SB1500 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB099 09921 AWJ 30137 b

99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
SB1500

Introduced 2/20/2015, by Sen. Andy Manar

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

50 ILCS 310/2	from Ch. 85, par. 702
50 ILCS 310/4	from Ch. 85, par. 704
55 ILCS 5/6-31003	from Ch. 34, par. 6-31003
55 ILCS 5/6-31004	from Ch. 34, par. 6-31004
55 ILCS 5/6-31005	from Ch. 34, par. 6-31005
65 ILCS 5/8-8-3	from Ch. 24, par. 8-8-3
65 ILCS 5/8-8-3.5
65 ILCS 5/8-8-4	from Ch. 24, par. 8-8-4
65 ILCS 5/11-74.4-5	from Ch. 24, par. 11-74.4-5
65 ILCS 5/11-74.6-22

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that various documents that are submitted to the Comptroller must be filed within 180 days after the close of a fiscal year (removing the option to file as soon thereafter as various audits become available). Further changes audit due dates from 6 months to 180 days. Amends the Counties Code changing audit due dates from 6 months to 180 days. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning local government.

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

Section 5. The Governmental Account Audit Act is amended by changing Sections 2 and 4 as follows:

(50 ILCS 310/2) (from Ch. 85, par. 702)

Sec. 2. Except as otherwise provided in Section 3, the governing body of each governmental unit shall cause an audit of the accounts of the unit to be made by a licensed public accountant. Such audit shall be made annually and shall cover the immediately preceding fiscal year of the governmental unit. The audit shall include all the accounts and funds of the governmental unit, including the accounts of any officer of the governmental unit who receives fees or handles funds of the unit or who spends money of the unit. The audit shall begin as soon as possible after the close of the last fiscal year to which it pertains, and shall be completed and the audit report filed with the Comptroller within 180 days 6 months after the close of such fiscal year unless an extension of time is granted by the Comptroller in writing. An audit report which fails to meet the requirements of this Act shall be rejected by the Comptroller and returned to the governing body of the governmental unit for corrective action. The licensed public accountant making the audit shall submit not less than 3 copies of the audit report to the governing body of the governmental unit being audited.

All audits to be filed with the Comptroller under this Section must be submitted electronically and the Comptroller must post the audit reports on the Internet no later than 45 days after they are received. If the governmental unit provides the Comptroller's Office with sufficient evidence that the audit report cannot be filed electronically, the Comptroller may waive this requirement. The Comptroller must also post a list of governmental units that are not in compliance with the reporting requirements set forth in this Section.

Any financial report under this Section shall include the name of the purchasing agent who oversees all competitively bid contracts. If there is no purchasing agent, the name of the person responsible for oversight of all competitively bid contracts shall be listed.

(Source: P.A. 97-932, eff. 8-10-12; 97-1142, eff. 12-28-12.)

(50 ILCS 310/4) (from Ch. 85, par. 704)

Sec. 4. Overdue report.

(a) If the required report for a governmental unit is not filed with the Comptroller in accordance with Section 2 or Section 3, whichever is applicable, within 180 days 6 months after the close of the fiscal year of the governmental unit, the Comptroller shall notify the governing body of that unit in writing that the report is due and may also grant a 60 day extension for the filing of the audit report. If the required report is not filed within the time specified in such written notice, the Comptroller shall cause an audit to be made by a licensed public accountant, and the governmental unit shall pay to the Comptroller actual compensation and expenses to reimburse him for the cost of preparing or completing such report.

(b) The Comptroller may decline to order an audit and the preparation of an audit report (i) if an initial examination of the books and records of the governmental unit indicates that the books and records of the governmental unit are inadequate or unavailable due to the passage of time or the occurrence of a natural disaster or (ii) if the Comptroller determines that the cost of an audit would impose an unreasonable financial burden on the governmental unit.

(c) The State Comptroller may grant extensions for delinquent audits or reports. The Comptroller may charge a governmental unit a fee for a delinquent audit or report of $5 per day for the first 15 days past due, $10 per day for 16 through 30 days past due, $15 per day for 31 through 45 days past due, and $20 per day for the 46th day and every day thereafter. These amounts may be reduced at the Comptroller's discretion. All fees collected under this subsection (c) shall be deposited into the Comptroller's Administrative Fund.

(Source: P.A. 97-890, eff. 8-2-12; 97-1142, eff. 12-28-12; 98-922, eff. 8-15-14.)

Section 10. The Counties Code is amended by changing Sections 6-31003, 6-31004, and 6-31005 as follows:

(55 ILCS 5/6-31003) (from Ch. 34, par. 6-31003)

Sec. 6-31003. Annual audits and reports. The county board of each county shall cause an audit of all of the funds and accounts of the county to be made annually by an accountant or accountants chosen by the county board or by an accountant or accountants retained by the Comptroller, as hereinafter provided. In addition, each county shall file with the Comptroller a financial report containing information required by the Comptroller. Such financial report shall be on a form so designed by the Comptroller as not to require professional accounting services for its preparation. All audits and reports to be filed with the Comptroller under this Section must be submitted electronically and the Comptroller must post the audits and reports on the Internet no later than 45 days after they are received. If the county provides the Comptroller's Office with sufficient evidence that the audit or report cannot be filed electronically, the Comptroller may waive this requirement. The Comptroller must also post a list of counties that are not in compliance with the reporting requirements set forth in this Section.

Any financial report under this Section shall include the name of the purchasing agent who oversees all competitively bid contracts. If there is no purchasing agent, the name of the person responsible for oversight of all competitively bid contracts shall be listed.

