(50 ILCS 470/5)

Sec. 5. Purpose. It is hereby found and declared that the purpose of this Act is to promote, stimulate, and develop the general and economic welfare of the State of Illinois and its communities and to assist in the development and redevelopment of major tourism, entertainment, retail, and related destination projects within eligible areas of the State, thereby creating new jobs, stimulating significant capital investment, and promoting the general welfare of the citizens of this State, by authorizing municipalities and counties to issue sales tax and revenue (STAR) bonds for the financing of STAR bond projects as defined in Section 10, and to otherwise exercise the powers and authorities granted to municipalities. It is further found and declared to be the policy of the State, in the interest of promoting the health, safety, morals, and general welfare of all the people of the State, to provide incentives to create new job opportunities and to promote major tourism, entertainment, retail, and related destination projects within the State. It is further found and declared:

(a) that it is in the public interest to limit the portion of the aggregate proceeds of STAR bonds issued that are derived from the State sales tax increment pledged to pay STAR bonds in any STAR bond district to not more than 50% of the total development costs in the STAR bond district as set forth in subsection (f) of Section 30;

(b) that as a result of the costs of land assemblage, financing, infrastructure, and other project costs, the private sector, without the assistance contemplated in this Act, is unable to develop major tourism, entertainment, retail, and related destination projects in the State;

(c) that the type of projects for which this Act is intended must be of a certain size, scope, and acreage and have direct access to major highways, and must be developed in a cohesive and comprehensive manner;

(d) that the eligible tracts of land, portions of which have previously been surface or strip mined, present unique development obstacles and are more likely to remain underutilized and undeveloped, or developed in a piecemeal manner resulting in inefficient and poorly planned developments that do not maximize job creation, job retention, tourism, and tax revenue generation within the State;

(e) that there are multiple eligible areas in the State that could benefit from this Act;

(f) that investment in major tourism, entertainment, retail, and related destination projects within the State would stimulate economic activity in the State, including the creation and maintenance of jobs, the creation of new and lasting infrastructure and other improvements, and the attraction and retention of interstate tourists and entertainment events that generate significant economic activity;

(g) that this Act shall enhance and promote tourism in Southern Illinois, including without limitation the Southern Illinois Wine Trail;

(h) that the continual encouragement, development, growth, and expansion of major tourism, entertainment, retail, and related destination projects within the State requires a cooperative and continuous partnership between government and the public sector;

(i) that the State has a responsibility to help create a favorable climate for new and improved job opportunities for its citizens and to increase the tax base of the State and its political subdivisions by encouraging development by the private sector of major tourism, entertainment, retail, and related destination projects within the State;

(j) that the stagnation of local tax bases and the loss of job opportunities within the State has persisted despite efforts of State and local authorities and private organizations to create major tourism, entertainment, retail, and related destination projects within the State;

(k) that the stagnation of local tax bases and the persistent loss of job opportunities in the State may continue and worsen if the State and its political subdivisions are not able to provide additional incentives to developers of major tourism, entertainment, retail, and related destination projects;

(l) that the provision of additional incentives by the State and its political subdivisions will relieve conditions of unemployment, maintain existing levels of employment, create new job opportunities, retain jobs within the State, increase tourism and commerce within the State, and increase the tax base of the State and its political subdivisions;

(m) that the powers conferred by this Act promote and protect the health, safety, morals, and welfare of the State, and are for a public purpose and public use for which public money and resources may be expended; and

(n) that the necessity in the public interest for the provisions of this Act is hereby declared as a matter of legislative determination.

(Source: P.A. 96-939, eff. 6-24-10.)