Rockford Sun

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

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Boone County, Illinois, by Rockford Sun, a media organization focused on local governmental affairs. The request seeks records related to property tax relief and exemptions for veterans with disabilities and their surviving spouses. Specifically, the requested documents include:

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 for the tax year 2024 through the present.

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 from the same period.

3. Records of individuals who applied for or received a Standard Homestead Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities in accordance with statute 35 ILCS 200/15-169.

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

The request was made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, and it emphasizes the importance of accessing public records to ensure transparency and accountability within public institutions. Rockford Sun has also requested that these records be provided in electronic format and has asked for a fee waiver due to its role as a media entity.

The requestor is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, an organization dedicated to assisting media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through FOIA and Sunshine Laws. More information about this coalition can be found at their website.

Boone County's school system had an average student-to-teacher ratio of 14-to-1 during the 2022-23 school year, serving over nine 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.