State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
Legislation

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90_HB2553enr

      70 ILCS 2405/19.1         from Ch. 42, par. 317a.1
      70 ILCS 2405/23.5         from Ch. 42, par. 317e.5
      70 ILCS 2405/25           from Ch. 42, par. 317g
      70 ILCS 2805/27.1         from Ch. 42, par. 438.1
          Amends the Sanitary District Act of 1917.  Provides  that
      territory  that  is not contiguous to a sanitary district but
      is separated from the sanitary  district  by  only  a  forest
      preserve  district  may  be annexed to the sanitary district.
      Provides  that  the  territory  within  the  forest  preserve
      district shall not be annexed to the  sanitary  district  and
      shall  not be subject to rights-of-way for access or services
      between parts of the sanitary district without the consent of
      the governing body of the forest preserve district.  Provides
      that a sanitary  district  may  self  insure  its  employees.
      Provides  that if the board of trustees provides insurance to
      the sanitary district's employees it may obtain the insurance
      from, among other insurers, any for-profit or  not-for-profit
      organization   offering  those  services  including,  without
      limitation,   hospitals,    clinics,    health    maintenance
      organizations,  and  physicians'  groups.   Provides that the
      board of trustees may  enact  an  ordinance  prescribing  the
      method  for  entering  into  contracts  with  for-profit  and
      not-for-profit  organizations  or  services  providing health
      care services. Amends the Sanitary District Act of  1917  and
      the  Sanitary District Act of 1936.  Deletes a provision that
      the lien  and  foreclosure  remedies  of  Article  9  of  the
      Illinois  Municipal Code shall apply upon the nonpayment of a
      special tax levied within the special  service  area.   Makes
      other changes.  Effective immediately.
                                                     LRB9008938MWgc
HB2553 Enrolled                                LRB9008938MWgc
 1        AN  ACT  concerning  sanitary  districts,  amending named
 2    Acts.
 3        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 4    represented in the General Assembly:
 5        Section  5.  The Sanitary District Act of 1917 is amended
 6    by changing Sections 19.1, 23.5, and 25 as follows:
 7        (70 ILCS 2405/19.1) (from Ch. 42, par. 317a.1)
 8        Sec. 19.1.  Special service areas.
 9        (a)  A sanitary district organized  under  this  Act  may
10    provide   special   services  limited  to  the  construction,
11    maintenance, alteration,  and  extension  of  the  district's
12    drains,  sewers,  laterals,  and  other  necessary  adjuncts,
13    including  pumps and pumping stations, in any special service
14    area within the district.  The district may  levy  a  tax  to
15    provide  those special services or to provide for the payment
16    of  debt  incurred  to  provide  those  special  services  in
17    accordance with this Act.
18        (b)  The manner of  providing  special  services  and  of
19    levying  the  tax  authorized  by  subsection (a) shall be as
20    provided in this Section.
21        (c)  "Special  Service  Area"  means  a  contiguous  area
22    within a district in which special governmental services  are
23    provided  in  addition  to  those services provided generally
24    throughout the district, the cost of those  special  services
25    to  be  paid  from  revenues  collected  from taxes levied or
26    imposed  upon  property  within  that  area.   Territory   is
27    contiguous  for  purposes of this Section even though certain
28    completely surrounded portions of the territory are  excluded
29    from  the  special  service  area.   A  district may create a
30    special service area within a municipality or  municipalities
31    when  the  municipality  or  municipalities  consent  to  the
HB2553 Enrolled             -2-                LRB9008938MWgc
 1    creation of the special service area. A district may create a
 2    special  service  area  within  the  unincorporated area of a
 3    county when the  county  consents  to  the  creation  of  the
 4    special service area.
 5        (d)  The  corporate  authorities of the district shall be
 6    the governing body of the special service area.
