FOIA Request to Town of Columbus regarding vendor payment registers on February 1, 2026.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Town of Columbus by Old North News, seeking access to specific financial records under the North Carolina Public Records Law, G.S. ยง132-1. The request was sent on February 1, 2026, and it focuses on obtaining the town’s vendor payment register for the preceding calendar month.
The records requested 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 in an electronic format if available. The request emphasizes that it seeks existing records only and does not require the creation of new documents.
Old North News aims to gather this information to inform the public about local governmental affairs. The organization has also requested a fee waiver based on its role in disseminating news and holding public institutions accountable. Additionally, any denial or withholding of requested information should be accompanied by a specific statutory basis for such action.
The requester is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that assists media companies and advocacy groups in investigating government actions through FOIA requests. 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.
