A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the City Of Canton Finance Department on October 31, 2024. The request was made by us at Peoria Standard, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
We are seeking records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, preferably in electronic format. Specifically, we requested a list of businesses that paid sales tax to the city from January 1, 2023, to October 31, 2024. The fields we asked for include the business name, business type, and the amount of sales tax paid.
Additionally, we requested information on the total amount of sales tax that the city collected within the same timeframe. As a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, access to these public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These responsibilities include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
In light of our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional. We await response from the City Of Canton Finance Department regarding this request.
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