Editor:
Jason Maki’s Sept. 9 letter to the editor, “Financial data should be available to all,” requires clarification because it leaves readers with an impression that is simply not accurate.
There is an important distinction between access to public records and a request for a private briefing from the county auditor. The public has a right to access public records. A request for information, however, is different from a request for an individual briefing with the auditor to explain or interpret that information.
Mr. Maki’s reference to himself as the “Sunshine Law King” makes that distinction particularly important, especially given his stated desire to meet “to understand every aspect at play.”
The request I am accused of refusing originated with a phone call and subsequent email exchange on the evening of Aug. 31. Importantly, the phone call was made by someone on Mr. Maki’s behalf requesting my personal contact information, followed by communication from Mr. Maki’s campaign email address to my campaign email address.
That distinction matters not because I’m trying to avoid transparency, but because I conduct county business through official channels and Sunshine Law requests are part of the official public-record process. I do not conduct official county business through a personal email address.
Mr. Maki is familiar with that process and has since submitted a six-page Sunshine Law request seeking not only information presented during the levy hearing, but additional financial information that has been, and continues to be, available through the county’s website.
The Missouri Attorney General explains that the Sunshine Law provides access to existing public records. Had Mr. Maki directed his request through the appropriate county channel, I would have gladly provided the public records responsive to his request.
The county’s financial information is readily available to the public without requiring a private meeting with the auditor. As part of the county’s financial system upgrade, the county’s website provides 24-hour public access to Open Finance, a portal where citizens, candidates, vendors and researchers can review county revenues and expenditures.
Additionally, during my term, annual and monthly financial statements, budget documents and other financial information are posted online and available to the public. This information is available to anyone who wants to review the county’s finances.
Transparency means making information and official records available to the public. That is exactly what I have done and continue to do.
Kevin Robinson
Platte County Auditor