The audit shall commence as soon as possible after the close of each fiscal year and shall be completed within 180 days 6 months after the close of such fiscal year, unless an extension of time is granted by the Comptroller in writing. Such extension of time shall not exceed 60 days. When the accountant or accountants have completed the audit a full report thereof shall be made and not less than 2 copies of each audit report shall be submitted to the county board. Each audit report shall be signed by the accountant making the audit and shall include only financial information, findings and conclusions that are adequately supported by evidence in the auditor's working papers to demonstrate or prove, when called upon, the basis for the matters reported and their correctness and reasonableness. In connection with this, each county board shall retain the right of inspection of the auditor's working papers and shall make them available to the Comptroller, or his designee, upon request.

Within 60 days of receipt of an audit report, each county board shall file one copy of each audit report and each financial report with the Comptroller and any comment or explanation that the county board may desire to make concerning such audit report may be attached thereto. An audit report which fails to meet the requirements of this Division shall be rejected by the Comptroller and returned to the county board for corrective action. One copy of each such report shall be filed with the county clerk of the county so audited.

This Section is a limitation under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution on the concurrent exercise by home rule counties of powers and functions exercised by the State.

(Source: P.A. 97-890, eff. 8-2-12; 97-932, eff. 8-10-12; 97-1142, eff. 12-28-12.)

(55 ILCS 5/6-31004) (from Ch. 34, par. 6-31004)

Sec. 6-31004. Overdue reports.

(a) In the event the required reports for a county are not filed with the Comptroller in accordance with Section 6-31003 within 180 days 6 months after the close of the fiscal year of the county, the Comptroller shall notify the county board in writing that the reports are due, and may also grant an extension of time of up to 60 days for the filing of the reports. In the event the required reports are not filed within the time specified in such written notice, the Comptroller shall cause the audit to be made and the audit report prepared by an accountant or accountants.

(b) The Comptroller may decline to order an audit and the preparation of an audit report if an initial examination of the books and records of the governmental unit indicates that the books and records of the governmental unit are inadequate or unavailable due to the passage of time or the occurrence of a natural disaster.

(c) The State Comptroller may grant extensions for delinquent audits or reports. The Comptroller may charge a county a fee for a delinquent audit or report of $5 per day for the first 15 days past due, $10 per day for 16 through 30 days past due, $15 per day for 31 through 45 days past due, and $20 per day for the 46th day and every day thereafter. These amounts may be reduced at the Comptroller's discretion. All fees collected under this subsection (c) shall be deposited into the Comptroller's Administrative Fund.

(Source: P.A. 97-890, eff. 8-2-12; 97-1142, eff. 12-28-12; 98-922, eff. 8-15-14.)

(55 ILCS 5/6-31005) (from Ch. 34, par. 6-31005)

Sec. 6-31005. Funds managed by county officials. In addition to any other audit required by this Division, the County Board shall cause an audit to be made of all funds and accounts under the management or control of a county official as soon as possible after such official leaves office for any reason. The audit shall be filed with the county board not later than 180 days 6 months after the official leaves office. The audit shall be conducted and the audit report shall be prepared and filed with the Chairman of the County Board by a person lawfully qualified to practice public accounting as regulated by "An Act to regulate the practice of public accounting and to repeal certain acts therein named", approved July 22, 1943 as amended.

As used in this Section, "county official" means any elected county officer or any officer appointed by the county board who is charged with the management or control of any county funds; and "audit" means a post facto examination of books, documents, records, and other evidence relating to the obligation, receipt, expenditure or use of public funds of the county, including governmental operations relating to such obligations, receipt, expenditure or use.

(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

Section 15. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by changing Sections 8-8-3, 8-8-3.5, 8-8-4, 11-74.4-5, and 11-74.6-22 as follows:

(65 ILCS 5/8-8-3) (from Ch. 24, par. 8-8-3)

Sec. 8-8-3. Audit requirements.

(a) The corporate authorities of each municipality coming under the provisions of this Division 8 shall cause an audit of the funds and accounts of the municipality to be made by an accountant or accountants employed by such municipality or by an accountant or accountants retained by the Comptroller, as hereinafter provided.

(b) The accounts and funds of each municipality having a population of 800 or more or having a bonded debt or owning or operating any type of public utility shall be audited annually. The audit herein required shall include all of the accounts and funds of the municipality. Such audit shall be begun as soon as possible after the close of the fiscal year, and shall be completed and the report submitted within 180 days 6 months after the close of such fiscal year, unless an extension of time shall be granted by the Comptroller in writing. The accountant or accountants making the audit shall submit not less than 2 copies of the audit report to the corporate authorities of the municipality being audited. Municipalities not operating utilities may cause audits of the accounts of municipalities to be made more often than herein provided, by an accountant or accountants. The audit report of such audit when filed with the Comptroller together with an audit report covering the remainder of the period for which an audit is required to be filed hereunder shall satisfy the requirements of this section.

(c) Municipalities of less than 800 population which do not own or operate public utilities and do not have bonded debt, shall file annually with the Comptroller a financial report containing information required by the Comptroller. Such annual financial report shall be on forms devised by the Comptroller in such manner as to not require professional accounting services for its preparation.

(d) In addition to any audit report required, all municipalities, except municipalities of less than 800 population which do not own or operate public utilities and do not have bonded debt, shall file annually with the Comptroller a supplemental report on forms devised and approved by the Comptroller.

(e) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, if a municipality (i) has a population of less than 200, (ii) has bonded debt in the amount of $50,000 or less, and (iii) owns or operates a public utility, then the municipality shall cause an audit of the funds and accounts of the municipality to be made by an accountant employed by the municipality or retained by the Comptroller for fiscal year 2011 and every fourth fiscal year thereafter or until the municipality has a population of 200 or more, has bonded debt in excess of $50,000, or no longer owns or operates a public utility. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as limiting the municipality's duty to file an annual financial report with the Comptroller or to comply with the filing requirements concerning the county clerk.

