"Do You Get Paid to Do This?"

"Do You Get Paid to Do This?"

No. There are organizations that serve as government watchdogs. But, because I work independently, I do not get paid. In fact, it costs me money. To find out most things, you have to file Open Records Requests, which can incur costs. 

Interestingly, although I file requests with cities and counties, the only one that has ever charged me a fee so far is the City of Sugar Hill. Most other governments are fairly happy to give me the documents I ask for with a quick turnaround. I paid $60 for a part of the expense reports and travel expenses placed on a City credit card in 2019. All of the records would have cost me $120. One detailed budget document that the City of Sugar Hill recently sold me for $11 (and produced as a huge stack of paper that I had to scan in) was given to me for free in a convenient digital format by another city. They told me it took them less than 15 minutes to obtain it, making it free per Georgia's Sunshine Laws. 

Although I'm pretty annoyed at Sugar Hill's obvious stonewalling tactics, I don't mind not getting paid to do this. I like the freedom to pursue the questions I want and say what I want, which I'm not sure I'd have if I worked for someone else.  