FOIA Request to Town of Spindale regarding employee overtime records on February 1, 2026.
On February 1, 2026, Old North News submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Town of Spindale in North Carolina. The request seeks access to specific records under the North Carolina Public Records Law, G.S. §132-1., with a preference for receiving them in electronic format.
The request specifically asks for copies of the town’s employee overtime records for the immediately preceding calendar month. The requested information includes the name and job title of each employee, their department or office, dates and number of overtime hours worked, and the compensation paid for this overtime.
Old North News emphasized that this request is made in pursuit of information that holds public interest and aims to disseminate it to the public. The organization clarified that it seeks only existing records and does not require the creation of new documents. If any part of this request is denied or withheld, they have asked for a specific statutory basis for such denial and expect all reasonably segregable portions of the records to be released.
In line with their role as a media organization committed to transparency and accountability in public institutions, Old North News has requested a fee waiver based on their status as members of the media. They highlighted their involvement with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, which aids media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through FOIA requests. More information about this coalition can be found on their website: 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.