(f) All audits and reports to be filed with the Comptroller under this Section must be submitted electronically and the Comptroller must post the audits and reports on the Internet no later than 45 days after they are received. If the municipality provides the Comptroller's Office with sufficient evidence that the audit or report cannot be filed electronically, the Comptroller may waive this requirement. The Comptroller must also post a list of municipalities that are not in compliance with the reporting requirements set forth in this Section.

(g) Subsection (f) of this Section is a limitation under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution on the concurrent exercise by home rule municipalities of powers and functions exercised by the State.

(h) Any financial report under this Section shall include the name of the purchasing agent who oversees all competitively bid contracts. If there is no purchasing agent, the name of the person responsible for oversight of all competitively bid contracts shall be listed.

(Source: P.A. 96-1309, eff. 7-27-10; 97-890, eff. 8-2-12; 97-932, eff. 8-10-12; 97-1142, eff. 12-28-12.)

(65 ILCS 5/8-8-3.5)

Sec. 8-8-3.5. Tax Increment Financing Report. The reports filed under subsection (d) of Section 11-74.4-5 of the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act and the reports filed under subsection (d) of Section 11-74.6-22 of the Industrial Jobs Recovery Law in the Illinois Municipal Code must be separate from any other annual report filed with the Comptroller. The Comptroller must, in cooperation with reporting municipalities, create a format for the reporting of information described in paragraphs (1.5) and (5) and in subparagraph (G) of paragraph (7) of subsection (d) of Section 11-74.4-5 of the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act and the information described in paragraphs (1.5) and (5) and in subparagraph (G) of paragraph (7) of subsection (d) of Section 11-74.6-22 of the Industrial Jobs Recovery Law that facilitates consistent reporting among the reporting municipalities. The Comptroller may allow these reports to be filed electronically and may display the report, or portions of the report, electronically via the Internet. All reports filed under this Section must be made available for examination and copying by the public at all reasonable times. A Tax Increment Financing Report must be filed electronically with the Comptroller within 180 days after the close of the municipal fiscal year or as soon thereafter as the audit for the redevelopment project area for that fiscal year becomes available. If the Tax Increment Finance administrator provides the Comptroller's office with sufficient evidence that the report is in the process of being completed by an auditor, the Comptroller may grant an extension. If the required report is not filed within the time extended by the Comptroller, the Comptroller shall notify the corporate authorities of that municipality that the audit report is past due. The Comptroller may charge a municipality a fee of $5 per day for the first 15 days past due, $10 per day for 16 through 30 days past due, $15 per day for 31 through 45 days past due, and $20 per day for the 46th day and every day thereafter. These amounts may be reduced at the Comptroller's discretion. In the event the required audit report is not filed within 60 days of such notice, the Comptroller shall cause such audit to be made by an accountant or accountants. The Comptroller may decline to order an audit and the preparation of an audit report if an initial examination of the books and records of the municipality indicates that books and records of the municipality are inadequate or unavailable to support the preparation of the audit report or the supplemental report due to the passage of time or the occurrence of a natural disaster. All fees collected pursuant to this Section shall be deposited into the Comptroller's Administrative Fund. In the event the Comptroller causes an audit to be made in accordance with the requirements of this Section, the municipality shall pay to the Comptroller reasonable compensation and expenses to reimburse her for the cost of preparing or completing such report. Moneys paid to the Comptroller pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be deposited into the Comptroller's Audit Expense Revolving Fund.

(Source: P.A. 98-497, eff. 8-16-13; 98-922, eff. 8-15-14.)

(65 ILCS 5/8-8-4) (from Ch. 24, par. 8-8-4)

Sec. 8-8-4. Overdue reports.

(a) In the event the required audit report for a municipality is not filed with the Comptroller in accordance with Section 8-8-7 within 180 days 6 months after the close of the fiscal year of the municipality, the Comptroller shall notify the corporate authorities of that municipality in writing that the audit report is due, and may also grant an extension of time of 60 days, for the filing of the audit report. In the event the required audit report is not filed within the time specified in such written notice, the Comptroller shall cause such audit to be made by an accountant or accountants. In the event the required annual or supplemental report for a municipality is not filed within 6 months after the close of the fiscal year of the municipality, the Comptroller shall notify the corporate authorities of that municipality in writing that the annual or supplemental report is due and may grant an extension in time of 60 days for the filing of such annual or supplemental report.

(b) In the event the annual or supplemental report is not filed within the time extended by the Comptroller, the Comptroller shall cause such annual or supplemental report to be prepared or completed and the municipality shall pay to the Comptroller reasonable compensation and expenses to reimburse him for the cost of preparing or completing such annual or supplemental report. Moneys paid to the Comptroller pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be deposited into the Comptroller's Audit Expense Revolving Fund.

(c) The Comptroller may decline to order an audit or the completion of the supplemental report if an initial examination of the books and records of the municipality indicates that books and records of the municipality are inadequate or unavailable to support the preparation of the audit report or the supplemental report due to the passage of time or the occurrence of a natural disaster.

(d) The State Comptroller may grant extensions for delinquent audits or reports. The Comptroller may charge a municipality a fee for a delinquent audit or report of $5 per day for the first 15 days past due, $10 per day for 16 through 30 days past due, $15 per day for 31 through 45 days past due, and $20 per day for the 46th day and every day thereafter. These amounts may be reduced at the Comptroller's discretion. All fees collected under this subsection (d) shall be deposited into the Comptroller's Administrative Fund.

(Source: P.A. 97-890, eff. 8-2-12; 97-1142, eff. 12-28-12; 98-922, eff. 8-15-14.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-74.4-5) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-74.4-5)

Sec. 11-74.4-5. Public hearing; joint review board.

