Overview of the Texas Public Information Act 

The City of Kerrville is dedicated to providing transparency that promotes visibility, openness and accountability of our operations. We are committed to keeping our citizens up to date and informed. You can find most answers to your questions by visiting the City of Kerrville’s website at www.kerrvilletx.gov. You will find the city charter, city calendar, city departments, city boards and commissions, city meetings and agendas, the city budget, the code of ordinances, city employment opportunities, and much more. 

The Public Information Act (PIA) provides citizens the right to request access to government records. You may ask to view the document(s) requested, get copies of the document(s) requested, or both. The City of Kerrville has ten (10) business days in which to respond to your request, pursuant to the Public Information Act, Tex. Gov't Code Chapter 522. If a request is for copies of documents, the City of Kerrville may charge for the copies. All charges imposed for copies or for access to information must comply with the rules prescribed by the Office of the Attorney General. (Please see Required Itemized Estimate of Charges below).

The Public Information Act is triggered when you submit a written request to the City of Kerrville. The request must ask for documents or records already in existence; however this Act does not require the City of Kerrville to create new information, to do legal research, or to answer questions.

Although the Public Information Act makes most government information available to the public, some exceptions exist. If an exception might apply and the City of Kerrville wishes to withhold the information, the City generally must, within ten business days of receiving your request, refer the matter to the Office of the Attorney General for a ruling on whether an exception applies. If the Office of the Attorney General rules that an exception applies, the City of Kerrville will not release the information. 

To request public information, please include the following:

• Your name, address, telephone number, date of request, date of the incident or document for which you seek information.
• The specific document(s) you are seeking. If you do not have specific information then explain the facts surrounding your document request that will help us to narrow the scope of the search.
• Where you would like your response sent.
• Printable Public Information Request Form, optional form

Effective September 1, 2019, pursuant to section 552.234 of the Government Code, you may make a request for public information by one of the following methods:

1. Mail request to:
City Secretary's Office
Attn: Shelley McElhannon
City Hall, 701 Main Street
Kerrville, Texas 78028

2. E-mail request to:
openrecordsrequest@kerrvilletx.gov 

3. Hand deliver request "in person" to: 
City Secretary's Office
City Hall, 701 Main Street
Kerrville, Texas 78028

4. Fill Request out Online

Printable Public Information Request Form

Required Itemized Estimate of Charges: 

Pursuant to the Public Information Act, Tex. Gov't Code Chapter 522.2615, if a request for a copy of public information will result in the imposition of a charge that exceeds $40.00, or a request to inspect a paper record will result in the imposition of a charge under 552.271 that exceeds $40.00, the governmental body shall provide the requester with a written itemized statement that details all estimated charges that will be imposed, including any allowable charges for labor or personnel costs. If an alternative less costly method of viewing the records is available, the statement must include a notice that the requester may contact the governmental body regarding the alternative method.

The basic charge for copies of public information is currently $.10 per black and white page, $.10 per color page and $5.00 per flash drive, which are the two most commonly formats of requested information. Voluminous requests may also result in personnel costs, currently a flat rate of $15.00 per hour, and overhead, charged at 20% of the total personnel costs for the request. The Office of the Attorney General has published a handbook interpreting the Texas Public Information Act. This handbook may be accessed on-line at: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/open-government/office-attorney-general-and-public-information-ac

The City Secretary's office welcomes your interest in your city and community.