FOIA Request to Town of Stoneville regarding vendor payment registers on February 1, 2026.
On February 1, 2026, Old North News submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Town of Stoneville in North Carolina. The request seeks access to the town’s vendor payment register for the immediately preceding calendar month. This request is made under the North Carolina Public Records Law, G.S. ยง132-1.
The records requested include details such as the names of vendors paid by the city, dates and amounts of payments, and descriptions of goods or services purchased. The purpose of this request is to gather information of public interest for dissemination to the public. It is important to note that this request is limited to existing records and does not require the creation of new documents.
Old North News has requested that if any portion of this request is denied or withheld, the specific statutory basis for such denial be provided along with all reasonably segregable portions of the records. Additionally, they have expressed a preference for receiving these records in electronic format if available.
As a member organization committed to transparency and accountability in government affairs, Old North News believes it qualifies for a fee waiver due to its role in gathering and reporting news to the public. The organization emphasizes its responsibility in holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency through access to public records.
The requestor also identifies as a member of The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, which assists media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies using Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws. More information about this coalition can be found at https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.
We look forward to receiving this information in an electronic format as it will greatly aid in our reporting efforts. As always, we remain open for any questions or clarifications regarding this request.
