A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the City Of Chester Finance Department regarding city sales tax records on October 31, 2024. The request was made by us at SW Illinois News, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The request specifically sought records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, preferably in electronic format. We asked for a list of businesses that paid sales tax to the city from January 1, 2023, to October 31, 2024. The requested information includes the business name, business type, and the amount of sales tax paid by each business.
In addition to this detailed breakdown, we also requested the total amount of sales tax that the city collected within the same period. As a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, access to these public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
We believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional given our role in disseminating information. We await a response from the City Of Chester Finance Department and will keep our readers updated with any developments.
Alerts Sign-up