A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the South Dakota Board Of Regents regarding the compensation details of all state university employees, including those from community colleges, on November 14, 2024.
The request was made by us at Rushmore State News, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs. As part of our ongoing efforts to promote transparency and hold public institutions accountable, we sought access to these records under the South Dakota Sunshine Law, §1-27-1 et seq.
The specific information requested includes each employee's name, title, university name, employment type, and compensation amount. We have asked for this data in an electronic format for ease of analysis and reporting.
As members of the media involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, we emphasized that access to such public records is crucial for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. We also indicated our belief that we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals due to our role in disseminating information.
We remain committed to providing transparency and keeping the public informed about matters concerning their local government institutions.
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