Daily Citizen files suit to enforce FOIA

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The Daily Citizen in Searcy has filed suit in White County Circuit Court to compel the City of Searcy to release documents requested under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Searcy City Attorney Buck Gibson refused to release tax returns and reports, including the monthly
sales receipts of every restaurant and hotel in Searcy that has filed under the city’s new advertising and promotion (A&P) tax. The city claims that those records are not subject to FOIA; whereas, the Daily Citizen has pointed out that A&P tax documents are routinely released by other cities, among them Bentonville, Conway, Eureka Springs, Fayetteville, Hot Springs, Little Rock and North Little Rock. Bentonville and Conway post the information on their Web sites.

The newspaper is being represented by Charles Schlumberger of the Law Firm of Quattlebaum, Grooms Tull and Burrow, which APA retains to provide “legal hotline” services to members.