Chambana Sun

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

On June 10, 2025, Chambana Sun submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Piatt County in Illinois. The request seeks records related to property tax relief and exemptions for veterans with disabilities and their surviving spouses for the tax year 2024 through the present. Specifically, the media organization is asking for documents that detail individuals who have requested or received various forms of tax relief, including:

1. Property Tax Relief as a Veteran with a Disability or as a Surviving Spouse of a Disabled Veteran.

2. Specially Adapted Housing Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities, as per 35 ILCS 200/15-165.

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

4. Returning Veteran’s Homestead Exemption, under 35 ILCS 200/15-172.

Chambana Sun emphasizes its role in providing comprehensive news coverage on local governmental affairs and stresses the importance of access to public records in fulfilling its responsibilities. The organization has also requested a fee waiver, citing its status as a media professional.

The requestor is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit corporation based in Missouri that aids media companies and advocacy groups in investigating government agencies through FOIA and Sunshine Laws. More information about this coalition can be found on their website at https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.

In Piatt County, there are currently 2,562 students enrolled across schools with an average student-to-teacher ratio of 13-to-1 during the 2022-23 school year.

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.