FOIA request sent to DuPage County regarding vendor payment registers on February 1, 2026

FOIA Request to DuPage County regarding vendor payment registers on February 1, 2026.

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to DuPage County by the DuPage Policy Journal on February 1, 2026. The request seeks access to the county's vendor payment register for the immediately preceding calendar month. This request is made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, and emphasizes a preference for receiving the information in electronic format.

The specific records requested include the names of vendors paid by the county, dates and amounts of payments, and descriptions of goods or services purchased. The purpose of this request is to gather information that holds public interest and disseminate it to the public. The request clarifies that it seeks only existing records and does not require creating new documents.

The requester has also asked for a fee waiver based on their role as a member of the media, emphasizing that access to these records is crucial for holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency. Additionally, they are affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, an organization dedicated to investigating governmental agencies using FOIA and Sunshine Laws.

DuPage County is located in Illinois and had an average student-to-teacher ratio of 13-to-1 during the 2022-23 school year. It enrolled 142,363 students with 10,626 full-time faculty members across its schools.

We look forward to receiving this information in an electronic format as it will greatly aid in our reporting efforts. As always, we remain open for any questions or clarifications regarding this request.