(605 ILCS 5/5-604.1) (from Ch. 121, par. 5-604.1)

Sec. 5-604.1. In any county not under township organization, the county board may levy by ordinance, for a period not exceeding 5 years, an annual tax at a rate not to exceed .05% of the value, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, of all taxable property in the county for the purpose of constructing or maintaining gravel, rock, macadam or other hard roads, or for improving, maintaining or repairing earth roads by draining, grading, oil treating or dragging. A notice of the passage of the ordinance, stating that the ordinance was passed and stating (a) the particular county highway or highways to be constructed, improved, repaired or maintained, (b) the annual tax rate specified in the ordinance, (c) the number of years specified in the ordinance for the levy of the tax, (d) the specific number of voters required to sign a petition requesting that the question of the adoption of the ordinance be submitted to the electors of the county, (e) the time in which the petition must be filed, and (f) the date of the prospective referendum, shall be published once in a paper having a general circulation in the county. The county clerk shall provide a petition form to any individual requesting one.

The ordinance takes effect 30 days after publication of that notice unless within that time a petition, signed by the registered voters of the county equal to 10% or more of the registered voters in the county, is filed with the county clerk requesting the submission to a referendum of the question of whether to levy the tax provided for by this Section. If no such petition is filed within that time, or if all such petitions filed within that time are determined to be invalid or insufficient, the county clerk shall extend the tax levied by the county board for the number of years stated in the ordinance and the proceeds of that tax shall be used for the purpose or purposes stated in the ordinance.

If, however, such a petition is filed within that time, the county clerk shall submit at the next general election for county officers, or at a regular election, the question of whether the tax provided for in this Section should be levied. The county clerk shall give notice of the referendum and shall submit the question in accordance with the general election law. Both the petition and the notice of election must designate (1) the particular county highway or highways to be constructed, improved, repaired or maintained, (2) the maximum annual rate per cent not exceeding .05% of the value, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, at which the tax may be extended, and (3) the number of years, not exceeding 5 years, during which the tax may be levied.

The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:

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Shall a special tax YES

for highway purposes be -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

levied in.... County? NO

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If a majority of all ballots cast on that question is in favor of the tax levy, the county board shall levy and the county clerk shall extend the tax for the number of years stated in the petition and the proceeds of that tax shall be used for the purpose or purposes stated in the petition.

(Source: P.A. 87-767.)