A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the City Of Pinckneyville Finance Department on October 31, 2024. The request was made by us at SW Illinois News, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The request asked for specific records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. Specifically, we requested a list of businesses that paid sales tax to the city from January 1, 2023, to October 31, 2024. The requested list should include the business name, business type, and the amount of sales tax paid by each business.
In addition to this, we also requested information regarding the total amount of sales tax that the city collected within the same period. This data is crucial in our role as a media organization committed to holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
As members of the media engaged in gathering and reporting news to the public, access to such public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals.
We eagerly await a response from the City Of Pinckneyville Finance Department and will continue our efforts in ensuring transparency and accountability in local government affairs.
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