FOIA Request to Cleveland County regarding vendor payment registers on January 15, 2026.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted by Old North News to Cleveland County, North Carolina, seeking access to specific financial records. The request was made under the North Carolina Public Records Law, G.S. ยง132-1., and aims to obtain copies of the county’s vendor payment registers for the year 2024.
The requested records include detailed information on payments made by the county from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024. Specifically, Old North News is asking for documentation that lists the names of vendors who received payments from the county, along with the dates and amounts of these payments. Additionally, a description of the goods or services purchased is also requested.
Old North News has emphasized its role in providing comprehensive news coverage on local governmental affairs and highlighted its commitment to transparency and accountability in public institutions. The organization has also requested a fee waiver for accessing these records, citing its status as a media entity involved in disseminating information to the public.
The requestor 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 and Sunshine Laws. More information about this coalition can be found on their website: https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.
Of note, recent data indicates that only 19.5% of senior students taking the science portion of the ACT in Cleveland County school districts were considered ready for college during 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.
