West Central Reporter

FOIA Request to Calhoun County regarding tax relief requests for a veteran with disabilities on June 10, 2025.

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Calhoun County, Illinois, by West Central Reporter. The request seeks records related to property tax relief and exemptions for veterans with disabilities and their surviving spouses. Specifically, the records requested include:

1. Documents showing individuals who requested or received Property Tax Relief as a Veteran with a Disability or as a Surviving Spouse of a Disabled Veteran for Tax Year 2024 through the present.

2. Documents detailing those who applied for or received a Specially Adapted Housing Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities, in accordance with 35 ILCS 200/15-165, from Tax Year 2024 onward.

3. Records of individuals who sought or were granted a Standard Homestead Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities under 35 ILCS 200/15-169, starting from Tax Year 2024.

4. Documentation of those who requested or obtained a Returning Veteran’s Homestead Exemption pursuant to 35 ILCS 200/15-172, beginning in Tax Year 2024.

The West Central Reporter emphasizes its role in gathering and reporting news to ensure public accountability and transparency. As part of this mission, they have requested these documents in electronic format and have asked for a fee waiver due to their status as media professionals.

The FOIA request is part of an effort by The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, which aids media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental actions using Freedom of Information laws. More information about the coalition can be found on their website: https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.

Calhoun County has an average student-to-teacher ratio of 10-to-1 in the current school year, serving 612 students with the support of 59 full-time faculty members across its schools.

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.