FOIA Request to Peoria County regarding vendor payment registers on February 1, 2026.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Peoria County by Prairie State Wire, a media organization dedicated to reporting on local governmental affairs. The request seeks access to the county’s vendor payment register for the preceding calendar month. This includes detailed records such as 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 limited to existing records and does not require the creation of new documents. Prairie State Wire has expressed a preference for receiving these records in electronic format if available. In case any part of the request is denied, they have asked for a specific statutory basis for denial along with all reasonably segregable portions of the records.
Prairie State Wire, as part of its role in gathering and disseminating news, has requested a fee waiver citing their function in holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency. The requester is also affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, an organization that assists media companies and advocacy groups in investigating government actions through FOIA requests.
Peoria County, located in Illinois, had an average student-to-teacher ratio of 15-to-1 during the 2022-23 school year, with 27,081 students enrolled across its schools supported by 1,844 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.
