Local Governments Face Backlash for Increasing Secrecy

Public Access to Records and Meetings Worsens as Compliance with Records Requests Drops

Local governments across the U.S. are facing backlash for increasing secrecy, with public access to records and meetings worsening over time.
In Volant, Pennsylvania, a sudden 57% property tax increase was approved with no prior public discussion, highlighting a trend of local government decisions made behind closed doors.
Between 2010 and 2021, local governments' compliance with records requests dropped from 63% to 42%, with high fees, delays, and outright refusals common complaints.
Local agencies often lack sufficient staff and infrastructure to efficiently process records requests, and the decline of local media institutions has limited resources to challenge access issues.
Increased polarization and political battlegrounds, such as school boards, have compounded the issue, with governments feeling emboldened to flout democracy.