South Central Reporter

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

On June 10, 2025, South Central Reporter submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Bond County, Illinois. The request seeks documents related to property tax relief and exemptions for veterans with disabilities and their surviving spouses. Specifically, the request covers the following records from Tax Year 2024 through the present:

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.

2. Documents showing individuals who requested or received a Specially Adapted Housing Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities under statute 35 ILCS 200/15-165.

3. Documents showing individuals who requested or received a Standard Homestead Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities under statute 35 ILCS 200/15-169.

4. Documents showing individuals who requested or received a Returning Veteran’s Homestead Exemption under statute 35 ILCS 200/15-172.

South Central Reporter is seeking these records in an electronic format to aid in its mission of providing comprehensive news coverage on local governmental affairs. As part of this effort, they have requested a fee waiver based on their role as media professionals committed to transparency and accountability in public institutions.

The FOIA request was made by South Central Reporter, which is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that assists media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws. More information about the coalition can be found at this link.

Bond County has an average student-to-teacher ratio of 12-to-1 during the 2022-23 school year, highlighting its commitment to education alongside addressing issues such as veteran support through tax relief measures.

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.