 7        (e)  Taxes may be levied or imposed by  the  district  in
 8    the  special  service  area  at  a  rate  or  amount  of  tax
 9    sufficient  to  produce  revenues  required  to  provide  the
10    special  services.  Before  the  first  levy  of taxes in the
11    special service area, notice shall be given and hearing shall
12    be held under the provisions of subsections (f) and (g).  For
13    purposes of this subsection the notice shall include:
14             (1)  the time and place of hearing;
15             (2)  the boundaries of the area by legal description
16        and by street location, where possible;
17             (3)  a  notification  that  all  interested persons,
18        including  all  persons  owning  taxable  real   property
19        located within the special service area, will be given an
20        opportunity  to be heard at the hearing regarding the tax
21        levy and an opportunity to file objections to the  amount
22        of  the tax levy if the tax is a tax upon their property;
23        and
24             (4)  the maximum rate of taxes to be extended in any
25        year and may include a maximum number of years the  taxes
26        will be levied.
27        After  the  first levy, taxes may be extended against the
28    special service  area  for  the  services  specified  without
29    additional  hearings, provided the taxes shall not exceed the
30    rate specified in the notice and,  if  a  maximum  number  of
31    years  is  specified  in  the  notice, the taxes shall not be
32    extended for a longer period. Tax rates may be increased  and
33    the  period  specified  may  be  extended, provided notice is
34    given and new public hearings are  held  in  accordance  with
HB2553 Enrolled             -3-                LRB9008938MWgc
 1    subsections (f) and (g).
 2        (f)  Before  or  within 60 days after the adoption of the
 3    ordinance proposing the establishment of  a  special  service
 4    area,  the district shall fix a time and a place for a public
 5    hearing. Notice of the hearing shall be given by  publication
 6    and   mailing.  Notice  by  publication  shall  be  given  by
 7    publication at least once not less than 15  days  before  the
 8    hearing  in  a  newspaper  of  general circulation within the
 9    district. Notice by mailing shall be given by depositing  the
10    notice  in the United States mails addressed to the person or
11    persons  in  whose  name  the  general  taxes  for  the  last
12    preceding year were paid on each lot, block, tract or  parcel
13    of  land  lying  within  the special service area. The notice
14    shall be mailed not less than 10 days before the time set for
15    the public hearing. In the event taxes for the last preceding
16    year were not paid, the notice shall be sent  to  the  person
17    last listed on the tax rolls before that year as the owner of
18    the property.
19        (g)  At   the   public  hearing  any  interested  person,
20    including all persons owning taxable  real  property  located
21    within  the  proposed special service area, may file with the
22    district clerk written objections to and may be heard  orally
23    in respect to any issues embodied in the notice. The district
24    shall  hear  and determine all protests and objections at the
25    hearing, and the hearing may be  adjourned  to  another  date
26    without further notice other than a motion to be entered upon
27    the minutes fixing the time and place of its adjournment.  At
28    the  public  hearing  or  at the first regular meeting of the
29    corporate authorities thereafter,  the  district  may  delete
30    area  from  the special service area, except that the special
31    service area must still be a contiguous area as  provided  in
32    subsection (c).
33        (h)  Bonds  secured  by  the full faith and credit of the
34    area included in the special service area may be  issued  for
HB2553 Enrolled             -4-                LRB9008938MWgc
 1    providing  the special services. Bonds, when so issued, shall
 2    be retired by the levy of taxes, in  addition  to  the  taxes
 3    specified  in subsection (e), against all of the taxable real
 4    property included in the area as provided  in  the  ordinance
 5    authorizing the issuance of the bonds or by the imposition of
 6    another  tax  within  the  special  service area.  The county
 7    clerk shall annually extend taxes against all of the  taxable
 8    property  situated in the county and contained in the special
 9    service area in amounts sufficient to pay maturing  principal
10    and  interest  of such bonds without limitation as to rate or
11    amount and in addition to and in excess of any taxes that may
12    now or hereafter be authorized to be levied by the  district.
