those salaries are already being paid, and $75/hr is not fair pay for that work, and the $75 is not going to the laborer. This argument does not hold water. it is obviously a strategic decision to decrease public access to public resources. is there any question what game this strategy is meant to influence? which players the strategy is meant to benefit?

Edit: from dogslayeggs’ comment:

… all citizens “have a right to as full knowledge of all the official acts of their officers as the officers themselves have, so as to enable them to ascertain whether their officers have performed their duty in such manner as is acceptable to them with a view to determine whether they will continue them in office or not.” The court added: [T]he records in the auditor’s office are the public records of the people of Hamilton county, bought with their money, kept in a public place built with their money, and in the charge of public officials paid by their money and selected by them. The officials in charge of these books, therefore, can be no other than trustees in possession of property belonging to the people of Hamilton county."