FOIL-AO-18692

From: Freeman, Robert (DOS)
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2011 9:37 AM
To:
Subject: assessment information

Dear:

I have received your letter and offer the following comments.

First, although the Freedom of Information Law does not include a requirement that records be
posted on an agency's website, §1590(1) of the Real Property Tax Law directs that any municipal
corporation that "prepares assessment rolls by means of electronic data processing", shall, "if the
assessing unit maintains a website….post a copy of such roll on its website…" Second, §87(5)(a) of the
Freedom of Information Law states in relevant part that "an agency shall provide records on the
medium requested by a person, if the agency can reasonably make such copy…" Therefore, if a
person asks that records or data be made available on a CD, the agency has the ability to do so, and the
person pays the requisite fee, I believe that the agency is required to do so.

I hope that I have been of assistance.

Robert J. Freeman
Executive Director
Committee on Open Government
Department of State
One Commerce Plaza
Suite 650
99 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12231
Phone: (518)474-2518
Fax: (518)474-1927
Website: www.dos.state.ny.us/coog/index/html