FOIA Request to Town of Bakersville regarding expense reimbursement records on February 1, 2026.
A request for public records was submitted to the Town of Bakersville by High Country Times under the North Carolina Public Records Law, G.S. §132-1. The request seeks access to the town’s expense reimbursement records for the immediately preceding calendar month. The information requested includes the name and title of individuals reimbursed, dates and amounts of reimbursements, descriptions of expenses reimbursed, and associated departments or offices.
The purpose of this request is to gather information of public interest for dissemination. It specifically asks for existing records and does not require the creation of new documents. The requester has asked that if any part of the request is denied or withheld, a specific statutory basis for such denial be provided along with all reasonably segregable portions of the records.
High Country Times has also requested that these records be provided in electronic format if available. As a member of the media, they have emphasized their role in holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. They have also requested a fee waiver based on their status as media professionals.
The requester is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that assists news media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies using Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws. More information about this organization can be found at https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.
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.
