The role of a local newspaper has never been more important than during the current pandemic.
With many local residents being laid off and their children’s education in flux, the number of citizens who have had questions about how their tax dollars are being spent has been at an all time high. Thus the Journal-Tribune made more calls to local officials and had more conversations to ask questions, get feedback as well as request documents.
The document validation is a step the newspaper needs to take to be able to write the story and cite why the particular government entity is doing what is being questioned.
It’s apropos that this is Sunshine Week and we are in the middle of several public records requests. Sunshine Week is meant to highlight the work newspapers do to help residents stay informed on local issues. Newspapers are known for shining a light in dark places to uncover details that the public may not have known.
Over the years when we have asked for records, some officials have demonstrated that they are very organized and follow through right away with what we need. There have been other times when officials simply try to stall or make it difficult to get files we have requested. When this happens, we tend to dig in further because the story might be bigger than we thought.
Currently were are still trying to wade through and get additional FBI documents surrounding the Larry Householder scandal that broke this past summer. It has taken extra time because it could be as many as 5,000 pages.
On the other hand, we are in receipt of the emails we requested from Union County on conversations the commissioners had that went back and forth concerning the change in direction of UCATS funding for possible countywide transportation.
We have always taken our job seriously because we feel taxpayers have the right to know how their money is being spent. We also believe that government entities, including schools, should be transparent in how they choose to spend those dollars. It’s interesting to note here that the Ohio Revised Code says a governmental body CAN go into executive session to discuss certain matters, but it doesn’t say it MUST do so.
Therefore, we feel being intentional about transparency should be the first step taken to help answer questions, not the last.
Tuesday, April 13
