Bill Title: Amends the Local Government Reduction and Efficiency Division of the Counties Code. Provides that the Division applies to all counties (currently, only applies to DuPage, Lake, and McHenry Counties). Excludes specified boards from the definition of "unit of local government". Provides how the status and rights of employees, including those represented by an exclusive bargaining representatives, are affected by the dissolution of a unit of local government under the Division. Provides for the assumption of obligations of the dissolving unit of local government by the entity absorbing the dissolving unit as they relate to representation rights and collective bargaining agreements. Amends the Township Code. Removes a restriction limiting townships to 126 square miles. Provides for the consolidation of 2 or more townships which share a boundary, the merging of one township into 2 other townships, and the dissolution of all townships (currently, only allowed in specified townships) within a coterminous, or substantially coterminous, municipality. Makes other changes. Amends the Election Code. Specifies procedures for township consolidation, merger, and discontinuance referenda. Amends the Illinois Drainage Code. Provides that specified counties may, by resolution, dissolve drainage districts wholly within their borders and drainage districts only partially within its borders under specified circumstances. Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that specified township road districts may be abolished by public referendum. Effective on January 1, 2018, but this Act does not take effect at all unless Senate Bills 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 of the 100th General Assembly become law.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 19-4)
Status: (Passed) 2017-08-14 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 100-0107
[SB0003 Detail]Download: Illinois-2017-SB0003-Chaptered.html
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Public Act 100-0107
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SB0003 Enrolled | LRB100 06370 AWJ 16409 b |
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AN ACT concerning local government.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The Election Code is amended by adding Section |
3-7 and by changing Section 28-1 as follows:
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(10 ILCS 5/3-7 new) |
Sec. 3-7. Voters in consolidating and merging townships. |
(a) In the consolidated election where township trustees |
are elected next following the certification of a successful |
referendum to consolidate townships under Article 22 of the |
Township Code, the qualified electors entitled to caucus, vote |
for, be nominated for, and run for offices in the consolidated |
township that is to be formed are those registered voters |
residing in any of the townships identified in the referendum |
as they exist prior to consolidation. |
(b) In the consolidated election where township trustees |
are elected next following the certification of a successful |
referendum to dissolve a township and merge its territory into |
2 adjacent townships under Article 23 of the Township Code, the |
qualified electors entitled to caucus, vote for, be nominated |
for, and run for offices in a receiving township shall also |
include those registered voters residing in the territory of |
the dissolving township described in the resolutions adopted |
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under Section 23-10 of the Township Code as the territory to be |
merged with the receiving township. For purposes of this |
subsection (b) only, "dissolving township" and "receiving |
township" have the meaning provided in Section 23-5 of the |
Township Code.
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(10 ILCS 5/28-1) (from Ch. 46, par. 28-1)
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Sec. 28-1.
The initiation and submission of all public |
questions to
be voted upon by the electors of the State or of |
any political
subdivision or district or precinct or |
combination of precincts shall be
subject to the provisions of |
this Article.
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Questions of public policy which have any legal effect |
shall be
submitted to referendum only as authorized by a |
statute which so
provides or by the Constitution. Advisory |
questions of public policy
shall be submitted to referendum |
pursuant to Section 28-5 or pursuant to
a statute which so |
provides.
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The method of initiating the submission of a public |
question shall be
as provided by the statute authorizing such |
public question, or as
provided by the Constitution.
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All public questions shall be initiated, submitted and |
printed on the
ballot in the form required by Section 16-7 of |
this Act, except as may
otherwise be specified in the statute |
authorizing a public question.
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Whenever a statute provides for the initiation of a public |
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question
by a petition of electors, the provisions of such |
statute shall govern
with respect to the number of signatures |
required, the qualifications of
persons entitled to sign the |
petition, the contents of the petition, the
officer with whom |
the petition must be filed, and the form of the
question to be |
submitted. If such statute does not specify any of the
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foregoing petition requirements, the corresponding petition |
requirements
of Section 28-6 shall govern such petition.
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Irrespective of the method of initiation, not more than 3 |
public
questions other than (a) back door referenda, (b) |
referenda to
determine whether a disconnection may take place |
where a city coterminous
with a township is proposing to annex |
territory from an adjacent township, (c) referenda held under |
the provisions of the Property Tax Extension
Limitation Law in |
the Property Tax Code, or (d) referenda held under
Section |
2-3002 of the Counties Code , or (e) referenda held under |
Article 22, 23, or 29 of the Township Code may be submitted to
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referendum with respect to a political
subdivision at the same |
election.
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If more than 3 propositions are timely initiated or |
certified for
submission at an election with respect to a |
political subdivision, the
first 3 validly initiated, by the |
filing of a petition or by the
adoption of a resolution or |
ordinance of a political subdivision, as the
case may be, shall |
be printed on the ballot and submitted at that
election. |
However, except as expressly authorized by law not more than
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one proposition to change the form of government of a |
municipality
pursuant to Article VII of the Constitution may be |
submitted at an
election. If more than one such proposition is |
timely initiated or
certified for submission at an election |
with respect to a municipality,
the first validly initiated |
shall be the one printed on the ballot and
submitted at that |
election.
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No public question shall be submitted to the voters of a |
political
subdivision at any regularly scheduled election at |
which such voters are
not scheduled to cast votes for any |
candidates for nomination for, election
to or retention in |
public office, except that if, in any existing or proposed
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political subdivision in which the submission of a public |
question at a
regularly scheduled election is desired, the |
voters of only a portion of
such existing or proposed political |
subdivision are not scheduled to cast votes
for nomination for, |
election to or retention in public office at such election,
but |
the voters in one or more other portions of such existing or |
proposed
political subdivision are scheduled to cast votes for |
nomination for, election
to or retention in public office at |
such election, the public question shall be
voted upon by all |
the qualified voters of the entire existing or proposed
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political subdivision at the election.
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Not more than 3 advisory public questions may be submitted |
to the
voters of the entire state at a general election. If |
more than 3 such advisory
propositions are initiated, the first |
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3 timely and validly initiated
shall be the questions printed |
on the ballot and submitted at that
election; provided however, |
that a question for a proposed amendment to
Article IV of the |
Constitution pursuant to Section 3, Article XIV of the
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Constitution, or for a question submitted under the Property |
Tax Cap
Referendum Law, shall not be included in the foregoing |
limitation.
