Open Records Request
The City of Schertz offers an online service designed with you in mind to streamline your requests for public records. The public can now request submissions online through a secure portal that will allow requesters to accomplish the following:
- Create an Account or Submit Requests Anonymously
- Track the Status of Your Requests
- Make Payments Online
- Receive Records in a central location online
Any person wishing to inspect or receive a copy of public records kept by the City of Schertz must make the request in writing and may do so online by following the link below. A hard copy of the Open Records Request can be picked up at the City Secretary’s Office or by calling (210) 619-1030. The City of Schertz is not required to answer questions, perform legal research, or create new information in response to your public information request.
Providing as much information as possible within your request will allow departments to complete your request more efficiently. Information such as name, address, date range, and subject matter should be included.
The City of Schertz provides the requested information promptly. We will attempt to inform the requestor if the information is not able to be provided within ten business days, as well as give an estimated date on which information will be provided.
About the Texas Public Information Act
Per Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code, the Texas Public Information Act (the “Act”) requires governmental agencies to make documents and information available to the public by either copying or inspection that is held by or for a governmental body if it owns or has a right of access to the information, except for information that the Act exempts or prohibits from disclosure.
Per the Act, the City has ten (10) business days to do one of the following:
- Respond to the request;
- Let the requester know when we can respond to the request;
- Request clarification from a requester; or
- Send a request for a ruling to withhold from the Attorney General’s Office.
City Holidays and weekends are not included in the ten days and we cannot expedite requests
The City of Schertz puts a large amount of information on our website for the public to access without having to do an open records request. The City is not obligated to release records that are readily available on our website. We also do not answer questions posed in an open records request. The Act only allows the public to request documents that exist at the time of their request. The City of Schertz does not handle Vital Statistic Records (i.e. marriage, birth, and death certificates), and you will need to contact the County Clerk or the State of Texas for those records.
Confidential Information
Please be advised that confidential information is often included in documents held by the City of Schertz. Some of this confidential information the City can automatically redact or withhold, such as Social Security numbers, dates of birth, driver's license information, vehicle license plate numbers, and registration information, e-mail addresses, certain confidential employee information, as well as utility account information.
For all other confidential information, the Act requires the City to request a ruling from the Texas Attorney General’s Office in order to withhold it. If we request such a ruling, you will receive correspondence from us letting you know why we are requesting a ruling from the Attorney General’s Office. The Attorney General’s Office has 45 days to respond to a request for a ruling to withhold documents or information.
For general questions on making public information requests or for special accommodations pursuant to the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact the City Secretary at (210) 619-1030 or 1400 Schertz Parkway Bldg. 2, Schertz, TX 78154.