman Daily Herald Newspaper
The Utah law states that the fees can be waived if releasing the record primarily benefits the public.
Democrats believe the redistricting records primarily benefit the public and want the records without the charge.
"Legislative staff confirmed that the records request has been made and that a letter has been issued to the Democratic Party explaining why the records request was denied. The Legislature's general counsel said the state has followed the law in dealing with the Democrats' request." Hesterman Herald Extra.com
"But Legislative General Counsel John Fellows says his office is treating Democrats and Republicans the same. He said the Republican Party made a more limited request for records of communications among lawmakers about redistricting and was willing to pay about $2,000 for them. So the records for the GOP were ready for delivery on Friday.
He said the Democratic Party has been unwilling to pay the $5,000 estimated cost for a much bigger request it made, so delivery is likely 60 days away from whenever party officials finally say they are willing to pay." (Lee Davidson, Salt Lake Tribune) Lee Davidson Salt Lake Tribune
"Legislative leaders also were miffed that, like the Democrats, the Republicans filed sweeping public records requests for all the documents and communications relating to redistricting." Paul Rolly Salt Lake Tribune
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