Ryan M. Buckingham Director of Emergency Management | Franklin County
Ryan M. Buckingham Director of Emergency Management | Franklin County
FOIA Request to Franklin County regarding tax relief requests for a veteran with disabilities on June 10, 2025.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Franklin County, Illinois, seeking records related to property tax relief and exemptions for veterans with disabilities. The request was made by North Egypt News, a media organization dedicated to providing accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The FOIA request specifically seeks documents showing individuals who requested or received various forms of property tax relief from Tax Year 2024 through the present. These include Property Tax Relief as a Veteran with a Disability or as a Surviving Spouse of a Disabled Veteran, Specially Adapted Housing Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities pursuant to 35 ILCS 200/15-165, Standard Homestead Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities pursuant to 35 ILCS 200/15-169, and Returning Veteran’s Homestead Exemption pursuant to 35 ILCS 200/15-172.
North Egypt News emphasized the importance of access to public records in fulfilling its professional responsibilities. As part of their commitment to transparency and accountability in government affairs, they are seeking this information under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. They have also requested a fee waiver due to their status as a media organization.
The requestor is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that assists media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies. More information about this coalition can be found on their website.
The average student-to-teacher ratio in Franklin County was reported as 13-to-1 during the 2022-23 school year, highlighting the county's educational environment with an enrollment of 5,581 students and 435 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.
Alerts Sign-up