Dear Mayor:

During legislative debates prior to passage of the new Open Public Records Act (OPRA), the League argued that the Act would impose new and increased costs on our property taxpayers. Unfortunately, those arguments fell on deaf ears. The Governor's recent Executive Order (EO #21) might also impose additional, mandated costs. Of course, neither the Act nor that Order provides revenues to offset those costs.

PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOUR MUNICIPALITY HAS INCURRED ANY NEW OR INCREASED COSTS AS A RESULT OF YOUR EFFORTS TO COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF OPRA (CHAP. 404, P.L. 2001) OR WITH EXECUTIVE ORDER 21.

We will use this information to evaluate the impact, so that we can, then, push for appropriate remedial actions. Such actions could include: a request for a one-time "extraordinary increase" exception to the Cap Law; a permanent (statutory) Cap Law exception for compliance costs; and an appeal to the Council on Local Mandates, requesting the voiding of specific sections of the new Law or Order.

PLEASE BE AS SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE. WE NEED TO KNOW: 1) THE SECTION OF THE LAW OR THE ORDER THAT CAUSED THE EXPENDITURE; 2) THE ACTION YOU HAVE TAKEN TO INSURE COMPLIANCE; AND 3) THE NEW OR INCREASED COSTS INCURRED AS A RESULT OF THAT ACTION.

WE ASK YOU TO MAIL, FAX OR E-MAIL THIS INFORMATION TO US AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT NO LATER THAN AUGUST 31. (Please, label your response, attn: Jon Moran.) WE WELCOME YOUR PHONE CALLS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. (Call Moran at 609-695-3481, ext. 21.) BUT WE NEED THE DATA IN PRINT, SO THAT IT CAN BE MORE READILY VERIFIED AND COMPILED.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO INCLUDE THE NAME OF YOUR MUNICIPALITY, YOUR NAME, YOUR PHONE NUMBER AND YOUR RETURN POSTAL OR E-MAIL ADDRESS.

Thank you.