HB0924 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 05498 HLH 50513 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB0924

Introduced , by Rep. Fred Crespo

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

35 ILCS 200/Art. 18 Div. 7 heading new
35 ILCS 200/18-280 new
35 ILCS 200/18-285 new
35 ILCS 200/18-290 new
35 ILCS 200/20-15

Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates the School District Extension Freeze Law. Provides that, if at the end of any levy year, a school district has reserves of 50% or more in its educational fund, then the school district's extension for educational purposes may not exceed its extension for the previous levy year. Provides that, if the school district has reserves of 60% or more at the end of the immediately preceding levy year, then the district's extension for educational purposes shall be reduced by an amount equal to the difference between the district's educational reserve amount for the immediately preceding levy year and a reserve amount of 60% for that levy year. Effective July 1, 2020.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning revenue.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Property Tax Code is amended by adding Division 7 to Article 18 and by changing Section 20-15 as follows:

(35 ILCS 200/Art. 18 Div. 7 heading new)

Division 7. School District Extension Freeze Law

(35 ILCS 200/18-280 new)

Sec. 18-280. Short title. This Division 7 may be cited as the School District Extension Freeze Law.

(35 ILCS 200/18-285 new)

Sec. 18-285. Limitation.

(a) If, at the end of any levy year, any school district has reserves of 50% or more in its educational fund, as determined by the State Board of Education, then, for the next levy year, the county clerk shall extend a rate for that district for educational purposes that is no greater than the educational limiting rate.

(b) Each school district shall transmit to the State Board of Education any information required by the State Board of Education, by rule, for the purposes of making the determination required under this Section.

(c) In the case of a school district that is subject to both the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law and this Law for a particular levy year, the county clerk shall calculate 2 separate limiting rates, one for educational purposes under this Section and one for the sum of all other funds that are included in the district's aggregate extension under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law.

(d) For a school district that has reserves of 50% or more but not more than 60% in its educational fund at the end of the immediately preceding levy year, as determined by the State Board of Education, "educational limiting rate" means a fraction the numerator of which is the district's last preceding extension for educational purposes and the denominator of which is the current year's equalized assessed value of all real property in the territory under the jurisdiction of the district during the prior levy year. For a school district that has reserves of 60% or more at the end of the immediately preceding levy year, as determined by the State Board of Education, "educational limiting rate" means a fraction (i) the numerator of which is the district's last preceding extension for educational purposes minus the difference between the district's educational reserve amount for the immediately preceding levy year and a reserve amount of 60% for that levy year and (ii) the denominator of which is the current year's equalized assessed value of all real property in the territory under the jurisdiction of the taxing district during the prior levy year. In either case, the denominator shall not include new property or the recovered tax increment value, as defined in the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law.

(35 ILCS 200/18-290 new)

Sec. 18-290. Referendum to increase the educational limiting rate. A school district may increase its educational limiting rate for one or more levy years if the district holds a referendum before the levy date for the first levy year at which a majority of voters voting on the issue approves the higher educational limiting rate. Referenda shall be conducted at a regularly scheduled election in accordance with the Election Code. The question shall be presented in substantially the following manner:

Shall the educational limiting rate for (school district) be increased from (applicable educational limiting rate) to (insert proposed educational limiting rate) for (insert each levy year for which the increased extension limitation will apply)?

The votes must be recorded as "Yes" or "No".

If a majority of voters voting on the issue approves the adoption of the increase, the increase shall be applicable for each levy year specified.

(35 ILCS 200/20-15)

Sec. 20-15. Information on bill or separate statement. There shall be printed on each bill, or on a separate slip which shall be mailed with the bill:

(a) a statement itemizing the rate at which taxes have been extended for each of the taxing districts in the county in whose district the property is located, and in those counties utilizing electronic data processing equipment the dollar amount of tax due from the person assessed allocable to each of those taxing districts, including a separate statement of the dollar amount of tax due which is allocable to a tax levied under the Illinois Local Library Act or to any other tax levied by a municipality or township for public library purposes,

(b) a separate statement for each of the taxing districts of the dollar amount of tax due which is allocable to a tax levied under the Illinois Pension Code or to any other tax levied by a municipality or township for public pension or retirement purposes,

(c) the total tax rate,

(d) the total amount of tax due, and

(e) the amount by which the total tax and the tax allocable to each taxing district differs from the taxpayer's last prior tax bill, and .

(f) if the property is located in a school district that had its extension for educational purposes reduced by operation of the School District Extension Freeze Law because it retained reserves of 60% or more at the end of the immediately preceding levy year, then a separate statement setting forth the amount by which the extension for educational purposes was reduced.

The county treasurer shall ensure that only those taxing districts in which a parcel of property is located shall be listed on the bill for that property.

In all counties the statement shall also provide:

(1) the property index number or other suitable description,

(2) the assessment of the property,

(3) the statutory amount of each homestead exemption applied to the property,

(4) the assessed value of the property after application of all homestead exemptions,

(5) the equalization factors imposed by the county and by the Department, and

(6) the equalized assessment resulting from the application of the equalization factors to the basic assessment.

In all counties which do not classify property for purposes of taxation, for property on which a single family residence is situated the statement shall also include a statement to reflect the fair cash value determined for the property. In all counties which classify property for purposes of taxation in accordance with Section 4 of Article IX of the Illinois Constitution, for parcels of residential property in the lowest assessment classification the statement shall also include a statement to reflect the fair cash value determined for the property.

In all counties, the statement must include information that certain taxpayers may be eligible for tax exemptions, abatements, and other assistance programs and that, for more information, taxpayers should consult with the office of their township or county assessor and with the Illinois Department of Revenue.

In counties which use the estimated or accelerated billing methods, these statements shall only be provided with the final installment of taxes due. The provisions of this Section create a mandatory statutory duty. They are not merely directory or discretionary. The failure or neglect of the collector to mail the bill, or the failure of the taxpayer to receive the bill, shall not affect the validity of any tax, or the liability for the payment of any tax.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15; 100-621, eff. 7-20-18.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2020.