Many municipalities and agencies ignore or defy state open government laws. And others have to be dragged into the Internet age kicking and screaming. Today, in the final installment of a series of reports on the survey, it's worthwhile to summarize its key discoveries, and to look ahead. A few don't understand what the law requires or break the law and operate in secret. Law enforcement agencies are more likely to skirt open government laws, although some do an excellent job.
Some school districts are confused about open government laws.
New technologies, such as the Internet, offer a future in which more public information is more available to more people than ever. As local officials become more familiar with 1999 open records law, compliance should increase. The governor gave some insight into his legislative plans on open government during a May convention in Atlanta of the National Freedom of Information Coalition. He talked about initiatives in the 2000 General Assembly that might include ''doing something about e-mail'' in the state's sunshine laws. In October 1999, it received 3.7 million ''hits.'' About 513,000 were to get lottery results, another 214,000 to check the sexual offender registry.