South West Illinois News

FOIA Request to Monroe County regarding vendor payment registers on November 10, 2025.

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Monroe County, Illinois, by SW Illinois News on November 10, 2025. The request seeks access to the county's vendor payment registers for the period from January 1, 2025, to March 31, 2025. The requested records should include the names of vendors paid by the county, dates and amounts of payments made, and descriptions of goods or services purchased.

The request specifies that it applies only to existing records and does not require the creation of new documents. An electronic format is preferred for ease of access and distribution. The requester has also sought a fee waiver due to their role as a media professional involved in gathering and reporting news to the public.

SW Illinois News is part of The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that aids media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through FOIA requests. This coalition aims to enhance transparency and accountability within government operations.

Monroe County is known for its educational commitment with an average student-to-teacher ratio of 16-to-1 during the 2022-23 school year. The county had an enrollment of 5,049 students supported by 321 full-time faculty members across its schools.

We look forward to receiving this information in an electronic format as it will greatly aid in our reporting efforts. As always, we remain open for any questions or clarifications regarding this request.