Rock Island Today

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

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Rock Island County by Rock Island Today, a local media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive news coverage on governmental affairs. The request seeks access to specific records related to property tax relief and exemptions for veterans with disabilities and their surviving spouses.

The request, sent under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, specifically asks for documents from Tax Year 2024 through the present. The requested records include:

- Documents showing individuals who requested or received Property Tax Relief as a Veteran with a Disability or as a Surviving Spouse of a Disabled Veteran.

- Documents related to the Specially Adapted Housing Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities, pursuant to 35 ILCS 200/15-165.

- Records concerning the Standard Homestead Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities, pursuant to 35 ILCS 200/15-169.

- Documents regarding the Returning Veteran’s Homestead Exemption, pursuant to 35 ILCS 200/15-172.

Rock Island Today emphasizes its role in gathering and reporting news to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency. As such, they have requested a fee waiver typically available to media professionals.

The requestor 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 organization can be found on their website.

In the context of education within Rock Island County, it's noteworthy that during the 2022-23 school year, there was an average student-to-teacher ratio of 15-to-1. The county's schools enrolled a total of 22,197 students and employed 1,484 full-time faculty members.

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.