(a) The changes made by this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly do not apply to a municipality that, (i) before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly, has adopted an ordinance or resolution fixing a time and place for a public hearing under this Section or (ii) before July 1, 1999, has adopted an ordinance or resolution providing for a feasibility study under Section 11-74.4-4.1, but has not yet adopted an ordinance approving redevelopment plans and redevelopment projects or designating redevelopment project areas under Section 11-74.4-4, until after that municipality adopts an ordinance approving redevelopment plans and redevelopment projects or designating redevelopment project areas under Section 11-74.4-4; thereafter the changes made by this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly apply to the same extent that they apply to redevelopment plans and redevelopment projects that were approved and redevelopment projects that were designated before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly.

Prior to the adoption of an ordinance proposing the designation of a redevelopment project area, or approving a redevelopment plan or redevelopment project, the municipality by its corporate authorities, or as it may determine by any commission designated under subsection (k) of Section 11-74.4-4 shall adopt an ordinance or resolution fixing a time and place for public hearing. At least 10 days prior to the adoption of the ordinance or resolution establishing the time and place for the public hearing, the municipality shall make available for public inspection a redevelopment plan or a separate report that provides in reasonable detail the basis for the eligibility of the redevelopment project area. The report along with the name of a person to contact for further information shall be sent within a reasonable time after the adoption of such ordinance or resolution to the affected taxing districts by certified mail. On and after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly, the municipality shall print in a newspaper of general circulation within the municipality a notice that interested persons may register with the municipality in order to receive information on the proposed designation of a redevelopment project area or the approval of a redevelopment plan. The notice shall state the place of registration and the operating hours of that place. The municipality shall have adopted reasonable rules to implement this registration process under Section 11-74.4-4.2. The municipality shall provide notice of the availability of the redevelopment plan and eligibility report, including how to obtain this information, by mail within a reasonable time after the adoption of the ordinance or resolution, to all residential addresses that, after a good faith effort, the municipality determines are located outside the proposed redevelopment project area and within 750 feet of the boundaries of the proposed redevelopment project area. This requirement is subject to the limitation that in a municipality with a population of over 100,000, if the total number of residential addresses outside the proposed redevelopment project area and within 750 feet of the boundaries of the proposed redevelopment project area exceeds 750, the municipality shall be required to provide the notice to only the 750 residential addresses that, after a good faith effort, the municipality determines are outside the proposed redevelopment project area and closest to the boundaries of the proposed redevelopment project area. Notwithstanding the foregoing, notice given after August 7, 2001 (the effective date of Public Act 92-263) and before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly to residential addresses within 750 feet of the boundaries of a proposed redevelopment project area shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given in compliance with this Act if given only to residents outside the boundaries of the proposed redevelopment project area. The notice shall also be provided by the municipality, regardless of its population, to those organizations and residents that have registered with the municipality for that information in accordance with the registration guidelines established by the municipality under Section 11-74.4-4.2.

At the public hearing any interested person or affected taxing district may file with the municipal clerk written objections to and may be heard orally in respect to any issues embodied in the notice. The municipality shall hear all protests and objections at the hearing and the hearing may be adjourned to another date without further notice other than a motion to be entered upon the minutes fixing the time and place of the subsequent hearing. At the public hearing or at any time prior to the adoption by the municipality of an ordinance approving a redevelopment plan, the municipality may make changes in the redevelopment plan. Changes which (1) add additional parcels of property to the proposed redevelopment project area, (2) substantially affect the general land uses proposed in the redevelopment plan, (3) substantially change the nature of or extend the life of the redevelopment project, or (4) increase the number of inhabited residential units to be displaced from the redevelopment project area, as measured from the time of creation of the redevelopment project area, to a total of more than 10, shall be made only after the municipality gives notice, convenes a joint review board, and conducts a public hearing pursuant to the procedures set forth in this Section and in Section 11-74.4-6 of this Act. Changes which do not (1) add additional parcels of property to the proposed redevelopment project area, (2) substantially affect the general land uses proposed in the redevelopment plan, (3) substantially change the nature of or extend the life of the redevelopment project, or (4) increase the number of inhabited residential units to be displaced from the redevelopment project area, as measured from the time of creation of the redevelopment project area, to a total of more than 10, may be made without further hearing, provided that the municipality shall give notice of any such changes by mail to each affected taxing district and registrant on the interested parties registry, provided for under Section 11-74.4-4.2, and by publication in a newspaper of general circulation within the affected taxing district. Such notice by mail and by publication shall each occur not later than 10 days following the adoption by ordinance of such changes. Hearings with regard to a redevelopment project area, project or plan may be held simultaneously.

(b) Prior to holding a public hearing to approve or amend a redevelopment plan or to designate or add additional parcels of property to a redevelopment project area, the municipality shall convene a joint review board. The board shall consist of a representative selected by each community college district, local elementary school district and high school district or each local community unit school district, park district, library district, township, fire protection district, and county that will have the authority to directly levy taxes on the property within the proposed redevelopment project area at the time that the proposed redevelopment project area is approved, a representative selected by the municipality and a public member. The public member shall first be selected and then the board's chairperson shall be selected by a majority of the board members present and voting.