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(Source: P.A. 93-308, eff. 7-23-03.)
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Section 10. The Counties Code is amended by changing the |
heading of Division 2-4, by changing Sections 2-4006, 5-44010, |
5-44020, and by adding Section 5-44043 as follows:
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(55 ILCS 5/Div. 2-4 heading) |
Division 2-4. Counties not under |
Township Organization
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Organized as a Commission |
Form of Government
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(55 ILCS 5/2-4006)
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Sec. 2-4006. Terms of commissioners.
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(a) In every county not under
township organization that is |
organized as a commission form of government having 3 |
commissioners elected at large as described in
subsection (b) |
or (c), the commissioners shall be elected as provided in this
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Section.
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(b) In a county in which one commissioner was elected at |
the general
election in 1992 to serve for a term of 4 years and |
in which 2 commissioners
will be elected at the general |
election in 1994, the commissioner elected in
1994 and |
receiving the greatest number of votes shall serve for a term |
of 6
years. The other commissioner elected in 1994 shall serve |
for a term of 4
years. At the general election in 1996 and at |
each general election
thereafter, one commissioner shall be |
elected to serve for a term of 6 years.
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(c) In a county in which 2 commissioners were elected at |
the general
election in 1992 to serve for terms of 4 years and |
in which one commissioner
will be elected at the general |
election in 1994, the commissioner elected in
1994 shall serve |
for a term of 4 years. The commissioner elected in 1996 and
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receiving the greatest number of votes shall serve for a term |
of 6 years. The
other commissioner elected in 1996 shall serve |
for a term of 4 years. At the
general election in 1998 and at |
each general election thereafter, one
commissioner shall be |
elected to serve for a term of 6 years. |
(c-5) In Calhoun County, Edwards County, and Union County, |
the registered voters of the county may, upon referendum
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initiated by (i) the adoption of a resolution of the
board of |
county commissioners or (ii) a petition signed by not less than |
10% of the registered voters in the county, determine that the |
board of
county commissioners shall consist of 5
commissioners |
elected at large. The commissioners must certify
the question |
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to the proper election authority, which must
submit the |
question at an election in accordance with the
general election |
law. |
The question shall be submitted in substantially the
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following form: |
"Shall the board of county commissioners of (county) |
consist of 5 commissioners elected at large?" |
Votes must be recorded as "Yes" or "No". If a majority of |
the electors voting on the question vote in the affirmative, |
then a 5-member board of county commissioners shall be |
established beginning with the next general election. The |
County Clerk, in consultation with the State's Attorney for the |
county, shall develop and present to the board of county |
commissioners, to implement by the adoption of a resolution, |
the transition of terms for the current 3-member board of |
commissioners and the addition of 2 commissioners for 6-year |
terms. Thereafter, commissioners shall be elected at each |
general election to fill expired terms.
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(d) The provisions of this Section do not apply to |
commissioners elected
under Section 2-4006.5 of this Code.
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(Source: P.A. 96-175, eff. 8-10-09.)
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(55 ILCS 5/5-44010) |
Sec. 5-44010. Applicability. The powers and authorities |
provided by this Division 5-44 apply to all counties DuPage, |
Lake, and McHenry Counties and units of local government within |
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such counties.
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(Source: P.A. 98-126, eff. 8-2-13; 99-709, eff. 8-5-16.)
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(55 ILCS 5/5-44020) |
Sec. 5-44020. Definitions. In this Division 5-44: |
"Fire protection jurisdiction" means a fire protection |
district, municipal fire department, or service organized |
under Section 5-1056.1 of the Counties Code, Sections 195 and |
200 of the Township Code, Section 10-2.1 of the Illinois |
Municipal Code, or the Illinois Fire Protection District Act. |
"Governing board" means the individual or individuals who |
constitute the
corporate authorities of a unit of local |
government. |
"Unit of local government" or "unit" means any unit of |
local government located entirely within one county, to which |
the county board chairman or county executive directly appoints |
a majority of its governing board with the advice and consent |
of the county board, but shall not include a fire protection |
district that directly employs any regular full-time |
employees, a conservation district organized under the |
Conservation District Act, or a special district organized |
under the Water Commission Act of 1985 , a community mental |
health board established under the Community Mental Health |
Board Act, or a board established under the County Care for |
Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act .
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(Source: P.A. 98-126, eff. 8-2-13; 98-756, eff. 7-16-14; |
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99-709, eff. 8-5-16.)
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(55 ILCS 5/5-44043 new) |
Sec. 5-44043. Rights and obligations of employees. |
(a) The status and rights of employees represented by an |
exclusive bargaining representative shall not be affected by |
the dissolution of a unit of local government under this |
Division, except that this subsection does not apply in DuPage, |
Lake, and McHenry Counties for actions taken before the |
effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General |
Assembly. |
(b) Obligations of the dissolving unit of local government |
assumed by the trustee-in-dissolution, county, or governing |
body of a special service area include the obligation to honor |
representation rights under the Illinois Public Labor |
Relations Act and any collective bargaining agreements |
existing on the date of dissolution of the unit of local |
government. |
(c) The rights of employees under any pensions, retirement |
plans, or annuity plans existing on the date of dissolution of |
the unit of local government are not affected by the |
dissolution of a unit of local government under this Division.
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Section 15. The Township Code is amended by adding Articles |
22, 23, and 29 and by changing Sections 10-25, 25-15, 25-25, |
and 65-20 as follows:
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(60 ILCS 1/10-25)
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Sec. 10-25. Plan for changes in townships.
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(a) The county board of each county may, subject to a |
referendum in the
townships affected as provided in this |
Section, adopt a plan for altering the
boundaries of townships, |
changing township lines, dividing, enlarging, or
consolidating |
townships, or creating new townships, so that each township |
shall
possess an equalized assessed valuation of not less than |
$10,000,000 as of the
1982 assessment year or an area of not |
more than 126 square miles .
