94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
SB2096


 
Introduced 2/25/2005, by Sen. Louis S. Viverito
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 		












New Act











    Creates the State Budget and School-Funding Crisis Referendum Act.
Authorizes a statewide referendum at the consolidated election in 2006 to seek
the advice
of the voters.
Sets forth questions concerning a temporary increase in the State use and occupation taxes to
help solve the current State budget  and school-funding crises.  Effective immediately.
















SDS094 00124 MRM 30124 b

















 


 


A BILL FOR









 











SB2096

SDS094 00124 MRM 30124 b






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    AN ACT concerning a statewide advisory referendum on the 
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State budget and school-funding crisis. 

 
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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 1. Short title.  This Act may be cited as the State 
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Budget Crisis and School-Funding
Referendum Act.


 
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    Section 5. Purpose.  Illinois, as almost all other states, 
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is currently
experiencing a
State budget crisis as well as a 
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school-funding crisis. At the same time, however, Illinois

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enjoys
relatively modest rates of State use and occupation 
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taxes. But there is a high burden on property owners because  
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school funding relies heavily on local property taxes.  Article 
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10 of the Illinois Constitution provides that the State shall 
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fund education by making public schools free through the 
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secondary level. The purpose of this Act is to seek the advice 
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of the
voters as to
whether a temporary increase in the State 
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use and occupation taxes is warranted to help solve
this 
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school-funding crisis.



 
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    Section 10. State budget and school-funding crises 
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advisory questions.  The following advisory
questions shall be 
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submitted to
the
voters of the entire State at the 2006 general 
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primary election:


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        (1) Should the General Assembly  temporarily increase

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    the Illinois use and occupation taxes from January 1, 2007 
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    through December 31, 2008 to help solve the current State 
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    budget crisis and avoid
drastic cuts in State support for 
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    public education?


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        (2) Should this temporary increase
be limited to 
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    increasing the rate of tax by no more than one percentage 
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    point for each of the State use and occupation taxes?


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    All of these 2 questions shall be placed on a single, 
 


 






SB2096
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SDS094 00124 MRM 30124 b




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separate ballot. The
votes on
each question shall be recorded 
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as "Yes" or "No".



 
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    Section 15. Certification.  The State Board of Elections 
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shall immediately
certify
the questions to be submitted to the 
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voters of the entire State under Section
10 to the respective 
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county
clerks and to the board of election commissioners, if 
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any, in
their respective counties.



 
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    Section 20. Conflicts.  If any provision of this Act 
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conflicts with any other
law,
this Act controls.



 
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    Section 90. Repeal.  This Act is repealed on December 31, 
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2008.



 
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    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
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becoming law.