Metro East Sun

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

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Madison County, Illinois, by Metro East Sun, a media organization dedicated to covering local governmental affairs. The request seeks access to records related to property tax relief and exemptions for veterans with disabilities and their surviving spouses. Specifically, the request covers the following documents for Tax Year 2024 through the present:

1. Records of individuals who requested or received Property Tax Relief as a Veteran with a Disability or as a Surviving Spouse of a Disabled Veteran.

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

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

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

The requester has emphasized the importance of these records in holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency in government actions. As part of the media, Metro East Sun is seeking this information in an electronic format and has requested a fee waiver due to its role in disseminating information to the public.

Metro East Sun is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that aids media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies using FOIA and Sunshine Laws. More information about this coalition can be found on their website.

Madison County's school system reported an average student-to-teacher ratio of 15-to-1 during the 2022-23 school year, serving 37,967 students with 2,502 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.