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(b) No alteration or change in boundaries shall be |
effective unless
approved by a referendum in each township |
affected. The election authority
shall submit to the voters of |
each township affected, at a regular
election to be held not |
less than 60 days after the plan is adopted,
the question of |
approving the alteration or change. The alterations or changes,
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if approved by the voters, shall take effect on the date of the |
next township
election and shall be applicable to that |
election. If there is doubt as to the
township clerk with whom |
nomination papers for that election should be filed,
the county |
board shall designate the clerk. In the alteration of |
boundaries, a
county board may not disturb urban or coterminous |
townships in existence on
October 1, 1978.
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(Source: P.A. 84-1308; 88-62.)
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(60 ILCS 1/Art. 22 heading new) |
ARTICLE 22. CONSOLIDATION OF |
MULTIPLE TOWNSHIPS
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(60 ILCS 1/22-5 new) |
Sec. 22-5. Resolution for consolidation; notice. |
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the |
contrary, the township boards of any 2 or more adjacent |
townships may, by identical resolutions of each board, propose |
consolidation by referendum: (i) into a new township; or (ii) |
into an existing township. Each resolution shall include, but |
is not limited to, the following: |
(1) the name of the proposed new consolidated township |
or the name of the existing township into which all |
townships will be consolidated; |
(2) a description of how each road district or road |
districts of a dissolving township shall comply with |
subsection (c) of Section 22-20 if a township will be |
consolidating into an existing township; |
(3) the names of all townships that will be |
consolidating and a description of the area of |
consolidation; and |
(4) the date of the general election at which the |
referendum shall be held. |
All resolutions shall be passed not less than 79 days |
before the general election stated in the resolutions. For |
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purposes of this Section, 3 or more townships are adjacent when |
each township shares a boundary with at least one of the other |
townships which are to be consolidated. |
(b) Before passing a resolution under subsection (a), each |
township board shall hold a public hearing on those matters |
after notice of the hearing has been published on the main page |
of the townships' websites, if any, and in a newspaper having a |
general circulation in the townships affected. The notice shall |
be published at least 30 days before the date of the hearing. |
The notice shall contain, at a minimum, the name of all |
townships that will be consolidating and a description of the |
area of consolidation.
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(60 ILCS 1/22-10 new) |
Sec. 22-10. Referendum. |
(a) Upon the adoption of resolutions under Section 22-5 by |
each township, the township boards shall certify the question |
to the election authority and the authority shall cause to be |
submitted to the voters of each township at the general |
election specified in the resolutions a referendum to |
consolidate the townships. The referendum shall be |
substantially in the following form: |
Shall (names of townships) be consolidated into [a new |
township called (name of proposed consolidated |
township)/the township of (name of existing township)]? |
The votes shall be recorded as "Yes" or "No". |
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The referendum is approved when a majority of the voters, |
in each of the affected townships, approve the referendum. |
(b) Before a referendum appears on the ballot under |
subsection (a), each township board shall publish a copy of the |
adopted resolution on the main page of the townships' websites, |
if any, and in a newspaper having a general circulation in each |
of the townships affected. The notice shall be published at |
least 30 days before the date of the general election in which |
the referendum will appear. |
Each township board shall additionally mail a copy of the |
adopted resolution, along with a copy of the referendum |
language and a list of all taxes levied for general township |
purposes in the affected townships, to every registered voter |
in each township affected. The notice shall be mailed at least |
30 days before the date of the general election in which the |
referendum will appear. |
(c) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, |
no tax rate may be extended for any fund of the consolidated |
district for the first levy year of the consolidated district |
that exceeds any statutory maximum set forth for that fund, |
unless the referendum also conforms to the requirements of the |
Property Tax Extension Limitation Law or other statutory |
provision setting forth that limitation.
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(60 ILCS 1/22-15 new) |
Sec. 22-15. Transition. Notwithstanding any other |
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provision of law to the contrary, upon the approval of a |
referendum under Section 22-10: |
(a) There shall be no further nominations or elections for |
clerks, assessors, collectors, highway commissioners, |
supervisors, or trustees of any of the separate townships or |
highway commissions, and the terms of all such officers |
currently serving shall continue until the third Monday of May |
of the year in which township officials are elected next |
following the approval of a referendum under Section 22-10. |
(b) A Transition Township Board is formed and is composed |
of the members of the separate townships boards. The Transition |
Township Board has only the following powers: (1) to propose |
and approve the compensation of all officials of the |
consolidated township that will be elected at the consolidated |
election next following the passage of the referendum under |
Section 22-10; and (2) to propose and approve additional debt |
to be taken on by any of the separate townships. |
(c) The Transition Township Board shall hold a public |
hearing no later than the last Tuesday in December before the |
consolidated township board of trustees are elected next |
following the approval of a referendum under Section 22-10. If |
the Board cannot agree on the compensation for an official by |
the first Tuesday in April before the consolidated election of |
township officials next following the approval of a referendum |
under Section 22-10, then the compensation for that official |
shall be equal to the lowest compensation for the same office |
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between the separate townships in the preceding calendar year. |
(d) The separate townships shall not incur any additional |
debt without the approval of the Transition Township Board. For |
purposes of this Section, "debt" has the meaning ascribed to |
that term in Section 23-5. |
(e) Section 3-7 of the Election Code shall govern those |
individuals entitled to caucus, vote for, be nominated for, and |
run for offices for the consolidated township at the |
consolidated election of township officials next following the |
approval of a referendum under Section 22-10.
