NASHVILLE – A state agency that’s supposed to help Tennesseans access public government records lacks resources to do the job adequately and, as a result, has amassed a major backlog of inquiries, a new state Comptroller’s audit says.
The Office of Open Records Counsel, located under Comptroller Justin Wilson, only has two part-time employees, both of whom who split their time working in other areas, according to auditors.
Because of growing numbers of Tennesseans wanting to learn what state and local government agencies are up to via record requests, as well as frustrated citizens encountering problems with government meetings meant to be open, the office is experiencing a “significant backlog in reviewing and responding to open records inquiries,” auditors noted.
As of Sept. 14, the office had a backlog of 603 inquiries with two going back to March 2014. The total includes 380 open requests, meaning they are still awaiting an initial response. Another 223 were classified as “pending” because research was still in progress. The office had 216 inquiries in both categories combined that are less than 90 days old.
Not all the inquiries are from the public. Government agencies also contact the office.