For redevelopment project areas with redevelopment plans or proposed redevelopment plans that would result in the displacement of residents from 10 or more inhabited residential units or that include 75 or more inhabited residential units, the public member shall be a person who resides in the redevelopment project area. If, as determined by the housing impact study provided for in paragraph (5) of subsection (n) of Section 11-74.4-3, or if no housing impact study is required then based on other reasonable data, the majority of residential units are occupied by very low, low, or moderate income households, as defined in Section 3 of the Illinois Affordable Housing Act, the public member shall be a person who resides in very low, low, or moderate income housing within the redevelopment project area. Municipalities with fewer than 15,000 residents shall not be required to select a person who lives in very low, low, or moderate income housing within the redevelopment project area, provided that the redevelopment plan or project will not result in displacement of residents from 10 or more inhabited units, and the municipality so certifies in the plan. If no person satisfying these requirements is available or if no qualified person will serve as the public member, then the joint review board is relieved of this paragraph's selection requirements for the public member.

Within 90 days of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly, each municipality that designated a redevelopment project area for which it was not required to convene a joint review board under this Section shall convene a joint review board to perform the duties specified under paragraph (e) of this Section.

All board members shall be appointed and the first board meeting shall be held at least 14 days but not more than 28 days after the mailing of notice by the municipality to the taxing districts as required by Section 11-74.4-6(c). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, a municipality that adopted either a public hearing resolution or a feasibility resolution between July 1, 1999 and July 1, 2000 that called for the meeting of the joint review board within 14 days of notice of public hearing to affected taxing districts is deemed to be in compliance with the notice, meeting, and public hearing provisions of the Act. Such notice shall also advise the taxing bodies represented on the joint review board of the time and place of the first meeting of the board. Additional meetings of the board shall be held upon the call of any member. The municipality seeking designation of the redevelopment project area shall provide administrative support to the board.

The board shall review (i) the public record, planning documents and proposed ordinances approving the redevelopment plan and project and (ii) proposed amendments to the redevelopment plan or additions of parcels of property to the redevelopment project area to be adopted by the municipality. As part of its deliberations, the board may hold additional hearings on the proposal. A board's recommendation shall be an advisory, non-binding recommendation. The recommendation shall be adopted by a majority of those members present and voting. The recommendations shall be submitted to the municipality within 30 days after convening of the board. Failure of the board to submit its report on a timely basis shall not be cause to delay the public hearing or any other step in the process of designating or amending the redevelopment project area but shall be deemed to constitute approval by the joint review board of the matters before it.

The board shall base its recommendation to approve or disapprove the redevelopment plan and the designation of the redevelopment project area or the amendment of the redevelopment plan or addition of parcels of property to the redevelopment project area on the basis of the redevelopment project area and redevelopment plan satisfying the plan requirements, the eligibility criteria defined in Section 11-74.4-3, and the objectives of this Act.

The board shall issue a written report describing why the redevelopment plan and project area or the amendment thereof meets or fails to meet one or more of the objectives of this Act and both the plan requirements and the eligibility criteria defined in Section 11-74.4-3. In the event the Board does not file a report it shall be presumed that these taxing bodies find the redevelopment project area and redevelopment plan satisfy the objectives of this Act and the plan requirements and eligibility criteria.

If the board recommends rejection of the matters before it, the municipality will have 30 days within which to resubmit the plan or amendment. During this period, the municipality will meet and confer with the board and attempt to resolve those issues set forth in the board's written report that led to the rejection of the plan or amendment.

Notwithstanding the resubmission set forth above, the municipality may commence the scheduled public hearing and either adjourn the public hearing or continue the public hearing until a date certain. Prior to continuing any public hearing to a date certain, the municipality shall announce during the public hearing the time, date, and location for the reconvening of the public hearing. Any changes to the redevelopment plan necessary to satisfy the issues set forth in the joint review board report shall be the subject of a public hearing before the hearing is adjourned if the changes would (1) substantially affect the general land uses proposed in the redevelopment plan, (2) substantially change the nature of or extend the life of the redevelopment project, or (3) increase the number of inhabited residential units to be displaced from the redevelopment project area, as measured from the time of creation of the redevelopment project area, to a total of more than 10. Changes to the redevelopment plan necessary to satisfy the issues set forth in the joint review board report shall not require any further notice or convening of a joint review board meeting, except that any changes to the redevelopment plan that would add additional parcels of property to the proposed redevelopment project area shall be subject to the notice, public hearing, and joint review board meeting requirements established for such changes by subsection (a) of Section 11-74.4-5.

In the event that the municipality and the board are unable to resolve these differences, or in the event that the resubmitted plan or amendment is rejected by the board, the municipality may proceed with the plan or amendment, but only upon a three-fifths vote of the corporate authority responsible for approval of the plan or amendment, excluding positions of members that are vacant and those members that are ineligible to vote because of conflicts of interest.

(c) After a municipality has by ordinance approved a redevelopment plan and designated a redevelopment project area, the plan may be amended and additional properties may be added to the redevelopment project area only as herein provided. Amendments which (1) add additional parcels of property to the proposed redevelopment project area, (2) substantially affect the general land uses proposed in the redevelopment plan, (3) substantially change the nature of the redevelopment project, (4) increase the total estimated redevelopment project costs set out in the redevelopment plan by more than 5% after adjustment for inflation from the date the plan was adopted, (5) add additional redevelopment project costs to the itemized list of redevelopment project costs set out in the redevelopment plan, or (6) increase the number of inhabited residential units to be displaced from the redevelopment project area, as measured from the time of creation of the redevelopment project area, to a total of more than 10, shall be made only after the municipality gives notice, convenes a joint review board, and conducts a public hearing pursuant to the procedures set forth in this Section and in Section 11-74.4-6 of this Act. Changes which do not (1) add additional parcels of property to the proposed redevelopment project area, (2) substantially affect the general land uses proposed in the redevelopment plan, (3) substantially change the nature of the redevelopment project, (4) increase the total estimated redevelopment project cost set out in the redevelopment plan by more than 5% after adjustment for inflation from the date the plan was adopted, (5) add additional redevelopment project costs to the itemized list of redevelopment project costs set out in the redevelopment plan, or (6) increase the number of inhabited residential units to be displaced from the redevelopment project area, as measured from the time of creation of the redevelopment project area, to a total of more than 10, may be made without further public hearing and related notices and procedures including the convening of a joint review board as set forth in Section 11-74.4-6 of this Act, provided that the municipality shall give notice of any such changes by mail to each affected taxing district and registrant on the interested parties registry, provided for under Section 11-74.4-4.2, and by publication in a newspaper of general circulation within the affected taxing district. Such notice by mail and by publication shall each occur not later than 10 days following the adoption by ordinance of such changes.