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(60 ILCS 1/22-20 new) |
Sec. 22-20. Consolidated township. |
(a) On the third Monday of May of the year in which |
township officials are elected following the approval of a |
referendum under Section 22-10, the following shall occur: |
(1) the separate townships cease and the consolidated |
township is created; |
(2) all rights, powers, duties, assets, and property, |
together with all personnel, contractual obligations, |
other obligations, responsibilities, and liabilities of |
the separate townships are transferred to the consolidated |
township; those rights include, but are not limited to, the |
authority to continue to collect, receive, and expend the |
proceeds of any tax levied by any of the separate townships |
prior to the creation of the consolidated township without |
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an additional ordinance, resolution, or referendum; the |
proceeds of any tax levied by any of the separate townships |
prior to the creation of the consolidated township shall be |
expended or disposed of by the consolidated township in the |
same manner as such assessments might have been expended or |
disposed of by the separate townships; however, if the |
consolidated township board determines that there is a |
surplus in the fund for general township purposes on |
December 31 of the calendar year in which the consolidation |
occurs, then any portion of the surplus that is solely |
attributable to the consolidation shall be refunded to the |
owners of record of taxable property within the |
consolidated district on a pro rata basis; and |
(3) road districts located within the separate |
townships are abolished. |
(b) When a new township is created, a new road district |
encompassing the consolidated township is created. All the |
rights, powers, duties, assets, property, liabilities, |
obligations, and responsibilities of the separate road |
districts shall vest in and be assumed by the new road district |
as provided for in the resolutions adopted under Section 22-5. |
The new township board of trustees shall exercise the taxing |
authority of a road district abolished under this Section. The |
highway commissioners of the abolished road districts shall |
cease to hold office on the date the road district is |
abolished. The new township board shall exercise all duties and |
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responsibilities of the highway commissioner as provided in the |
Illinois Highway Code. For purposes of distribution of revenue, |
the new township shall assume the powers, duties, and |
obligations of the road district of the dissolving road |
district. The new township board may enter into a contract with |
the county, a municipality, or a private contractor
to |
administer the roads under the new road district. |
(c) When a township consolidates into an existing township, |
all the rights, powers, duties, assets, property, liabilities, |
obligations, and responsibilities of the abolished road |
districts shall vest in and be assumed by the existing |
township's road district as provided for in the resolutions |
adopted under Section 22-5. The consolidated township board of |
trustees shall exercise the taxing authority of a road district |
abolished under this Section. Highway commissioners of the |
abolished road districts shall cease to hold office on the date |
the road district is abolished. The consolidated township shall |
exercise all duties and responsibilities of the highway |
commissioner as provided in the Illinois Highway Code. For |
purposes of distribution of revenue, the existing township's |
road district or districts shall assume the powers, duties, and |
obligations of the road district of the dissolving road |
district.
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(60 ILCS 1/Art. 23 heading new) |
ARTICLE 23. MERGER OF A SINGLE |
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TOWNSHIP INTO 2 OTHER TOWNSHIPS
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(60 ILCS 1/23-5 new) |
Sec. 23-5. Definitions. As used in this Article: |
"Dissolving road district" means a road district in a |
dissolving township, which is dissolved under subsection (c) of |
Section 23-25. |
"Dissolving township" means a township which is proposed to |
be dissolved into and be merged with 2 other adjacent |
townships. |
"Equalized assessed value" has the meaning provided in |
Section 18-213 of the Property Tax Code. |
"Debt" means indebtedness incurred by a dissolving |
township including, but not limited to, mortgages, judgments, |
and moneys due through the issuance and sale of bonds, or |
through an equivalent manner of borrowing for which notes or |
other evidences of indebtedness are issued fixing the amount of |
principal and interest from time to time payable to retire the |
indebtedness. |
"Receiving township" means a township into which a portion |
of the dissolving township will be merged.
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(60 ILCS 1/23-10 new) |
Sec. 23-10. Resolution for merger; notice. |
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the |
contrary, the township boards of any 3 adjacent townships may, |
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by identical resolutions of each board, propose that a township |
which borders the other 2 townships be dissolved by referendum |
and all rights, powers, duties, assets, and property, together |
with all personnel, contractual obligations, other |
obligations, responsibilities, and liabilities of the |
dissolving township transferred to the receiving townships. |
Each resolution shall include, but is not limited to, the |
following: |
(1) a legal description of the former territory of the |
dissolving township each receiving township will take upon |
the dissolution of the dissolving township; |
(2) a description of how all assets and property, |
together with all personnel, contractual obligations, |
other obligations, responsibilities, and liabilities of |
the dissolving township will be transferred to the |
receiving townships; |
(3) the tax rates for general township purposes for the |
immediately preceding levy year, as extended and collected |
in the year in which the resolution is adopted, for the |
dissolving township and each receiving township; |
(4) a description and amount of all debt each receiving |
township shall assume after the dissolving township |
dissolves. The debt shall be assumed by each receiving |
township in equal proportion to the equalized assessed |
value of the land and property that will be received by |
each receiving township from the dissolving township |
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unless otherwise agreed to in the resolutions; |
(5) a description of how each road district or road |
districts of a dissolving township shall comply with |
subsection (c) of Section 23-25; and |
(6) the date of the general election at which the |
referendum shall be held. |
All resolutions shall be passed not less than 79 days |
before the general election stated in the resolutions. |
(b) Before passing a resolution under this Section, each |
township board shall hold a public hearing on those matters |
after notice of the hearing has been published on the main page |
of the townships' websites, if any, and in a newspaper having a |
general circulation in the townships affected. The notice shall |
be published at least 30 days before the date of the hearing. |
The notice shall contain, at a minimum, the name of the |
dissolving township and receiving townships and a description |
of the area each receiving township will receive from the |
dissolving township.
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(60 ILCS 1/23-15 new) |
Sec. 23-15. Referendum and notices. |
(a) Upon the adoption of resolutions under Section 23-10 by |
all townships, the township boards shall certify the question |
to the election authority and the authority shall cause to be |
submitted to the voters of all townships at the general |
election specified in the resolutions a referendum to |
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consolidate the townships. The referendum shall be |
substantially in the following form: |
Shall (name of dissolving township) be dissolved into |
(names of receiving townships)? |
The votes shall be recorded as "Yes" or "No". |
The referendum is approved when a majority of the voters, |
in each of the affected townships, approve the referendum. |
(b) Before a referendum appears on the ballot under |
subsection (a), the township boards shall publish a copy of the |
adopted resolution on the main page of the townships' websites, |
if any, and in a newspaper having a general circulation in each |
of the townships affected. The notice shall be published at |
least 30 days before the date of the general election. |
Each township board shall additionally mail a copy of the |
adopted resolution, along with a copy of the referendum |
language and a list of all taxes levied for general township |
purposes in the affected townships, to every registered voter |
in each township affected. The notice shall be mailed at least |
30 days before the date of the general election in which the |
referendum will appear. |
(c) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, |
no tax rate may be extended for any fund of the consolidated |
district for the first levy year of the consolidated district |
that exceeds any statutory maximum set forth for that fund, |
unless the referendum also conforms to the requirements of the |
Property Tax Extension Limitation Law or other statutory |
|
provision setting forth that limitation.
