SB3382ham001 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Rep. Ed Sullivan, Jr.

Filed: 5/20/2014

09800SB3382ham001 LRB098 19482 HLH 59429 a

AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 3382

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 3382 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

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

(35 ILCS 200/10-155)

Sec. 10-155. Open space land; valuation.

(a) In all counties, in addition to valuation as otherwise permitted by law, land which is used for open space purposes and has been so used for the 3 years immediately preceding the year in which the assessment is made, upon application under Section 10-160, shall be valued on the basis of its fair cash value, estimated at the price it would bring at a fair, voluntary sale for use by the buyer for open space purposes.

(b) Land is considered used for open space purposes if it is more than 10 acres in area and:

(1) (a) is actually and exclusively used for maintaining or enhancing natural or scenic resources,

(2) (b) protects air or streams or water supplies,

(3) (c) promotes conservation of soil, wetlands, beaches, or marshes, including ground cover or planted perennial grasses, trees and shrubs and other natural perennial growth, and including any body of water, whether man-made or natural,

(4) (d) conserves landscaped areas, such as public or private golf courses,

(5) (e) enhances the value to the public of abutting or neighboring parks, forests, wildlife preserves, nature reservations, sanctuaries, or other open spaces, or

(6) (f) preserves historic sites.

(c) Land is not considered used for open space purposes if it is used primarily for residential purposes.

(d) Land and improvements that facilitate the operation of a public or private golf course, including, but not limited to, the following, are considered used for open space purposes:

(1) driving range facilities;

(2) undeveloped land surrounding and included in the golf course property;

(3) halfway houses, including food service and washroom facilities located on the golf course property that are available for use by golfers and golf course staff while they are golfing or maintaining the golf course;

(4) maintenance buildings serving the golf course, including separate storage buildings for golf course maintenance equipment;

(5) parking lots that provide accessibility to the golf course, not to exceed a ratio of 60 parking spaces per nine holes;

(6) driveways and roadways located on the golf course property; and

(7) golf course clubhouses, exclusive of restaurant and banquet facilities that are open to the public; provided that (i) if the golf course contains 9 holes or less, only 4,000 square feet of the clubhouse is considered used for open space purposes and (ii) if the golf course contains more than 9 holes, only 8,000 square feet of the clubhouse is considered used for open space purposes.

(e) If the land is improved with a water-retention dam that is operated primarily for commercial purposes, the water-retention dam is not considered to be used for open space purposes despite the fact that any resulting man-made lake may be considered to be used for open space purposes under this Section.

(f) The chief county assessment officer may determine the eligibility of property to receive the preferential assessment provided by this Section by application, visual inspection, questionnaire, or other reasonable methods.

(Source: P.A. 95-70, eff. 1-1-08.)".