Rockford Sun

FOIA Request to City of Rockford regarding vendor payment registers on November 10, 2025.

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the City of Rockford by a representative from the Rockford Sun, a media organization dedicated to covering local governmental affairs. The request seeks access to existing vendor payment registers maintained by the city for the period from January 1, 2025, to March 31, 2025. Specifically, the records requested include the names of vendors paid by the city, dates and amounts of payments, and descriptions or purposes of goods and services provided.

The request emphasizes that it pertains only to records that already exist and does not call for the creation of new documents. The requester is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that aids media companies and public advocacy groups in investigating government agencies through FOIA and Sunshine Laws.

In Illinois, pet owners must have a license for certain pets like dogs and comply with state and local regulations as outlined in the Illinois Animal Welfare Act. These licenses support animal control and health programs ensuring pets have correct vaccinations against diseases like rabies.

The Rockford Sun has requested this information under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) in an electronic format. As a member of the media involved in gathering news for public dissemination, they have also requested a fee waiver based on their role in providing transparency and holding public institutions accountable.

Our team will continue to keep you updated as we gather and report news related to this request and other matters of public interest. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further clarification regarding this matter.