OFA complies with the Oregon Public Records Law and responds to public record requests as soon as practicable and without unreasonable delay, in the manner described below. ORS 192.440(7) requires every public body to make available to the public a written procedure for making public record requests.
All formal public records requests must be submitted either by using the online public records request form below or printing and submitting the Request for Public Records Form via email to ofa@tonkon.com (See link below).
After receiving a request for a public record or document, OFA staff will respond to public records requests as soon as practicable and without unreasonable delay. We will respond with one or more of the following:
- A statement that FOA does or does not have custody of the requested document(s);
- Copies of all requested public records for which OFA does not claim an exemption from disclosure under ORS 192.410 to 192.505;
- A statement that OFA is the custodian of some responsive records, an estimate of time in which copies will be provided or inspection will be available, and an estimate of the fees the requestor must pay;
- A statement that OFA is uncertain whether it possesses any requested records and that it will search for the requested records and respond as soon as practicable; or
- A statement that state or federal law prohibits the OFA from acknowledging whether the record exists and a citation to the relevant state or federal law.
- The Oregon Public Records Law allows agencies to recover their actual costs in fulfilling a public records request. If the estimated fee is greater than $25, the General Counsel's office will provide the requestor with written notice of the estimated amount of the fee. In such instances, the public records request coordinator will not fulfill the request until the requestor confirms in writing that the requestor wants to proceed with the request despite the estimated cost.
The Office of the Governor fee schedule is as follows (per DAS Policy 107-01-160):
Standard Copies: 25 cents per page
Certification of Public Records: $5
Labor Charges
- Managerial Staff: $70 per hour
- Professional Staff: $35 per hour
- Clerical Staff: $20 per hour
- Attorney Review: Hourly cost based on DOJ fee schedule
All time for public records requests will be recorded in six-minute increments. OFA will base labor charges on the type of work actually performed, not on the classification of the employee who does the work. Example: If a manager does routine clerical work in answering a request for a public record, such as photocopying, the charge will be $20 per hour.
OFA will generate an invoice for completing the public records request. OFA will bill direct costs to the requestor (e.g. the cost of legal review by the Department of Justice). The requestor must pay the fee before the agency sends the requested records or makes them available for viewing.
Fee waivers for public records requests.
Requests for fee waivers or reduced fees must be made in writing to Oregon Facilities Authority, 888 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite 1600, Portland, OR 97204. OFA's office may furnish copies without charge or at a substantially reduced fee if it is determined that the waiver or reduction of fees is in the public interest because making the record available primarily benefits the general public. OFA's office will determine the appropriateness of fee waivers or adjustments based on the guidance of the relevant statutes and the Attorney General's Public Records and Meetings Manual.