(d) After the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly, a municipality shall submit in an electronic format the following information for each redevelopment project area (i) to the State Comptroller under Section 8-8-3.5 of the Illinois Municipal Code, subject to any extensions or exemptions provided at the Comptroller's discretion under that Section, and (ii) to all taxing districts overlapping the redevelopment project area no later than 180 days after the close of each municipal fiscal year or as soon thereafter as the audited financial statements become available and, in any case, shall be submitted before the annual meeting of the Joint Review Board to each of the taxing districts that overlap the redevelopment project area:

(1) Any amendments to the redevelopment plan, the redevelopment project area, or the State Sales Tax Boundary.

(1.5) A list of the redevelopment project areas administered by the municipality and, if applicable, the date each redevelopment project area was designated or terminated by the municipality.

(2) Audited financial statements of the special tax allocation fund once a cumulative total of $100,000 has been deposited in the fund.

(3) Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of the municipality that the municipality has complied with all of the requirements of this Act during the preceding fiscal year.

(4) An opinion of legal counsel that the municipality is in compliance with this Act.

(5) An analysis of the special tax allocation fund which sets forth:

(A) the balance in the special tax allocation fund at the beginning of the fiscal year;

(B) all amounts deposited in the special tax allocation fund by source;

(C) an itemized list of all expenditures from the special tax allocation fund by category of permissible redevelopment project cost; and

(D) the balance in the special tax allocation fund at the end of the fiscal year including a breakdown of that balance by source and a breakdown of that balance identifying any portion of the balance that is required, pledged, earmarked, or otherwise designated for payment of or securing of obligations and anticipated redevelopment project costs. Any portion of such ending balance that has not been identified or is not identified as being required, pledged, earmarked, or otherwise designated for payment of or securing of obligations or anticipated redevelopment projects costs shall be designated as surplus as set forth in Section 11-74.4-7 hereof.

(6) A description of all property purchased by the municipality within the redevelopment project area including:

(A) Street address.

(B) Approximate size or description of property.

(C) Purchase price.

(D) Seller of property.

(7) A statement setting forth all activities undertaken in furtherance of the objectives of the redevelopment plan, including:

(A) Any project implemented in the preceding fiscal year.

(B) A description of the redevelopment activities undertaken.

(C) A description of any agreements entered into by the municipality with regard to the disposition or redevelopment of any property within the redevelopment project area or the area within the State Sales Tax Boundary.

(D) Additional information on the use of all funds received under this Division and steps taken by the municipality to achieve the objectives of the redevelopment plan.

(E) Information regarding contracts that the municipality's tax increment advisors or consultants have entered into with entities or persons that have received, or are receiving, payments financed by tax increment revenues produced by the same redevelopment project area.

(F) Any reports submitted to the municipality by the joint review board.

(G) A review of public and, to the extent possible, private investment actually undertaken to date after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly and estimated to be undertaken during the following year. This review shall, on a project-by-project basis, set forth the estimated amounts of public and private investment incurred after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly and provide the ratio of private investment to public investment to the date of the report and as estimated to the completion of the redevelopment project.

(8) With regard to any obligations issued by the municipality:

(A) copies of any official statements; and

(B) an analysis prepared by financial advisor or underwriter setting forth: (i) nature and term of obligation; and (ii) projected debt service including required reserves and debt coverage.

(9) For special tax allocation funds that have experienced cumulative deposits of incremental tax revenues of $100,000 or more, a certified audit report reviewing compliance with this Act performed by an independent public accountant certified and licensed by the authority of the State of Illinois. The financial portion of the audit must be conducted in accordance with Standards for Audits of Governmental Organizations, Programs, Activities, and Functions adopted by the Comptroller General of the United States (1981), as amended, or the standards specified by Section 8-8-5 of the Illinois Municipal Auditing Law of the Illinois Municipal Code. The audit report shall contain a letter from the independent certified public accountant indicating compliance or noncompliance with the requirements of subsection (q) of Section 11-74.4-3. For redevelopment plans or projects that would result in the displacement of residents from 10 or more inhabited residential units or that contain 75 or more inhabited residential units, notice of the availability of the information, including how to obtain the report, required in this subsection shall also be sent by mail to all residents or organizations that operate in the municipality that register with the municipality for that information according to registration procedures adopted under Section 11-74.4-4.2. All municipalities are subject to this provision.

(10) A list of all intergovernmental agreements in effect during the fiscal year to which the municipality is a party and an accounting of any moneys transferred or received by the municipality during that fiscal year pursuant to those intergovernmental agreements.

(d-1) Prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly, municipalities with populations of over 1,000,000 shall, after adoption of a redevelopment plan or project, make available upon request to any taxing district in which the redevelopment project area is located the following information:

(1) Any amendments to the redevelopment plan, the redevelopment project area, or the State Sales Tax Boundary; and

(2) In connection with any redevelopment project area for which the municipality has outstanding obligations issued to provide for redevelopment project costs pursuant to Section 11-74.4-7, audited financial statements of the special tax allocation fund.

