FOIA Request to Chatham County regarding vendor payment register on February 1, 2026.
On February 1, 2026, Old North News submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Chatham County, North Carolina. The request seeks access to the county’s vendor payment register for the preceding calendar month. This request is made under the North Carolina Public Records Law, G.S. ยง132-1., and asks for the information in electronic format if available.
The records requested include details such as the names of vendors paid by the county, dates and amounts of payments, and descriptions of goods or services purchased. The purpose of this request is to gather information of public interest for dissemination to the public. The request emphasizes that it seeks existing records only and does not require the creation of new documents.
Old North News has requested that if any part of this request is denied or withheld, Chatham County should provide a specific statutory basis for such denial while releasing all reasonably segregable portions of the records. As members of the media, Old North News highlights their role in gathering and reporting news to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency. They have also requested a fee waiver based on their status as media professionals.
The requester is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that assists media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through FOIA requests. More information about this organization can be found at https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.
Of 621 senior students taking the science portion of the ACT in Chatham County school districts, 189 (30.4%) were considered ready for college in the 2022-23 school year.
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.
