FOIA Request to Town of Bath regarding vendor payment registers on February 1, 2026.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted by Old North News to the Town of Bath, North Carolina, seeking access to specific public records. The request, dated February 1, 2026, aims to obtain the city’s vendor payment register for the immediately preceding calendar month.
The requested records include details such as the names of vendors paid by the city, dates and amounts of payments made, and descriptions of goods or services purchased. This information is sought under the North Carolina Public Records Law, G.S. §132-1., with a preference for receiving it in electronic format if available.
Old North News emphasizes that this request is intended to gather information of public interest for dissemination purposes. The organization has stated that they do not require the creation of new documents but seek access only to existing records. In case any part of the request is denied or withheld, they have asked for a specific statutory basis for such denial and request that all reasonably segregable portions be released.
As members of the media involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, Old North News asserts their role in holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency. They have also requested a fee waiver based on their status as media professionals.
Additionally, Old North News is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization dedicated to investigating governmental agencies through Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws. More information about this coalition can be found at https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.
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.
