Online public notices too risky

Once again state legislators are working to eliminate publication of public notices in newspapers. They have not listened to constituents who overwhelmingly said they want public notices to remain in newspapers.

It's assumed that costs for public notices are very high; not true. The annual cost to publish public notices in newspapers is a minuscule part of a city's or county's total budget. The city of Yuma spent less than $26,000 in 2012; Yuma County spent approximately $43,000 due to the publication of a 12-page section of delinquent taxes.

Legislators somehow believe that it won't cost anything to move public notices to a government website, a “free” website. Technology is not free. Newspapers spend a lot of money to ensure that we handle public notices properly in print and online in a timely manner.

There will be votes in the House this week; please call Reps. Otondo and Escamilla to voice your opposition to bills HB 2533 and HB 2483.