FOIA Request to Shelby County regarding vendor payment registers on February 1, 2026.
A request for public records was submitted to Shelby County by the East Central Reporter, a media organization dedicated to covering local governmental affairs. The request, filed under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140), seeks access to the county’s vendor payment register for the preceding calendar month.
The specific information requested includes the names of vendors paid by the county, dates and amounts of payments, and descriptions of goods or services purchased. The East Central Reporter emphasized that this request is limited to existing records and does not necessitate the creation of new documents. They also requested that any denials be accompanied by a statutory basis for such decisions, with all reasonably segregable portions of records released.
The East Central Reporter expressed their preference for receiving these records in electronic format if available. As members of the media, they highlighted their role in holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Consequently, they have requested a fee waiver based on their professional responsibilities.
The requestor is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization assisting media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws. More information about this organization can be found on their website: https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.
Shelby County has an average student-to-teacher ratio of 12-to-1 in its schools during the 2022-23 school year, with 2,991 students enrolled and 251 full-time faculty members across its educational institutions.
Our team will continue to keep you updated as we gather and report news related to this request and other matters of public interest. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further clarification regarding this matter.
