A county commissioner wanted budget information. County staff said no. Commission Chairman Skip Alston sided with staff saying releasing the information would be "irresponsible." No. Not releasing the information would be irresponsible -- and illegal. You'd hope the Chairman would have a clue. Public information may not legally be withheld because some do not consider it to be "ready." Alston should know better.
Fortunately, the (Greensboro, NC) News & Record (update: Joe Killian, specifically) pushed back with a formal public records request and the County Attorney responded appropriately, breaking the logjam and making the budget information public.
[Related: Doug Clark notes the contrast with Greensboro City Manager Rashad Young, who put the City's budget information out by his own volition, for public inspection and comment -- hardly irresponsible. As Clark says, "[T]hat's how public officials are supposed to conduct public business."]
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