Macon Reporter

FOIA Request to Moultrie County regarding tax relief requests for veterans with disabilities on June 10, 2025.

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Moultrie County by a representative from the Macon Reporter, seeking detailed records related to property tax relief and exemptions for veterans with disabilities. The request, dated June 10, 2025, aims to gather information about individuals who have requested or received various forms of tax relief from the year 2024 to the present.

The specific documents requested include:

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

2. Documents pertaining to those who sought or were granted a Specially Adapted Housing Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities under statute 35 ILCS 200/15-165.

3. Information on applicants and recipients of the Standard Homestead Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities according to statute 35 ILCS 200/15-169.

4. Details regarding those who requested or obtained a Returning Veteran’s Homestead Exemption under statute 35 ILCS 200/15-172.

The request emphasizes the importance of accessing these public records in an electronic format to facilitate transparency and accountability in governmental affairs. The requester has also sought a fee waiver based on their role as a media professional engaged in news gathering and reporting.

The Macon Reporter is part of The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, which aids media organizations and advocacy groups in investigating government actions through FOIA and Sunshine Laws. This coalition is dedicated to enhancing public awareness by uncovering governmental operations that may otherwise remain undisclosed.

Moultrie County, located in Illinois, has an average student-to-teacher ratio of 14-to-1 for the school year 2022-23, accommodating over 1,600 students with more than 100 full-time faculty members across its educational institutions.

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.