Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Governance Fees topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council updates comprehensive fee resolution; CORA fees adjusted to reflect state limits
Summary
Council adopted an updated comprehensive fee resolution that consolidates the city's fees and adjusts charges for Open Records Act (CORA) requests to align with recent state law changes, including a $200 cap and tightened rules on chargeable time.
Spring Hill council approved Resolution No. 2025-R-17, an update to the city's comprehensive fee resolution that consolidates permit and service fees and adjusts specific entries to comply with recent state law changes governing public records requests.
City Attorney Spencer Lau said the updated resolution collects the city's fees in a single document and reflects statutory changes to the Kansas Open Records Act (CORA). Lau said state changes now limit municipalities to charging only the hourly rate of the lowest-paid qualified city employee for search and production and introduce requirements when estimated costs exceed a threshold. "So the max now is $200," Lau said when discussing the practical effect of the new cap on charges for large requests.
Officials said staff already works with requesters to narrow requests to control costs and that the revision formalizes changes that will reduce the potential cost burden on requesters while imposing administrative steps when estimated costs exceed the statutory threshold.
The council voted unanimously to approve the resolution; staff noted that most other fee changes were minor adjustments to reflect cost recovery and regulatory changes. Departments will implement fee changes and update guidance for public records requests in line with the new CORA limits.
The resolution rescinds conflicting prior resolutions and places the city's fees in a single, updated document for public reference.
