FOIA Request to Orange County regarding vendor payment register on February 1, 2026.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Orange County, North Carolina, on February 1, 2026. The request seeks access to the county’s vendor payment register for the immediately preceding calendar month. This request was made under the North Carolina Public Records Law, G.S. §132-1., with a preference for receiving the information in electronic format.
The requested records include detailed information about payments made by the county to vendors. Specifically, it seeks to obtain the names of vendors paid by the county, along with the dates and amounts of these payments. Additionally, descriptions of the goods or services purchased are also requested. The aim is to gather information that is of public interest and disseminate it to the public.
The Chapel Hill Review has emphasized that this request does not necessitate creating new documents but rather seeks existing records. In cases where any portion 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.
As a media organization dedicated to holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency, Chapel Hill Review has also requested a fee waiver as part of their professional responsibilities in gathering and reporting news. They have noted their affiliation with 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.
Of 1,407 senior students taking the science portion of the ACT in Orange County school districts, 692 (49.2%) were considered ready for college in the 2022-23 school year.
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.
