A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the City Of Pana Finance Department on October 31, 2024. The request was made by South Central Reporter, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In our pursuit of transparency and accountability in public institutions, we requested specific records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. The information sought is primarily concerned with city sales tax records for the period from January 1, 2023, to October 31, 2024.
Specifically, we asked for a list of businesses that paid sales tax to the city during this period. The details requested for each business include its name, type of business, and the amount of sales tax it paid. In addition to this, we also requested information on the total amount of sales tax that the city collected during this same timeframe.
As a media organization committed to gathering and reporting news to the public, access to such public records is essential for us at South Central Reporter. It enables us to fulfill our professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
We believe that as media professionals involved in disseminating information to the public, we are eligible for a fee waiver for this request. We eagerly await a response from the City Of Pana Finance Department regarding our request.
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