A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to Dekalb County in Illinois on September 26, 2024. The request, issued by us at DeKalb Times, sought detailed information about all payments made to vendors from the beginning of the year until the date of the request.
In our pursuit of transparency and accountability in local government affairs, we requested a comprehensive list of vendor payments made during this period. The specific details asked for included the name of each vendor, the date of each transaction, a description of what each transaction entailed, and the amount paid in each case.
As an established media organization dedicated to providing accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we believe access to such public records is crucial. This data enables us to fulfill our professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
We also expressed our belief that as a media organization disseminating information to the public, we should be eligible for a fee waiver for this request under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.
We await a response from Dekalb County and will continue our work in bringing important local government affairs into the public eye.
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