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City reports 2,088 public records requests in 2024; staff hours and costs far exceed fees recovered
Summary
City staff told the Lake Stevens City Council that the city logged 2,088 public records requests in 2024, required an estimated 2,356 staff hours and recovered about $1,026 in fees, and officials warned about frequent high-volume and anonymous requesters.
Lake Stevens city staff reported to the City Council on Sept. 2 that the city received 2,088 public records requests in 2024 and spent an estimated 2,356 staff hours processing them, with total revenue collected of $1,026. "This is for reporting for 2024, and this is what we're required to do, to the joint legislative audit and review committee because we spend over a $100,000 in staff and legal costs," the records presenter said.
The report outlined that requests range from routine interagency inquiries to complex requests for body-worn camera footage and sensitive investigative records. Staff gave several examples of time- and labor-intensive requests: one…
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