From the Hotline

By Teri Henning, General Counsel
Pennsylvania Newspaper Association

Q: I recently requested some financial information, including a listing of payments made to third parties, from my municipality. They agreed to provide it to me, but then withheld certain items because they are looking into some alleged financial improprieties. Can they do that?

A: No. Records that deal with an agency's receipt or disbursement of money are public records under Pennsylvania law. The mere fact that the agency is now looking into whether the money was spent properly does not change the fact that the agency spent the money in the first place. It is long-settled by the Pennsylvania courts that the public has the right to track how an agency spends its money.

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