A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the City of Champaign Finance Department regarding sales tax records on October 31, 2024.
As part of our commitment to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs at Chambana Sun, we requested specific records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. The request was for an electronic format list of businesses that paid sales tax to the city from January 1, 2023, to October 31, 2024. The fields we asked for include business name, business type, and the amount of sales tax paid.
Additionally, we requested information about the total amount of sales tax that the city collected within the same period. Access to these public records is essential for us at Chambana Sun as it allows us to fulfill our professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals. We look forward to receiving this crucial data that will contribute significantly towards informing our audience about local financial matters.
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