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

1     AN ACT concerning a statewide advisory referendum on the
2 State budget and school-funding crisis.
 
3     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
4 represented in the General Assembly:
 
5     Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the State
6 Budget Crisis and School-Funding Referendum Act.
 
7     Section 5. Purpose. Illinois, as almost all other states,
8 is currently experiencing a State budget crisis as well as a
9 school-funding crisis. At the same time, however, Illinois
10 enjoys relatively modest rates of State use and occupation
11 taxes. But there is a high burden on property owners because
12 school funding relies heavily on local property taxes. Article
13 10 of the Illinois Constitution provides that the State shall
14 fund education by making public schools free through the
15 secondary level. The purpose of this Act is to seek the advice
16 of the voters as to whether a temporary increase in the State
17 use and occupation taxes is warranted to help solve this
18 school-funding crisis.
 
19     Section 10. State budget and school-funding crises
20 advisory questions. The following advisory questions shall be
21 submitted to the voters of the entire State at the 2006 general
22 primary election:
23         (1) Should the General Assembly temporarily increase
24     the Illinois use and occupation taxes from January 1, 2007
25     through December 31, 2008 to help solve the current State
26     budget crisis and avoid drastic cuts in State support for
27     public education?
28         (2) Should this temporary increase be limited to
29     increasing the rate of tax by no more than one percentage
30     point for each of the State use and occupation taxes?
31     All of these 2 questions shall be placed on a single,

 

 

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1 separate ballot. The votes on each question shall be recorded
2 as "Yes" or "No".
 
3     Section 15. Certification. The State Board of Elections
4 shall immediately certify the questions to be submitted to the
5 voters of the entire State under Section 10 to the respective
6 county clerks and to the board of election commissioners, if
7 any, in their respective counties.
 
8     Section 20. Conflicts. If any provision of this Act
9 conflicts with any other law, this Act controls.
 
10     Section 90. Repeal. This Act is repealed on December 31,
11 2008.
 
12     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
13 becoming law.