|
(60 ILCS 1/23-20 new) |
Sec. 23-20. Transition. |
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the |
contrary, upon the approval of a referendum under Section |
23-15: |
(1) there shall be no further nominations or elections |
for clerks, assessors, collectors, highway commissioners, |
supervisors, or trustees of the dissolving township or |
highway commissions and the terms of all such officers |
currently serving shall continue until the third Monday of |
May of the year in which township officials are elected |
following the approval of a referendum under Section 23-15; |
(2) a Transition Township Board is formed for each |
receiving township. Each Transition Township Board shall |
be composed of the members of the dissolving township |
boards plus the members of the receiving township board. |
The Transition Township Board shall only have authority to |
do the following under paragraphs (3) and (4) of this |
Section: provide for the compensation for all receiving |
township officials that will be elected at the consolidated |
election next following the approval of a referendum under |
Section 23-15; and approving additional debt to be taken on |
by the dissolving township; |
(3) each Transition Township Board shall hold a public |
|
meeting no later than the first Tuesday in April before the |
receiving townships' boards of trustees are elected at the |
consolidated election next following the approval of a |
referendum under Section 23-15. At this public meeting, the |
Transition Township Board shall provide for the |
compensation for all township officials that will be |
elected at the consolidated election. If the Board cannot |
agree on the compensation for an official, then the |
compensation for the same office between the receiving and |
dissolving townships shall be the lower compensation for |
the office in the dissolving township or receiving |
township; |
(4) the dissolving township shall not incur any |
additional debt without the approval of the Transition |
Township Board of each receiving township that would assume |
such debt after dissolution of the dissolving township; and |
(5) Section 3-7 of the Election Code shall govern those |
individuals entitled to caucus, vote for, be nominated for, |
and run for offices for the receiving townships at the |
consolidated election of township officials next following |
the approval of a referendum under Section 23-15. |
(b) Upon the approval of a referendum under Section 23-15, |
the receiving townships may enter into an intergovernmental |
agreement under the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act for any |
lawful purpose relating to the land or property contained in |
the dissolving township after the township is dissolved.
|
|
(60 ILCS 1/23-25 new) |
Sec. 23-25. Merged township. On the third Monday of May of |
the year in which township officials are elected following the |
approval of a referendum under Section 23-15, the following |
shall occur: |
(a) The dissolving township ceases. |
(b) All rights, powers, duties, assets, and property, |
together with all personnel, contractual obligations, |
other obligations, responsibilities, and liabilities of |
the dissolving township are transferred to the receiving |
townships as provided in the resolution adopted under |
Section 23-10. The rights include, but are not limited to, |
the authority to continue to collect and receive any tax |
levied prior to the creation of the merged townships |
without an additional ordinance, resolution, or |
referendum. |
(c) Road districts located within the dissolving |
township are abolished and all the rights, powers, duties, |
assets, property, liabilities, obligations, and |
responsibilities of the dissolving road districts shall |
vest in and be assumed by the receiving townships' road |
districts as provided for in the resolutions adopted under |
Section 23-10; the boards of trustees of the receiving |
townships shall exercise the taxing authority of a road |
district dissolved under this Section and shall exercise |
|
all duties and responsibilities of the highway |
commissioner as provided in the Illinois Highway Code |
unless a road district in the receiving township has a |
highway commissioner who shall assume all duties and |
responsibilities of the highway commissioner of the |
dissolving road districts if so resolved by the receiving |
township board; highway commissioners of the dissolving |
road districts shall cease to hold office on the date the |
road district is abolished; and for purposes of |
distribution of revenue, the receiving townships' road |
districts, or the township board if no road districts |
exist, shall assume the powers, duties, and obligations of |
the dissolving road district.
|
(60 ILCS 1/25-15)
|
Sec. 25-15. Selection of county governing body; election |
Election of county commissioners . When township organization
|
ceases in any county as provided in this Article, the county |
board may by ordinance or resolution restructure into a |
commission form of government on or before 180 days after a |
township organization ceases. If the county board votes to |
assume a commission form of government, an election shall be |
held in
the county at the next general election in an |
even-numbered year for 3 county
commissioners who shall hold |
office for 2, 4, and 6 years, respectively, and
until their |
successors are elected and qualified. Terms shall be determined |
|
by
lot. At each succeeding general election after the first, |
one commissioner
shall be elected.
|
(Source: P.A. 82-783; 88-62.)
|
(60 ILCS 1/25-25)
|
Sec. 25-25. Disposal of township records and property. When |
township
organization is discontinued in any county, the |
records of the several
townships shall be deposited in the |
county clerk's office. The county
board or board of county |
commissioners of the county may close up all unfinished |
business of the several
townships and sell or and dispose of |
any of the property belonging to a township
for the benefit of |
the inhabitants of the township, as fully as might have been
|
done by the townships themselves. The county board or board of |
county commissioners may pay all the
indebtedness of any |
township existing at the time of the discontinuance of
township |
organization and cause the amount of the indebtedness, or so |
much as
may be necessary, to be levied upon the property of the |
township.
|
(Source: P.A. 82-783; 88-62.)
|
(60 ILCS 1/Art. 29 heading new) |
ARTICLE 29. DISCONTINUANCE OF |
TOWNSHIP WITHIN COTERMINOUS |
MUNICIPALITY: ALL TOWNSHIPS
|
|
(60 ILCS 1/29-5 new) |
Sec. 29-5. Resolutions to discontinue and abolish a |
township. The township board and the corporate authorities of a |
coterminous, or substantially coterminous, municipality may by |
resolutions of the board and corporate authorities, and after |
referendum of the voters of the township and municipality: (1) |
discontinue and abolish the township; (2) transfer all the |
rights, powers, duties, assets, property, liabilities, |
obligations, and responsibilities of the township to the |
municipality; and (3) cease and dissolve all township road |
districts with the district's jurisdiction and authority |
transferred to the municipality upon the dissolution of the |
township.
