FOIA Request to Pope County regarding vendor payment registers on February 1, 2026.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Treasurer’s Office of Pope County, Illinois, by Southern Illinois News. The request seeks access to the county’s vendor payment register for the preceding calendar month. The information requested includes the names of vendors paid by the county, dates and amounts of payments, and descriptions of goods or services purchased.
The request emphasizes that it is intended to gather information of public interest for dissemination to the public. It specifies that only existing records are sought and does not require the creation of new documents. In case any part of the request is denied or withheld, a specific statutory basis for such denial is requested along with all reasonably segregable portions of the records.
Southern Illinois News has expressed willingness to receive these records in electronic format if available. Additionally, as a member of the media, they have requested a fee waiver based on their role in gathering and reporting news to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency.
The requester is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that assists media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through FOIA and Sunshine Laws. More information about this organization can be found on their website: https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.
Pope County, known for its commitment to educational excellence with an average student-to-teacher ratio of 13-to-1 during the 2022-23 school year, continues to be under scrutiny as local media seek transparency in governmental affairs.
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.