13    Before  the issuance of such bonds, notice shall be given and
14    a hearing shall be held under the provisions  of  subsections
15    (f)  and  (g). For purposes of this subsection a notice shall
16    include:
17             (1)  the time and place of hearing;
18             (2)  the boundaries of the area by legal description
19        and by street location, where possible;
20             (3)  a notification  that  all  interested  persons,
21        including   all  persons  owning  taxable  real  property
22        located within the special service area, will be given an
23        opportunity to be heard  at  the  hearing  regarding  the
24        issuance  of  such  bonds  and  an  opportunity  to  file
25        objections to the issuance of such bonds; and
26             (4)  the  maximum  amount  of  bonds  proposed to be
27        issued, the maximum period of time over which  the  bonds
28        shall be retired, and the maximum interest rate the bonds
29        shall bear.
30        The  question  of the creation of a special service area,
31    the levy or imposition of a tax in the special service  area,
32    and  the issuance of bonds for providing special services may
33    all be considered together at one hearing.
34        Any bonds issued shall not exceed the  number  of  bonds,
HB2553 Enrolled             -5-                LRB9008938MWgc
 1    the  interest  rate, and the period of extension set forth in
 2    the notice, unless an additional hearing is held.   No  bonds
 3    issued  under  this Section shall be regarded as indebtedness
 4    of the district for the purpose of any limitation imposed  by
 5    any law.
 6        (i)  Boundaries   of   a  special  service  area  may  be
 7    enlarged, but only after hearing and notice  as  provided  in
 8    subsections  (f)  and  (g),  the  notice  to be served in the
 9    original area of the special service area and  in  any  areas
10    proposed  to  be  added  to  the special service area, except
11    where the property being added represents less than 5% of the
12    assessed valuation of the entire original area, as determined
13    by the clerk of the county wherein the land is located,  then
14    the  notice by mailing requirement of subsection (f) shall be
15    limited only to the area to be added and not to the  original
16    special service area. The property added to the area shall be
17    subject  to  all  taxes  levied  therein  after that property
18    becomes a part  of  the  area  and  shall  become  additional
19    security  for bonded indebtedness outstanding at the time the
20    property is added to the area.
21        (j)  If a petition signed by at least 51% of the electors
22    residing within the special service area and by at least  51%
23    of  the  owners  of  record  of  the land included within the
24    boundaries of the special service  area  is  filed  with  the
25    district clerk within 60 days following the final adjournment
26    of  the  public  hearing  objecting  to  the  creation of the
27    special service district, the enlargement thereof,  the  levy
28    or  imposition  of  a  tax  or  the issuance of bonds for the
29    provision of special services to the area, or to  a  proposed
30    increase  in the tax rate, no such district may be created or
31    enlarged, no such tax may be levied or imposed nor  the  rate
32    increased, or no such bonds may be issued. The subject matter
33    of  the  petition  shall  not  be  proposed  relative  to any
34    signatories of the petition within the next  2  years.   Each
HB2553 Enrolled             -6-                LRB9008938MWgc
 1    resident  of  the  special service area registered to vote at
 2    the time of the  public  hearing  held  with  regard  to  the
 3    special  service  area  shall be considered an elector.  Each
 4    person in whose name legal title to land included within  the
 5    boundaries  of  the special service area is held according to
 6    the records of the county wherein the land is  located  shall
 7    be  considered an owner of record.  Owners of record shall be
 8    determined at the time of the public hearing held with regard
 9    to a special service area.  Land owned in the name of a  land
10    trust,   corporation,   estate,   or   partnership  shall  be
11    considered to have a single owner of record.
