Metro has fee waiver/reduction provisions for all requesters including members of the news media, non-profit organizations and federal, state and local governments. The state public records law says an agency may waive or reduce fees for information provided in response to public records requests if the action is in the public interest because making the record available primarily benefits the general public.
If you receive a cost estimate, and you meet the requirements listed below, please submit a fee waiver/fee reduction request. In the absence of a cost estimate, submitting a fee waiver/fee request is not necessary. Please note that the process begins by submitting a records request.
Metro will evaluate requests to reduce or waive fees on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration the cost of producing the information and whether making the records available primarily benefits the general public. All requests for a public interest fee waiver or reduction will be evaluated using information provided by the requester as well as information independently available to the agency. Previous requests and evaluations will not be considered as part of the evaluation.
Even if a waiver/reduction request meets all criteria, Metro may still charge for either record review or copying based on the following factors (per OAR 340-011-0380):
- Any financial hardship on Metro
- The extent of time, expense and interference with Metro's regular business
- The volume of the records requested
- The necessity to segregate exempt from non-exempt materials
- The extent to which the record request does not further the public interest.
Requests that are narrow and specific will incur lower fees, sometimes eliminating the need for a waiver or fee reduction request. Metro will work with all requesters to refine their requests.