(e) The joint review board shall meet annually 180 days after the close of the municipal fiscal year or as soon as the redevelopment project audit for that fiscal year becomes available to review the effectiveness and status of the redevelopment project area up to that date.

(f) (Blank).

(g) In the event that a municipality has held a public hearing under this Section prior to March 14, 1994 (the effective date of Public Act 88-537), the requirements imposed by Public Act 88-537 relating to the method of fixing the time and place for public hearing, the materials and information required to be made available for public inspection, and the information required to be sent after adoption of an ordinance or resolution fixing a time and place for public hearing shall not be applicable.

(h) On and after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, the State Comptroller must post on the State Comptroller's official website the information submitted by a municipality pursuant to subsection (d) of this Section. The information must be posted no later than 45 days after the State Comptroller receives the information from the municipality. The State Comptroller must also post a list of the municipalities not in compliance with the reporting requirements set forth in subsection (d) of this Section.

(i) No later than 10 years after the corporate authorities of a municipality adopt an ordinance to establish a redevelopment project area, the municipality must compile a status report concerning the redevelopment project area. The status report must detail without limitation the following: (i) the amount of revenue generated within the redevelopment project area, (ii) any expenditures made by the municipality for the redevelopment project area including without limitation expenditures from the special tax allocation fund, (iii) the status of planned activities, goals, and objectives set forth in the redevelopment plan including details on new or planned construction within the redevelopment project area, (iv) the amount of private and public investment within the redevelopment project area, and (v) any other relevant evaluation or performance data. Within 30 days after the municipality compiles the status report, the municipality must hold at least one public hearing concerning the report. The municipality must provide 20 days' public notice of the hearing.

(j) Beginning in fiscal year 2011 and in each fiscal year thereafter, a municipality must detail in its annual budget (i) the revenues generated from redevelopment project areas by source and (ii) the expenditures made by the municipality for redevelopment project areas.

(Source: P.A. 98-922, eff. 8-15-14.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-74.6-22)

Sec. 11-74.6-22. Adoption of ordinance; requirements; changes.

(a) Before adoption of an ordinance proposing the designation of a redevelopment planning area or a redevelopment project area, or both, or approving a redevelopment plan or redevelopment project, the municipality or commission designated pursuant to subsection (l) of Section 11-74.6-15 shall fix by ordinance or resolution a time and place for public hearing. Prior to the adoption of the ordinance or resolution establishing the time and place for the public hearing, the municipality shall make available for public inspection a redevelopment plan or a report that provides in sufficient detail, the basis for the eligibility of the redevelopment project area. The report along with the name of a person to contact for further information shall be sent to the affected taxing district by certified mail within a reasonable time following the adoption of the ordinance or resolution establishing the time and place for the public hearing.

At the public hearing any interested person or affected taxing district may file with the municipal clerk written objections to the ordinance and may be heard orally on any issues that are the subject of the hearing. The municipality shall hear and determine all alternate proposals or bids for any proposed conveyance, lease, mortgage or other disposition of land and all protests and objections at the hearing and the hearing may be adjourned to another date without further notice other than a motion to be entered upon the minutes fixing the time and place of the later hearing. At the public hearing or at any time prior to the adoption by the municipality of an ordinance approving a redevelopment plan, the municipality may make changes in the redevelopment plan. Changes which (1) add additional parcels of property to the proposed redevelopment project area, (2) substantially affect the general land uses proposed in the redevelopment plan, or (3) substantially change the nature of or extend the life of the redevelopment project shall be made only after the municipality gives notice, convenes a joint review board, and conducts a public hearing pursuant to the procedures set forth in this Section and in Section 11-74.6-25. Changes which do not (1) add additional parcels of property to the proposed redevelopment project area, (2) substantially affect the general land uses proposed in the redevelopment plan, or (3) substantially change the nature of or extend the life of the redevelopment project may be made without further hearing, provided that the municipality shall give notice of any such changes by mail to each affected taxing district and by publication once in a newspaper of general circulation within the affected taxing district. Such notice by mail and by publication shall each occur not later than 10 days following the adoption by ordinance of such changes.

(b) Before adoption of an ordinance proposing the designation of a redevelopment planning area or a redevelopment project area, or both, or amending the boundaries of an existing redevelopment project area or redevelopment planning area, or both, the municipality shall convene a joint review board to consider the proposal. The board shall consist of a representative selected by each taxing district that has authority to levy real property taxes on the property within the proposed redevelopment project area and that has at least 5% of its total equalized assessed value located within the proposed redevelopment project area, a representative selected by the municipality and a public member. The public member and the board's chairperson shall be selected by a majority of other board members.

All board members shall be appointed and the first board meeting held within 14 days following the notice by the municipality to all the taxing districts as required by subsection (c) of Section 11-74.6-25. The notice shall also advise the taxing bodies represented on the joint review board of the time and place of the first meeting of the board. Additional meetings of the board shall be held upon the call of any 2 members. The municipality seeking designation of the redevelopment project area may provide administrative support to the board.

The board shall review the public record, planning documents and proposed ordinances approving the redevelopment plan and project to be adopted by the municipality. As part of its deliberations, the board may hold additional hearings on the proposal. A board's recommendation, if any, shall be a written recommendation adopted by a majority vote of the board and submitted to the municipality within 30 days after the board convenes. A board's recommendation shall be binding upon the municipality. Failure of the board to submit its recommendation on a timely basis shall not be cause to delay the public hearing or the process of establishing or amending the redevelopment project area. The board's recommendation on the proposal shall be based upon the area satisfying the applicable eligibility criteria defined in Section 11-74.6-10 and whether there is a basis for the municipal findings set forth in the redevelopment plan as required by this Act. If the board does not file a recommendation it shall be presumed that the board has found that the redevelopment project area satisfies the eligibility criteria.

