A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the City Of Highland Finance Department regarding sales tax collected from retailers on October 25, 2024. The request was made by Metro East Sun, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In the request, we asked for specific records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. We specifically requested data on sales tax collected from retailers starting from January 1, 2024 until the present date. The information sought includes monthly comparisons of actual sales tax collected versus projected amounts, the number of active retail locations paying sales tax each month, and the names of each retailer along with their reported gross retail sales for each month.
As a media organization, we at Metro East Sun are involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals.
We await a response from the City Of Highland Finance Department and will keep our readers updated with any developments.
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