|
(60 ILCS 1/29-10 new) |
Sec. 29-10. Notice. |
(a) Before passing resolutions under Section 29-5, the |
township board and the corporate authorities of the |
municipality shall hold public hearings on those matters after |
notice of the hearing has been published on the main page of |
the respective entities' websites, if any, and in a newspaper |
having general circulation in the township and municipality. |
The notice shall be published at least 30 days before the date |
of the hearing. |
(b) Before a referendum is placed on the ballot under |
Section 29-15, each township board shall publish a copy of the |
|
resolution adopted under Section 29-5 on the main page of the |
respective entities' websites, if any, and in a newspaper of |
general circulation in the township and municipality affected. |
The notice shall be published at least 30 days before the date |
of the general election in which the referendum will appear. |
Each township board shall additionally mail a copy of the |
adopted resolution, along with a copy of the referendum |
language, the date the referendum will appear, and a list of |
all taxes levied in the affected townships, to every registered |
voter in each township affected. The notice shall be mailed at |
least 30 days before the date of the election in which the |
referendum will appear.
|
(60 ILCS 1/29-15 new) |
Sec. 29-15. Referendum for cessation of township. Upon the |
adoption of resolutions under Section 29-5 by both the township |
and municipality, the township board and corporate authorities |
of the municipality shall certify the question to the election |
authority and the authority shall cause to be submitted to the |
voters of the township and municipality at the next election a |
referendum to discontinue the township and to transfer all the |
rights, powers, duties, assets, property, liabilities, |
obligations, and responsibilities of the township to the |
municipality. The referendum shall be substantially in the |
following form: |
Shall the Township of (name
of township) cease? |
|
The votes shall be recorded as "Yes" or "No". The |
referendum is approved when a majority of the voters, in both |
the township and municipality, approve the referendum. |
If the referendum is approved, there shall be no further |
nominations or elections for clerks, assessors, collectors, |
highway commissioners, supervisors, or trustees of the |
township or highway commission, and the terms of all such |
officers currently serving shall continue until the third |
Monday of May of the year of the consolidated election in which |
township officials are elected next following the approval of a |
referendum under this Section.
|
(60 ILCS 1/29-20 new) |
Sec. 29-20. Cessation of township. On the third Monday in |
May in the year of the consolidated election in which township |
officials are elected next following the approval of a |
referendum under Section 29-15: |
(1) the township is discontinued and abolished and all |
the rights, powers, duties, assets, property, liabilities, |
obligations, and responsibilities of the township shall |
vest in and be assumed by the municipality, including the |
authority to levy property taxes for township purposes in |
the same manner as the dissolved township without an |
additional ordinance, resolution, or referendum; |
(2) all township officers shall cease to hold office; |
(3) the municipality shall exercise all duties and |
|
responsibilities of the township officers as provided in |
the Township Code, the Illinois Public Aid Code, the |
Property Tax Code, and the Illinois Highway Code, as |
applicable. The municipality may enter into an |
intergovernmental agreement with the county or the State to |
administer the duties and responsibilities of the township |
officers for services under its jurisdiction; and |
(4) any road district located within the township is |
abolished and its jurisdiction, rights, powers, duties, |
assets, property, liabilities, obligations, and |
responsibilities shall vest in and be assumed by the |
municipality and the highway commissioner of the abolished |
road district shall cease to hold office. The corporate |
authorities of the municipality shall: exercise the taxing |
authority of a road district abolished under this Section; |
exercise all duties and responsibilities of the highway |
commissioner as provided in the Illinois Highway Code; and |
for purposes of distribution of revenue, assume the powers, |
duties, and obligations of the road district in the |
discontinued township. The corporate authorities of a |
municipality may enter into an intergovernmental agreement |
or a contract with the county, another municipality, or a |
private contractor to administer the roads which were under |
the jurisdiction of the abolished road district.
|
(60 ILCS 1/29-25 new) |
|
Sec. 29-25. Business, records, and property of |
discontinued township. The records of a township discontinued |
under this Article shall be deposited in the municipality's |
city clerk's office. The municipality may close up all |
unfinished business of the township and sell and dispose of any |
of the property belonging to the township for benefit of the |
inhabitants of the municipality.
|
(60 ILCS 1/65-20)
|
Sec. 65-20. Road district treasurer; new township; |
multi-township
officers. |
(a) Compensation of township officers shall be set by the |
township board
at least 180 days before the beginning of the |
terms of officers,
including compensation of the road district |
treasurer, which shall be not less
than $100 or more than |
$1,000 per year.
Compensation of a township assessor and |
collector shall be set at the same
time as the compensation of |
the township supervisor. Compensation of a
multi-township |
assessor shall be set at least 150 days before his or her
|
election.
|
(b) The compensation to be paid to each officer in a new |
township
established under Section 10-25 shall be determined |
under this Section by
the township board of the township the |
whole or a part of which
comprises the new township and that |
has the highest equalized assessed
valuation (as of December |
31, 1972) of the old townships that comprise the new
township.
|
|
(c) At least 150 days before the
election of multi-township |
officers, the multi-township board may establish
additional |
pay of those board members for their services in an amount not |
to
exceed $25 per day for each day of services.
|
(d) For the first term of a township consolidated or merged |
under Article 22 or 23, compensation for township officers of |
the consolidated or merged township shall be set by the |
Transition Township Board no later than the first day in April |
before the consolidated election at which the township officers |
are to be elected. |
(Source: P.A. 90-210, eff. 7-25-97.)
