SE Illinois News

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

On June 10, 2025, SE Illinois News submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Saline County, Illinois. The request seeks access to specific public records related to property tax relief and exemptions for veterans with disabilities and their surviving spouses. The information requested spans from the tax year 2024 to the present.

The FOIA request outlines four key areas of interest:

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 showing those who have applied for or received a Specially Adapted Housing Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities under statute 35 ILCS 200/15-165.

3. Documentation concerning individuals who have sought or been granted a Standard Homestead Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities pursuant to statute 35 ILCS 200/15-169.

4. Information on those who have requested or obtained a Returning Veteran’s Homestead Exemption according to statute 35 ILCS 200/15-172.

SE Illinois News emphasizes the importance of accessing these records electronically, citing their role in providing transparency and holding public institutions accountable. As part of their journalistic duties, they also mention eligibility for a fee waiver due to their media status.

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 FOIA and Sunshine Laws. More details about this organization can be found on their website.

Saline County is known for its educational commitment, maintaining an average student-to-teacher ratio of 12-to-1 during the 2022-23 school year, serving over 3,600 students with more than 300 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.