FOIA Request to City of Belvidere regarding employee overtime records on February 1, 2026.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted by Rockford Sun to the City of Belvidere, Illinois, seeking access to specific public records. The request was sent on February 1, 2026, and aims to obtain employee overtime records for the immediately preceding calendar month.
The requested information includes the name and job title of each employee, their department or office, the dates and number of overtime hours worked, and the compensation paid for this overtime. The Rockford Sun has expressed a preference for receiving these records in electronic format if available. This request is made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140.
The purpose of this request is to gather information that holds public interest and disseminate it to the public. The Rockford Sun emphasizes that they are not asking for new documents to be created but rather existing records. In case any part of this request is denied or withheld, they have asked for a specific statutory basis for such denial and requested that all reasonably segregable portions of the records be released.
As a member of the media committed to transparency and accountability in public institutions, Rockford Sun has also requested a fee waiver due to their role in gathering and reporting news. The organization is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, which assists media companies in investigating governmental agencies through FOIA requests.
In Illinois, pet owners must have a license for certain pets like dogs and comply with state and local regulations as defined in the Illinois Animal Welfare Act. These licenses support animal control programs ensuring pets have correct vaccinations against diseases like rabies.
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.
