FOIA Request to Washington County regarding employee overtime records on February 1, 2026.
On February 1, 2026, Old North News submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Washington County in North Carolina. The request sought access to the county’s employee overtime records for the immediately preceding calendar month. This request was made under the North Carolina Public Records Law, G.S. §132-1.
The specific information requested included the name and job title of each employee, their department or office, the dates and number of overtime hours worked, and the compensation paid for this overtime. The request emphasized that it sought existing records only and did not require the creation of new documents.
Old North News highlighted its role as a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive news coverage on local governmental affairs. The purpose of obtaining these records is to gather information of public interest for dissemination to the public. In line with this objective, Old North News also requested a fee waiver, citing its status as a media professional engaged in reporting news to hold public institutions accountable and ensure transparency.
The email noted that any denial or withholding of information should be accompanied by a specific statutory basis for such action. It also expressed willingness to receive the records in electronic format if available.
The sender identified themselves as a member of The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that assists media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws. More details about this coalition can be found on their website.
Of note is that in Washington County school districts, only six out of 68 junior students taking the reading portion of the ACT were considered ready for college during the 2022-23 school year—a statistic highlighting educational challenges within the county.
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.
