Wisconsin’s Public Records Law
Wisconsin has a long, proud tradition of open government. This tradition is embodied in our State’s public records law, Wisconsin Statutes §§ 19.31-39, which states that “it is declared to be the public policy of this state that all persons are entitled to the greatest possible information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those officers and employees who represent them.” The purpose of the law is to provide broad, practical access to the State government. To that end, the public has a right to inspect or receive a copy of certain records maintained by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). WEDC’s custodian of records is the Chief Legal Counsel, Hannah Renfro.
Requesting Records from the WEDC
The most efficient means of requesting information from WEDC is to complete our Online Public Records Request. If you are unable to access the online form, you may submit a written request to:
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
Attn: Chief Legal Counsel
201 W. Washington Ave., 6th Floor
Madison,WI53707-7970
You may also contact WEDC’s Chief Legal Counsel, Hannah Renfro, at 608/261-5402, who can assist you with making a request or with any questions.
A request for records must be reasonably specific. And certain information is exempt from disclosure under the open records law.
Timing
WEDC prioritizes open records requests and provides requested records “as soon as practicable and without delay” as required byWisconsinlaw. A reasonable time for response to any specific request depends on the nature of the request, the staff and other resources available to the authority to process the request, the extent of the request, and related considerations.
Inspecting Records
WEDC records are available for inspection during normal business hours in our offices, unless other hours are posted. Except for legal holidays, the normal hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Fees
The open records law authorizes WEDC to charge the actual, necessary, and direct costs for providing records. Checks to cover the fees should be made payable to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.
The fees WEDC may charge include:
- $.25 per page for the copying of black and white, customary, and ordinary 8½ by 11 hard copy records. Color copies cost an additional $.07 per page. A requestor may request the copying of a large volume of records on an expedited basis by a bonded copying service in which case, if approved by WEDC, the requestor would pay the rate charged by the service.
- Where the cost exceeds $50, WEDC will charge the actual, necessary, and direct cost of locating, compiling, and, if necessary, redacting information not subject to disclosure under the open records law. This charge may include the amount necessary to cover the administrative costs associated with providing and redacting the records. This fee will be calculated based on the hourly wage of the lowest paid staff member capable of performing the work.
- The actual, necessary, and direct cost of mailing or shipping copies of records.
- If the record requested is not in readily comprehensible form (e.g. computer file, database entry), WEDC may charge the actual cost of creating a readily comprehensible copy.
Where the total cost of fees exceeds $5.00, WEDC will get approval from the requestor with respect to the fees associated with the request prior to incurring any costs associated with the request. Prepayment may be required.