(c) After a municipality has by ordinance approved a redevelopment plan and designated a redevelopment planning area or a redevelopment project area, or both, the plan may be amended and additional properties may be added to the redevelopment project area only as herein provided. Amendments which (1) add additional parcels of property to the proposed redevelopment project area, (2) substantially affect the general land uses proposed in the redevelopment plan, (3) substantially change the nature of the redevelopment project, (4) increase the total estimated redevelopment project costs set out in the redevelopment plan by more than 5% after adjustment for inflation from the date the plan was adopted, or (5) add additional redevelopment project costs to the itemized list of redevelopment project costs set out in the redevelopment plan shall be made only after the municipality gives notice, convenes a joint review board, and conducts a public hearing pursuant to the procedures set forth in this Section and in Section 11-74.6-25. Changes which do not (1) add additional parcels of property to the proposed redevelopment project area, (2) substantially affect the general land uses proposed in the redevelopment plan, (3) substantially change the nature of the redevelopment project, (4) increase the total estimated redevelopment project cost set out in the redevelopment plan by more than 5% after adjustment for inflation from the date the plan was adopted, or (5) add additional redevelopment project costs to the itemized list of redevelopment project costs set out in the redevelopment plan may be made without further hearing, provided that the municipality shall give notice of any such changes by mail to each affected taxing district and by publication once in a newspaper of general circulation within the affected taxing district. Such notice by mail and by publication shall each occur not later than 10 days following the adoption by ordinance of such changes.

(d) After the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly, a municipality shall submit the following information for each redevelopment project area (i) to the State Comptroller under Section 8-8-3.5 of the Illinois Municipal Code, subject to any extensions or exemptions provided at the Comptroller's discretion under that Section, and (ii) to all taxing districts overlapping the redevelopment project area no later than 180 days after the close of each municipal fiscal year or as soon thereafter as the audited financial statements become available and, in any case, shall be submitted before the annual meeting of the joint review board to each of the taxing districts that overlap the redevelopment project area:

(1) Any amendments to the redevelopment plan, or the redevelopment project area.

(1.5) A list of the redevelopment project areas administered by the municipality and, if applicable, the date each redevelopment project area was designated or terminated by the municipality.

(2) Audited financial statements of the special tax allocation fund once a cumulative total of $100,000 of tax increment revenues has been deposited in the fund.

(3) Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of the municipality that the municipality has complied with all of the requirements of this Act during the preceding fiscal year.

(4) An opinion of legal counsel that the municipality is in compliance with this Act.

(5) An analysis of the special tax allocation fund which sets forth:

(A) the balance in the special tax allocation fund at the beginning of the fiscal year;

(B) all amounts deposited in the special tax allocation fund by source;

(C) an itemized list of all expenditures from the special tax allocation fund by category of permissible redevelopment project cost; and

(D) the balance in the special tax allocation fund at the end of the fiscal year including a breakdown of that balance by source and a breakdown of that balance identifying any portion of the balance that is required, pledged, earmarked, or otherwise designated for payment of or securing of obligations and anticipated redevelopment project costs. Any portion of such ending balance that has not been identified or is not identified as being required, pledged, earmarked, or otherwise designated for payment of or securing of obligations or anticipated redevelopment project costs shall be designated as surplus as set forth in Section 11-74.6-30 hereof.

(6) A description of all property purchased by the municipality within the redevelopment project area including:

(A) Street address.

(B) Approximate size or description of property.

(C) Purchase price.

(D) Seller of property.

(7) A statement setting forth all activities undertaken in furtherance of the objectives of the redevelopment plan, including:

(A) Any project implemented in the preceding fiscal year.

(B) A description of the redevelopment activities undertaken.

(C) A description of any agreements entered into by the municipality with regard to the disposition or redevelopment of any property within the redevelopment project area.

(D) Additional information on the use of all funds received under this Division and steps taken by the municipality to achieve the objectives of the redevelopment plan.

(E) Information regarding contracts that the municipality's tax increment advisors or consultants have entered into with entities or persons that have received, or are receiving, payments financed by tax increment revenues produced by the same redevelopment project area.

(F) Any reports submitted to the municipality by the joint review board.

(G) A review of public and, to the extent possible, private investment actually undertaken to date after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly and estimated to be undertaken during the following year. This review shall, on a project-by-project basis, set forth the estimated amounts of public and private investment incurred after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly and provide the ratio of private investment to public investment to the date of the report and as estimated to the completion of the redevelopment project.

(8) With regard to any obligations issued by the municipality:

(A) copies of any official statements; and

(B) an analysis prepared by financial advisor or underwriter setting forth: (i) nature and term of obligation; and (ii) projected debt service including required reserves and debt coverage.

(9) For special tax allocation funds that have received cumulative deposits of incremental tax revenues of $100,000 or more, a certified audit report reviewing compliance with this Act performed by an independent public accountant certified and licensed by the authority of the State of Illinois. The financial portion of the audit must be conducted in accordance with Standards for Audits of Governmental Organizations, Programs, Activities, and Functions adopted by the Comptroller General of the United States (1981), as amended, or the standards specified by Section 8-8-5 of the Illinois Municipal Auditing Law of the Illinois Municipal Code. The audit report shall contain a letter from the independent certified public accountant indicating compliance or noncompliance with the requirements of subsection (o) of Section 11-74.6-10.

(e) The joint review board shall meet annually 180 days after the close of the municipal fiscal year or as soon as the redevelopment project audit for that fiscal year becomes available to review the effectiveness and status of the redevelopment project area up to that date.

(Source: P.A. 97-146, eff. 1-1-12; 98-922, eff. 8-15-14.)

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