FOIA Request to Livingston County regarding tax relief requests for a veteran with disabilities on June 10, 2025.
On June 10, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Livingston County, Illinois, by McLean County Times. The request seeks records related to property tax relief and exemptions for veterans with disabilities and their surviving spouses for the tax year 2024 onwards. Specifically, the request includes:
1. Documents detailing individuals who have requested or received Property Tax Relief as a Veteran with a Disability or as a Surviving Spouse of a Disabled Veteran.
2. Records of those who have applied for or received a Specially Adapted Housing Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities under the statute 35 ILCS 200/15-165.
3. Information on individuals who have sought or obtained a Standard Homestead Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities pursuant to 35 ILCS 200/15-169.
4. Details of applicants and recipients of the Returning Veteran’s Homestead Exemption according to 35 ILCS 200/15-172.
The FOIA request emphasizes the importance of these records in ensuring transparency and accountability within public institutions. It also mentions that McLean County Times is seeking these documents in an electronic format and has requested a fee waiver due to its role as a media organization.
The requestor is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, an organization dedicated to assisting media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental actions through Freedom of Information laws. More information about this coalition can be found on their website here.
Livingston County, located in Illinois, had an average student-to-teacher ratio of 11-to-1 during the 2022-23 school year, serving over five thousand students 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.
