FOIA
Illinois Freedom of Information Act
As the office strives to make the operations of City government more transparent, the IGO is mindful of its responsibility to ensure that its own operations are transparent. Below, you can find information on the IGO’s budget, staffing, organization, and operations. If you cannot find what you are looking for, there are also instructions on how you can submit a FOIA request to our office.
All requests for records must be made in writing and must include a description of the records that are requested. Please include your name, your email or mailing address, and a daytime telephone number. If you seek records for a commercial purpose, you must disclose that fact in your request.
Requests for records may be sent electronically to:
Electronic mail: IGOFOIA@chicagoinspectorgeneral.org
Facsimile Number: (773) 478-3949
Mailed to:
FOIA Officer
Inspector General’s Office
740 N. Sedgwick, Suite 200
Chicago, IL 60654
The following categories of records are maintained by the IGO:
• IGO personnel records
• IGO operational records
• IGO budget requests
• Reports required under Municipal Ordinance 2-56
• Investigative records, such as complaints and reports
• Records related to Hiring Oversight activity
• Records related to Audit and Program Review projects
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the nature of the office’s work and strict confidentiality provisions of Municipal Ordinance 2-56, a substantial portion of IGO records are exempt from disclosure as provided by section 7.5(h) of the Illinois FOIA. Therefore, records listed above may not be subject to disclosure.
The following Documents are available immediately on our website:
• Quarterly Reports issued pursuant to Municipal Ordinance 2-56-120
• Publicly Issued Reports/Audits
• IGO Rules and Regulations
• Press Releases
• IGO Administrative Policies and Procedures
• IGO Hiring Statistics
• IGO Organizational Chart
The IGO does not physically inspect businesses or buildings for City permits or code violations, and thus, does not maintain such records.
Mission
The Inspector General’s Office (IGO) is an independent agency tasked with the responsibility of detecting and preventing fraud, corruption, misconduct, inefficiency and waste in the programs and operations of City government. The IGO investigates City officials (except city council members and their staffs), employees, agencies and contractors, and those who seek to do business with the City or seek certification to participate in any City program. The IGO additionally conducts audits, reviews and evaluations of the operations and policies of City departments, programs and functions. The IGO derives its authority from Municipal Ordinance 2-56 et seq, which contains strict confidentiality provisions. A diagram of the IGO’s organizational structure may be found here.
Budget
Total operating budget for FY2012 = $5,879,430
Total operating budget for FY2013 = $5,769,239
Total budgeted positions: 67
The IGO’s FOIA Officers are: Rebecca Riddick-Ostrovsky, Kathryn Richards, and Theodor J. Hengesbach.
The IGO reserves the right to charge any fees allowed by section 6 of the FOIA. If you seek a fee waiver under the Act, please state the specific purpose for your request and explain how a waiver or reduction in fees would be in the public interest. Please note that it is within the IGO’s discretion whether to grant the waiver.