Carbondale Reporter

FOIA Request to Williamson County regarding vendor payment registers on November 10, 2025.

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Williamson County, Illinois, by a representative from the Carbondale Reporter. The request seeks access to vendor payment registers maintained by the county for the period from January 1, 2025, to March 31, 2025. This inquiry specifically asks for records that detail the names of vendors paid by the county, along with the dates and amounts of these payments. Additionally, it requests descriptions of the goods or services purchased during this timeframe.

The Carbondale Reporter is a media organization dedicated to delivering thorough and precise news coverage on local governmental matters. The request was made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, with a preference for receiving the information in electronic format if available. The requester emphasized that only existing records are sought and no new documents need to be created for this purpose.

In their communication, the requester highlighted their role as a member of The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization based in Missouri. This group supports media companies and public advocacy organizations in investigating government agencies through FOIA and Sunshine Laws. More information about this coalition can be found on their website: https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.

Williamson County is known for its educational institutions where the average student-to-teacher ratio was 14-to-1 during the 2022-23 school year. There were 9,809 students enrolled across various schools in the county with 684 full-time faculty members contributing to education.

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.