FOIA Request to City of New Bern regarding employee overtime records on February 1, 2026.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the City of New Bern on February 1, 2026, by Old North News. The request seeks access to the city’s employee overtime records for the immediately preceding calendar month. The request was made under the North Carolina Public Records Law, G.S. §132-1, with a preference for receiving the information in electronic format.
The specific details requested include the name and job title of each employee, their department or office, the dates and number of overtime hours worked, and the compensation paid for that overtime. The request emphasizes that it is limited to existing records and does not require the creation of new documents. If any part of this request is denied or withheld, Old North News has asked for a specific statutory basis for such denial and requests that all reasonably segregable portions of the records be released.
As members of the media involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, Old North News has also requested a fee waiver due to their role in disseminating information that holds public institutions accountable and provides transparency to the public. They have noted their affiliation with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, which assists media companies in investigating governmental agencies using FOIA laws.
Old North News looks forward to receiving this information in an electronic format as it will greatly aid in their reporting efforts. As always, they remain open for any questions or clarifications regarding this request.
