By Delayna Earley
The Island News
A newly implemented Freedom of Information Act process from the City of Beaufort is prompting strong reaction online, with residents divided over a new requirement that requesters pay a deposit before staff begin gathering records.
The policy, recently publicized by the city, typically requires a 25% deposit based on an estimated cost of staff research, retrieval and redaction.
Officials say the change is meant to create consistency, set expectations early and ensure requests are processed in compliance with state law.
On social media, many residents said they understand the need for structure. Others argued the approach risks placing financial barriers between the public and information they believe should be easily accessible.
“I get that staff time isn’t free, but this feels like putting up a toll booth on access to public records,” one commenter wrote.
Another resident responded, “If it helps get answers faster and makes the process clearer, that seems reasonable.”
Several people questioned paying before knowing what documents might exist.
“So we have to pay for freedom of information?” one user asked.
Why the response is strong
For many residents, reaction to the new policy is shaped by a previous records controversy involving the Hollis family.
In that matter, documents released by the city contained information that critics said should have been more thoroughly redacted before being provided.
The disclosure sparked widespread discussion online and renewed scrutiny of how records involving minors and crime victims are reviewed. Some residents argued the episode demonstrated weaknesses in oversight and internal safeguards.
City officials said at the time the release was inadvertent and tied to a breakdown in the redaction and document-handling process, not an intentional decision to disclose protected material. Leaders indicated procedures were being evaluated in an effort to prevent similar problems in the future.
FOIA law requires governments to balance public access with privacy protections, and complex requests can involve large volumes of records moving through multiple departments.
Still, disagreement has lingered over whether the situation reflected a broader systemic issue or a mistake within a demanding process. That divide continues to influence how many residents interpret new changes to how requests are managed.
In the current discussion, one commenter wrote that when serious errors occur, people are likely to question anything that appears to add barriers.
Another said transparency is measured not only by policy language, but by how trust is rebuilt afterward.
Debate over what taxpayers already fund
Some residents argued charging for staff time amounts to double payment.
“Personnel time is already covered by tax dollars,” one commenter wrote. “Whether it takes five minutes or five hours, that’s their job.”
Others noted that fees are common practice among agencies, particularly when requests require extensive searches or legal review.
Frustration — and fatigue
The online exchange also revealed exhaustion among residents who say the arguments have become familiar.
“I thought this was old news,” one commenter wrote, adding that similar charges exist elsewhere.
Another urged neighbors to allow room for improvement, saying progress becomes difficult when conversations turn personal.
What the city says
In announcing the change, the city said it “remains committed to transparency and public access to information while ensuring FOIA requests are processed efficiently, consistently, and in compliance with state law.”
Requests can be filed through the city’s website or by contacting City Hall.
How the process works
According to city guidance:
• Staff determine whether responsive records exist.
• An estimate is prepared based on research, retrieval and redaction.
• A deposit — usually 25% — is required before work begins.
• The remaining balance must be paid before release.
Costs vary depending on scope, number of departments involved and whether legal review is necessary.
Delayna Earley, who joined The Island News in 2022, formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.