FOIA Request to City of Barry regarding expense reimbursements on February 1, 2026.
The Prairie State Wire, a media organization dedicated to covering local governmental affairs, has submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the City of Barry. The request seeks access to the city’s expense reimbursement records for the immediately preceding calendar month. This inquiry is made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, with a preference for receiving the information in electronic format.
The requested records include details such as the name and title of individuals who received reimbursements, dates and amounts of these reimbursements, descriptions of the expenses reimbursed, and the associated department or office. The purpose of this request is to gather information that serves public interest and aids in disseminating it to the public. It emphasizes that only existing records are sought and does not require creating new documents.
The Prairie State Wire has also expressed willingness to receive any available records electronically. Should any part of this request be denied or withheld, they have asked for specific statutory reasons for such denial and requested that all reasonably segregable portions be released.
As a member of the media involved in reporting news to the public, Prairie State Wire underscores its role in ensuring transparency and accountability from public institutions. They have also requested a fee waiver due to their status as media professionals. Additionally, they are affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, which assists media companies and advocacy groups in investigating government actions through FOIA requests. More information about this coalition can be found on their website here.
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.
