A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the City of South Beloit Administration and Finance Department regarding city sales tax records on October 31, 2024. The request was made by Rockford Sun, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The FOIA request specifically sought access to records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. The requested information included a list of businesses that paid sales tax to the city from January 1, 2023, to October 31, 2024. The desired details for each business were their name, type, and the amount of sales tax they paid during this period.
In addition to individual business data, the request also asked for the total amount of sales tax that the city collected from January 1, 2023, to October 31, 2024.
As members of the media committed to holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public, we at Rockford Sun believe access to these public records is essential in fulfilling our professional responsibilities. We have therefore requested a fee waiver as a media professional in line with our role in disseminating information.
We await further communication from the City of South Beloit Administration and Finance Department regarding this matter.
