Public vs. Private-- A Very Thin Line

There is a very fine line between public and private.

In the world of journalism, that fine line can mean an important breakthrough story, or an empty story idea.

On Thursday, Preston Trigg came to talk to us from the Hillsborough County Tax Collector’s office. He came to talk to us about the types of public records that that office can provide journalists and everyday citizens with.

The main types of documents he was there to talk about were the property taxes. This was important because it shows you who pays their taxes, and how much their house is worth, which could be valuable in figuring out if people are getting money from places they shouldn’t be.

The most intriguing part of his lecture to me was the thin line between what the courts consider public and private.

He told us that all calls and emails of public officials were available to the public through public records requests. The he began to tell us some of the exceptions.

He told us that if someone uses a government issued email account to send private messages, then it is not available through public records, but if they sent an email through a private email about official business, then it was available.

Then there was the phone situation.

If an official uses a government issued phone for private matters, then it is private, but if they use a private phone about official business then it is available.

What I took out of this was that there are many ways for officials to get around the public records laws. They could use a spouse or child’s phone. I feel that any business that is conducted on government issued devices should be allowed for viewing by journalists and the public.

If officials are worried about their private matters becoming public, then do not use equipment provided to you by the citizens.