|
Section 20. The Home Equity Assurance Act is amended by |
changing Sections 4 and 5 and by adding Section 21 as follows:
|
(65 ILCS 95/4) (from Ch. 24, par. 1604)
|
Sec. 4. Creation of Commission. |
(a) Whenever in a municipality with
more than 1,000,000 |
inhabitants, the question of creating a home equity
program |
within a contiguous territory included entirely within
the |
municipality is initiated by resolution or ordinance
of the |
corporate authorities of the municipality or by a petition
|
signed by not less than 10% of the total number of registered |
voters of
each precinct in the territory, the registered voters |
of
which are eligible to sign the petition, it shall be
the |
duty of the election authority having jurisdiction over such
|
|
municipality to submit the question of creating a home equity |
program to
the electors of each precinct within
the territory |
at the regular election specified in the resolution,
ordinance |
or petition initiating the question. If the question is
|
initiated by petition and if the requisite number of signatures |
is not
obtained in any precinct included within the territory |
described in the
petition, then the petition shall be valid as |
to the territory encompassed by those
precincts for which the |
requisite number of signatures is obtained and any
such |
precinct for which the requisite number of signatures is not |
obtained
shall be excluded from the territory. A petition |
initiating a
question described in this Section shall be filed |
with the election
authority having jurisdiction over the |
municipality. The petition
shall be filed and objections |
thereto shall be made in the manner provided
in the general |
election law. A resolution, ordinance, or petition
initiating a |
question described in this Section shall specify the election
|
at which the question is to be submitted. The referendum on |
such question
shall be held in accordance with general election |
law. Such
question, and the resolution, ordinance, or petition |
initiating the
question, shall include a description of the |
territory, the name of the
proposed home equity program, and |
the maximum rate at which the home
equity program shall be able |
to levy a property tax. All
of that area within the geographic |
boundaries of the territory described in
such question shall be |
included in the program, and no area outside the
geographic |
|
boundaries of the territory described in such question shall be
|
included in the program. If the election authority determines |
that the
description cannot be included within the space |
limitations of the ballot,
the election authority shall prepare |
large printed copies of a notice of
the question, which shall |
be prominently displayed in the polling place of
each precinct |
in which the question is to be submitted.
|
(b) Whenever a majority of the voters on such public |
question approve the
creation of a home equity program as |
certified by the proper election
authorities, the mayor of the |
municipality shall appoint, with the consent
of the corporate |
authorities, 9 individuals, to be known as commissioners,
to |
serve as the governing body of the home equity program. The |
mayor
shall choose 7 of the 9 individuals to be appointed to |
the governing
commission from nominees submitted by a community |
organization or community
organizations as defined in this Act. |
A community organization may
recommend up to 20 individuals to |
serve on a governing commission. Beginning after the effective |
date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, a |
home equity commission shall consist of 7 commissioners; |
however, the 9 commissioners serving on a governing commission |
on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th |
General Assembly shall be allowed to finish their current terms |
of service. Thereafter, the number of commissioners shall be |
reduced to 7.
|
No fewer than 5 commissioners serving at any one time shall |
|
reside
within the territory of the program. Beginning after the |
effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General |
Assembly, and upon the number of commissioners being reduced to |
7, no fewer than 4 commissioners serving at any one time shall |
reside within the territory of the program.
|
Upon the initial appointment of 7 commissioners to creation |
of a governing commission under the provisions of this |
amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly , the terms of the |
initial
commissioners shall be as follows: one 3 shall serve
|
for one year, 3 shall serve for 2 years, and 3 shall serve for 3
|
years and until a successor is appointed and qualified. All
|
succeeding terms shall be for 3 years, or until a successor is |
appointed
or qualified.
Commissioners shall serve without |
compensation except for reimbursement for
reasonable expenses |
incurred in the performance of duties as a
commissioner. A |
vacancy in the office of a member of a commission shall be
|
filled in like manner as an original appointment.
|
All proceedings and meetings of the governing commission |
shall be
conducted in accordance with the provisions of the |
Open Meetings Act,
as now or hereafter amended.
|
(Source: P.A. 93-709, eff. 7-9-04.)
|
(65 ILCS 95/5) (from Ch. 24, par. 1605)
|
Sec. 5. Duties and Functions of Commission. The duties and |
functions
of the governing commission of a Home Equity Program |
shall include the following:
|
|
(a) To conduct or supervise the day-to-day operation of the |
program,
including but not limited to the administration of |
homeowner applications
for participation in the program and |
homeowner claims against the guarantee fund.
|
(b) To establish policies, rules, regulations, bylaws, and |
procedures
for both the governing commission and the program. |
No policies, rules,
regulations, or bylaws shall be adopted by |
the governing commission
without prior notice to the residents |
of the territory of a program and an
opportunity for such |
residents to be heard.
|
(c) To provide annual status reports on the program to the |
mayor and
corporate authorities of the municipality.
|
(d) To establish guaranteed value standards which are |
directly linked to
the program appraisal, to approve guarantee |
values,
to establish requirements for program appraisers |
consistent with subsection
(p) of Section 3. In no event shall |
the program guidelines adopted by the governing
commission |
provide for selecting appraisers based on criteria other than
|
the quality and timeliness of the appraisals provided to the |
governing commission.
|
(e) To manage, administer, and invest the guarantee fund.
|
(f) To liquidate acquired assets to maintain the guarantee |
fund.
|
(g) To participate in arbitration required under the |
program and to
subpoena all necessary persons, parties, or |
documents required to proceed
with such arbitration.
|
|
(h) To employ necessary personnel, acquire necessary |
office space, enter
into contractual relationships and |
disburse funds in accordance with the
provisions of this Act. A |
governing commission may employ full-time or part-time |
employees.
|
(i) To perform such other functions in connection with the |
program and
the guarantee fund as required under this Act.
|
(Source: P.A. 85-1044.)
|
(65 ILCS 95/21 new) |
Sec. 21. Tax Reimbursement Program. A governing |
commission, with no less than $4,000,000 unencumbered funds in |
its guarantee fund, may, if authorized by resolution of the |
governing commission upon approval by two-thirds of the |
commissioners, establish a Tax Reimbursement Program to make |
reimbursements to each applicable taxpayer for an amount of no |
more than the total of their pro rata share of the annual levy |
imposed by the commission. Prior to authorizing a reimbursement |
program, an independent licensed public accountant not |
connected with the commission or any entity conducting business |
with the commission shall audit the commission and the proposal |
for the program. The commission may create a program if the |
independent licensed public accountant determines that such a |
program will not reduce the balance of the guarantee fund to |
less than $3,000,000. For the purposes of this Section, |
"applicable taxpayer" means the owner of record that paid the |
|
tax levied on property in accordance with Section 11 of this |
Act.
