A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to Dekalb County, Illinois, regarding vendor payments made throughout the year 2024. The request was sent on September 26, 2024.
As a part of our commitment to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs at DeKalb Times, we requested records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. We specifically asked for a list of all payments made to vendors from January 1, 2024, till September 26, 2024.
The details we sought included the name of the vendor, the date of the transaction, a description of the transaction, and the amount paid. This information is crucial for us as it allows us to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency to our readers.
As media professionals involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, we believe access to public records is essential for fulfilling our professional responsibilities. Therefore, we also requested a fee waiver for this information as per our eligibility as media professionals.
We are awaiting a response from Dekalb County and will continue to work towards providing transparency in local government affairs.