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Resident urges refund and transparency over public‑records fees, cites multiple disputed charges
Summary
Shirley Estrada told the commission she believes she was overcharged for several public-records (CORA) requests and requested a refund or credit, saying she paid for documents that arrived incomplete and was charged administrative research fees she believes were inappropriate.
Shirley Estrada addressed the commission during public comment to press for refunds and clearer handling of county public-records (CORA) requests. Estrada said she had paid $10 in connection with a June 27 request for a wage-and-benefit study and its PowerPoint presentation but did not receive complete materials in the format she requested, and that subsequent charges on Nov. 8 and Dec. 8 for other records appeared excessive.
Estrada detailed several items she said were overcharged: a $9.75 charge she said should have been 50¢ for a two‑page “sick days payout” report, a $32.75 charge for a CORA covering 24 budget submissions she said should have cost $4.75, and multiple administrative research fees she said were assessed inconsistently. She said that in 2023 she was the only CORA requester charged administrative research fees for information she believes was readily available.
Estrada asked the commission for a $5 refund at a prior meeting and said the requested amount had since grown, and requested a resolution. She said taxpayers paid for the wage study and that the study should be public in full; she added she was willing to accept a credit for future requests.
Commissioners listened but did not take immediate formal action on the complaint during the meeting. Estrada said she had copies of her documentation for the commission to review and asked the board to resolve the fees issue. The minutes record the public comment and that commissioners moved on to the consent agenda following her remarks.
