A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the City Of Effingham Finance Department regarding city sales tax records on October 31, 2024. The request was made by us at East Central Reporter, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In our pursuit of transparency and accountability, we have requested specific records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. We are particularly interested in obtaining 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 entity.
Additionally, we have asked for the total amount of sales tax that the city collected within the same timeframe. This data is essential for our ongoing reporting efforts aimed at informing the public about how their tax dollars are being used by local government entities.
As a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, access to public records is vital for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. We believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals given our role in disseminating information.
We await a response from the City Of Effingham Finance Department and will continue to keep our readers informed about developments on this matter.
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