Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law is a real and valuable path to records that aren't yet public. Most of what people actually ask about — payroll, assessments, permits — is already public and doesn't require a formal request at all.
A Right-to-Know request
The correct path for records not already published as open data.
Can take weeks for a response, depending on the request.
Delivers a raw record — you still have to interpret it yourself.
Necessary for records genuinely outside the public data catalog.
ALKARTIS
Built on data that's already public — no request or waiting period needed.
Answers available immediately, not after a review period.
Delivers an interpreted, connected answer, not just a raw file.
Complements formal requests for anything not yet covered.
If a record is genuinely not yet public, a Right-to-Know request is still the right tool. If it's payroll, an assessment, or a permit — the kind of question ALKARTIS covers — you likely don't need to file anything at all.
Frequently asked questions
Does ALKARTIS ever require filing a records request on my behalf?
No — ALKARTIS works only with data that's already public. We don't file or manage Right-to-Know requests.
What if the record I need isn't covered by ALKARTIS yet?
See our custom analysis option, or Philadelphia's official Right-to-Know process for records outside what we currently cover.