East Central Reporter

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

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Douglas County, Illinois, by East Central Reporter, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive news coverage on local governmental affairs. The request, dated November 10, 2025, seeks access to the county's vendor payment registers for the period from January 1, 2025, to March 31, 2025.

The records requested include details such as the names of vendors paid by the county, dates and amounts of payments made, and descriptions of goods or services purchased. The requester has specified that this request pertains only to existing records and does not require the creation of new documents. An electronic format is preferred for ease of access and analysis.

East Central Reporter emphasizes its role in holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. As a member of the media involved in gathering and reporting news, they have requested a fee waiver under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act due to their professional responsibilities.

Additionally, it is noted that the requester is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy. This non-profit organization assists media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies using FOIA and Sunshine Laws. More information about this coalition can be found on their website.

Douglas County serves as an educational hub with an average student-to-teacher ratio of 12-to-1 during the 2022-23 school year. The county's schools enrolled 3,235 students with support from 261 full-time faculty members.

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.