A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the City Of Berwyn Finance Department regarding sales tax collected from retailers. The request, made by West Cook News on October 25, 2024, sought detailed information about the sales tax collected in the city since January 1, 204.
As a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at West Cook News requested specific data under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. We asked for records detailing sales tax collected from retailers by month compared to projections. Additionally, we requested information about the number of active retail locations paying sales tax each month and names of each retailer along with their gross retail sales reported monthly.
We believe that access to these public records is essential for our work in holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we also stated our eligibility for a fee waiver as a media professional.
We await a response from the City Of Berwyn Finance Department and will continue to report on this matter as more information becomes available.