12        (k)  Any territory located within the boundaries  of  any
13    special  service area organized under this Section may become
14    disconnected from the area in the  manner  provided  in  this
15    subsection.   A  majority  of  the  resident  electors  and a
16    majority of the record owners of land in the territory sought
17    to be disconnected from the area may sign  a  petition.   The
18    petition  shall  be  addressed to the circuit court and shall
19    contain a definite description  of  the  boundaries  of  such
20    territory  and  recite  as  a  fact  that, as of the date the
21    petition is filed, such territory was not, is not, and is not
22    intended by the corporate authority which created the special
23    service area to be either benefited or served by any work  or
24    services  either  then  existing  or  then  authorized by the
25    special service area, and  that  such  territory  constitutes
26    less  than  1  1/2%  of  the  special  service  area's  total
27    equalized assessed valuation.
28        Upon  the filing of the petition, the court shall set the
29    petition for public hearing within 60 days after the date  of
30    the filing of the petition.  The court shall give at least 45
31    days  notice  of  the  hearing  by  publishing  notice of the
32    hearing once in a  newspaper  having  a  general  circulation
33    within  the  special service area from which the territory is
34    sought to be disconnected.  The notice (1) shall refer to the
HB2553 Enrolled             -7-                LRB9008938MWgc
 1    petition  filed  with  the  court,  (2)  shall  describe  the
 2    territory proposed to be disconnected, (3) shall indicate the
 3    prayer of the petition and the date, time and place at  which
 4    the  public  hearing  will  be  held  and  (4)  shall further
 5    indicate that  the  corporate  authority  which  created  the
 6    special  service  area  and any persons residing in or owning
 7    property in the territory involved or in the special  service
 8    area  from  which such territory is sought to be disconnected
 9    shall have an opportunity to be heard on the  prayer  of  the
10    petition.    Notice  of  the  filing  of  the  petition,  the
11    substance of which shall be as prescribed for  the  published
12    notice,  shall also be mailed to the presiding officer of the
13    corporate authority from which the territory is sought to  be
14    disconnected.
15        The  public hearing may be continued from time to time by
16    the court.  After the public hearing  and  having  heard  all
17    persons  desiring  to  be  heard,  including  such  corporate
18    authority  and  all persons residing in or owning property in
19    the territory involved or in the special  service  area  from
20    which  such  territory  is  sought to be disconnected, if the
21    court finds that all the  allegations  of  the  petition  are
22    true,  the  court  shall grant the prayer of the petition and
23    shall enter an order disconnecting  the  territory  from  the
24    special  service area, which order shall be entered at length
25    in the records of the court, and the clerk of the court shall
26    file a certified copy of the order  with  the  clerk  of  the
27    district  which  created  the special service area from which
28    such territory has been disconnected.   If  the  court  finds
29    that  the allegations contained in the petition are not true,
30    then the court shall enter an order dismissing the petition.
31        Any disconnected territory shall cease to be  subject  to
32    any taxes levied under this Section and shall not be security
33    for  any  future  bonded indebtedness. When the amount of any
34    taxes levied by a special service area is  cancelled  due  to
HB2553 Enrolled             -8-                LRB9008938MWgc
 1    disconnection  of  territory,  the  court  may,  in  the same
 2    disconnection proceeding,  distribute  the  cancelled  amount
 3    upon  the other property in the area assessed, in such manner
 4    as  the  court  finds  just  and  equitable,  not  exceeding,
 5    however, the amount by which such property will benefit  from
 6    the special service.
 7        (l)  If  a  property  tax  is  levied,  the  tax shall be
 8    extended by the county clerk in the special service  area  in
 9    the  manner  provided  by  the  Property  Tax  Code  based on
10    assessed values as established  under  that  Code.   In  that
11    case,  the  district    shall  file  a  certified copy of the
12    ordinance creating the special  service  area,  including  an
13    accurate  map  of  the  area,  with  the  county  clerk.  The
14    corporate authorities of the district are authorized to  levy
15    taxes  in the special service area for the same year in which
16    the ordinance and map are filed with the  county  clerk.   In
17    addition,  the  corporate  authorities shall file a certified
18    copy of each ordinance levying taxes in the  special  service
19    area on or before the third Tuesday of September of each year
20    and  shall file a certified copy of any ordinance authorizing
21    the issuance of bonds and providing for a property  tax  levy
22    in  that  ordinance  by  December 31 of the year of the first
23    levy.
