Some reasonable limitations restrict the disclosure of bidders' confidential estimating and pricing information or personal/private information. Other reasonable limitations restrict disclosure of information that could be used to undermine the public's interest in paying a fair price for a fair gain. The issue in a recent case from Washington was to balance the dual public interest in disclosure/transparency with the interest of the public paying a reasonable price for private property. The disclosure of and redactions to public records was at issue on a public works road improvement project for a new connection between two existing roadways in Washington. The project was to be completed in three phases. The first phase required the city to acquire 16 parcels of real property or easements across such parcels. Since the project was partially financed by federal transportation funding, all rights of way must be acquired per the city and state of Washington Department of Transportation's(WSDOT) policies and procedures. Under the applicable policies and procedures, the fair market value of the private real property must be assessed before a purchase offer can be made by the city to any private property owner.
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