FOIA Request to Georgia Southwestern State University regarding public university FY 2024 employee salaries on December 5, 2025.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted by Peach Tree Times to Georgia Southwestern State University seeking detailed records of employee compensation for Fiscal Year 2024. The request was made under the Georgia Open Records Act ยง 50.18.70 et seq., with a preference for receiving the information in electronic format.
The requested records include comprehensive data on all individuals employed by the university during the specified fiscal year, which is generally understood to span from September 2024 through July 2025. However, if the university defines its fiscal year differently, it is asked to provide records according to its official definitions and indicate the applicable date ranges in their response.
Specifically, Peach Tree Times seeks records or reports containing various data fields such as Fiscal Year, Employee Name, Gender (if recorded), Age or Year of Birth (if not exempt), Date of Birth (if not exempt or limited to month/year), Employer Name, Title or Position, Department, Hire Date, Compensation Amount (including base pay and any additional pay), Compensation Type (e.g., salary, hourly, stipend, bonus), and Employment Type (full-time or part-time).
The request acknowledges that not all fields may be present in every record but asks for all responsive records regardless of field presence. In cases where parts of a record are deemed exempt from disclosure, Peach Tree Times requests that non-exempt portions be released in redacted form rather than withheld entirely.
As a media organization committed to providing transparency and holding public institutions accountable, Peach Tree Times has also requested a fee waiver based on its role in disseminating information to the public. The requester is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting transparency through Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws.
We look forward to receiving this information in an electronic format as it will greatly aid in our reporting efforts. As always, we remain open for any questions or clarifications regarding this request.
