093_HB3609

 
                                     LRB093 04551 SJM 04604 b

 1        AN ACT concerning taxes.

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

 4        Section  5.  The Property Tax Code is amended by changing
 5    Section 10-155 as follows:

 6        (35 ILCS 200/10-155)
 7        Sec.  10-155.   Open  space  land;  valuation.   In   all
 8    counties,  in addition to valuation as otherwise permitted by
 9    law, land which is used for open space purposes and has  been
10    so  used  for  the  3 years immediately preceding the year in
11    which the assessment is made, upon application under  Section
12    10-160,  shall be valued on the basis of its fair cash value,
13    estimated at the price it would bring at  a  fair,  voluntary
14    sale for use by the buyer for open space purposes.
15        Land  is considered used for open space purposes if it is
16    more than 10 acres in area and:
17             (a)  is   actually   and   exclusively   used    for
18        maintaining or enhancing natural or scenic resources,
19             (b)  protects air or streams or water supplies,
20             (c)  promotes   conservation   of   soil,  wetlands,
21        beaches, or marshes, including ground  cover  or  planted
22        perennial  grasses,  trees  and  shrubs and other natural
23        perennial  growth,  and  including  any  body  of  water,
24        whether man-made or natural,
25             (d)  conserves landscaped areas, such as  public  or
26        private golf courses,
27             (e)  enhances the value to the public of abutting or
28        neighboring  parks,  forests,  wildlife preserves, nature
29        reservations, sanctuaries, or other open spaces, or
30             (f)  preserves historic sites.  In  determining  the
31        historic  nature of a site under this subsection (f), the
 
                            -2-      LRB093 04551 SJM 04604 b
 1        chief  county  assessment  officer   may   consider   its
 2        inclusion  in  or  consistency  with  a  federal,  State,
 3        regional,  or  local  government  policy  or plan for the
 4        preservation of historic sites.
 5        Land is not considered used for open space purposes if it
 6    is used primarily for residential purposes.
 7        A parcel of land is not considered used  for  open  space
 8    purposes  if  the outside boundaries of the parcel completely
 9    enclose a separate parcel used for residential or  commercial
10    purposes.
11    (Source: P.A. 88-455; 89-137, eff. 1-1-96.)