|
Section 25. The Street Light District Act is amended by |
changing Section 11 as follows:
|
(70 ILCS 3305/11) |
Sec. 11. Cessation of district organization. |
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a majority vote |
of the board of trustees is in favor of the proposition to |
annex the district to another district whose boundaries are |
contiguous, or consolidate the district into a municipality |
with which the district is coterminous or substantially |
coterminous, or consolidate the district into the county in |
which the district sits if the district contains territory |
within only one county, or consolidate the district into the |
township in which the district sits if the entire district is |
located within the district, and if the governing authorities |
of the governmental unit assuming the functions of the former |
district agree by resolution to accept the functions (and |
jurisdiction over the territory, if applicable) of the |
consolidated or annexed district, then the district shall |
cease. On the effective date of the annexation or |
consolidation, all the rights, powers, duties, assets, |
property, liabilities, indebtedness, obligations, bonding |
authority, taxing authority, and responsibilities of the |
|
district shall vest in and be assumed by the governmental unit |
assuming the functions of the former district. |
The employees of the former district shall be transferred |
to the governmental unit assuming the functions of the former |
district. The governmental unit assuming the functions of the |
former district shall exercise the rights and responsibilities |
of the former district with respect to those employees. The |
status and rights of the employees of the former district under |
any applicable contracts or collective bargaining agreements, |
historical representation rights under the Illinois Public |
Labor Relations Act, or under any pension, retirement, or |
annuity plan shall not be affected by this amendatory Act.
|
(Source: P.A. 98-1002, eff. 8-18-14.)
|
Section 30. The Illinois Highway Code is amended by |
changing Sections 6-130 and 6-133 and by adding Section 6-135 |
as follows:
|
(605 ILCS 5/6-130) (from Ch. 121, par. 6-130)
|
Sec. 6-130. Road district abolishment. Notwithstanding any |
other provision of this Act to the contrary,
no
township road |
district may continue in existence if the roads forming a
part |
of the district do not exceed a total of 4 miles in length as |
determined by the county engineer or county superintendent of |
highways . For purposes of this Section, the roads forming a |
part of a township road district include those roads maintained |
|
by the district, regardless of whether or not those roads are |
owned by the township. On the
first Tuesday in April of 1975, |
or of any subsequent year next succeeding
the reduction of a |
township road system to a total mileage of 4 miles or
less, |
each such township road district shall, by operation of law, be
|
abolished. The roads comprising that district at that time |
shall thereafter
be administered by the township board of |
trustees by contracting with the
county, a municipality or a |
private contractor. The township board of trustees
shall assume |
all taxing authority of a township road district abolished |
under
this Section.
|
(Source: P.A. 94-884, eff. 6-20-06.)
|
(605 ILCS 5/6-133) |
Sec. 6-133. Abolishing a road district in Cook County. By |
resolution, the board of trustees of any township located in |
Cook County, Illinois, may submit a proposition to abolish the |
road district of that township to the electors of that township
|
at a general election or consolidated election in accordance |
with the general election law. The
ballot shall be in |
substantially the following form:
|
|
--------- | | |
Shall the Road District of the Township of | | | |
........... be abolished with all the rights, | YES | | |
powers, duties, assets, property, liabilities, | |
|
|
obligations, and responsibilities being assumed | --------- | | |
by the Township of ........... ? | NO | | |
--------- | |
|
In the event that a majority of the electors voting on such |
proposition are in favor thereof, then
the road district shall |
be abolished by operation of law effective on January 1 of the |
calendar
year immediately following the calendar year in which |
the proposition was approved by the
electors or on the date the |
term of the highway commissioner in office at the time the |
proposition was approved by the electors expires, whichever is |
later . |
On that date, all the rights, powers, duties, assets, |
property, liabilities, obligations, and
responsibilities of |
the road district shall by operation of law vest in and be |
assumed by the
township. On that date, the township board of |
trustees shall assume all taxing authority of a road district |
abolished under this Section. On that date, any highway |
commissioner of the abolished road district shall cease to
hold |
office, such term having been terminated. Thereafter, the |
township shall exercise all duties
and responsibilities of the |
highway commissioner as provided in the Illinois Highway Code. |
The
township board of trustees may enter into a contract with |
the county, a municipality, or a private
contractor to |
administer the roads under its jurisdiction. The township board |
of trustees shall
assume all taxing authority of a township |
|
road district abolished under this subsection. For purposes
of |
distribution of revenue, the township shall assume the powers, |
duties, and obligations of the
road district.
|
(Source: P.A. 97-611, eff. 1-1-12.)
|
(605 ILCS 5/6-135 new) |
Sec. 6-135. Abolishing a road district with less than 15 |
miles of roads. |
(a) Any township in a county with a population less than |
3,000,000 may abolish a road district of that township if the |
roads of the road district are less than 15 miles in length, as |
determined by the county engineer or county superintendent of |
highways, by resolution of a majority of the board of trustees |
to submit a referendum to abolish the road district of that |
township. The referendum shall be submitted to the electors of |
that township at the next general election or consolidated |
election in accordance with the general election law. The |
ballot shall be in substantially the following form: |
|
-------- | | |
Shall the Road District of the Township of | | | |
........... be abolished with all the rights, | YES | | |
powers, duties, assets, property, liabilities, | |
obligations, and responsibilities being assumed | -------- | | |
by the Township of ........... ? | NO | | |
-------- | |
|
(b) If a majority of the electors voting on the referendum |
|
under subsection (a) of this Section are in favor of abolishing |
the township road district, then the road district is abolished |
on the January 1 following the approval of the referendum or on |
the date the term of the highway commissioner in office at the |
time the referendum was approved expires, whichever is later. |
On the date of abolishment: all the rights, powers, duties, |
assets, property, liabilities, obligations, and |
responsibilities of the road district shall by operation of law |
vest in and be assumed by the township; the township board of |
trustees shall assume all taxing authority of a road district |
abolished under this Section; any highway commissioner of the |
abolished road district shall cease to hold office; the |
township shall exercise all duties and responsibilities of the |
highway commissioner as provided in the Illinois Highway Code; |
and for purposes of distribution of revenue, the township shall |
assume the powers, duties, and obligations of the road |
district. The township board of trustees may enter into a |
contract with the county, a municipality, or a private |
contractor to administer the roads added to its jurisdiction |
under this Section.
|