24        Instead of or in addition to such property tax, a special
25    tax may be levied and extended  within  the  special  service
26    area on any other basis that provides a rational relationship
27    between the amount of the tax levied against each lot, block,
28    tract  and parcel of land in the special service area and the
29    special service benefit rendered; a special tax roll shall be
30    prepared containing:  (1)  an explanation of  the  method  of
31    spreading  the  special  tax,  (2)  a  list  of lots, blocks,
32    tracts and parcels  of  land  in  the  special  service  area
33    and  (3)  the  amount assessed against each.  The special tax
34    roll shall be included  in  the  ordinance  establishing  the
HB2553 Enrolled             -9-                LRB9008938MWgc
 1    special service area or in an amendment thereto, and shall be
 2    filed  with  the  county  clerk for use in extending the tax.
 3    The lien and foreclosure remedies provided in  Article  9  of
 4    the  Illinois  Municipal  Code,  as now or hereafter amended,
 5    shall apply upon nonpayment of such special tax.
 6        (m)  An ordinance establishing  a  special  service  area
 7    shall   not  take  effect  until  a  certified  copy  of  the
 8    ordinance, containing a description of the territory  of  the
 9    area,  is  filed  for record in the office of the recorder in
10    each county in which any part of the area is located.
11    (Source: P.A. 88-670, eff. 12-2-94.)
12        (70 ILCS 2405/23.5) (from Ch. 42, par. 317e.5)
13        Sec. 23.5.  Any sanitary district may annex any territory
14    which is not within the  corporate  limits  of  the  sanitary
15    district  but  which is contiguous to it and is served by the
16    sanitary district or by a municipality with  sanitary  sewers
17    that are connected and served by the sanitary district by the
18    passage  of  an  ordinance  to  that  effect  by the board of
19    trustees, describing the territory to be annexed. A  copy  of
20    the  ordinance with an accurate map of the annexed territory,
21    certified as correct by the clerk of the  district  shall  be
22    filed  with  the  county  clerk  of  the  county in which the
23    annexed territory is located. For purposes  of  this  Act,  a
24    property  is served by a sanitary district if a sewer that is
25    part of the sanitary district's sewer  system,  part  of  the
26    sewer  system  of  a  municipality  that  is connected to the
27    sanitary district, or part of any  other  sewer  system  that
28    connects  to  and is served by the sanitary district has been
29    extended to, across, or along the property,  whether  or  not
30    the buildings on the property are physically connected to the
31    sewer.
32        Territory  that  is not contiguous to a sanitary district
33    but is separated from the sanitary district by  only a forest
HB2553 Enrolled             -10-               LRB9008938MWgc
 1    preserve district may be annexed  to  the  sanitary  district
 2    under this Section. The territory  included within the forest
 3    preserve  district  shall  not  be  annexed  to  the sanitary
 4    district and shall not  be    subject  to  rights-of-way  for
 5    access or services between the parts of the sanitary district
 6    separated  by  the    forest  preserve  district  without the
 7    approval  of  the  governing  body  of  the  forest  preserve
 8    district.
 9    (Source: P.A. 86-296.)
10        (70 ILCS 2405/25) (from Ch. 42, par. 317g)
11        Sec. 25. The board of trustees of any  sanitary  district
12    may  arrange  to  provide  for  the  benefit of employees and
13    trustees  of  the  sanitary  district  group  life,   health,
14    accident,  hospital  and medical insurance, or any one or any
15    combination  of  such  types  of  insurance.   The  Board  of
16    trustees  may  also  elect  to  self  insure  the  district's
17    employees.  In  the  event  the  board  arranges  to  provide
18    insurance, such insurance may include provision for employees
19    and  trustees  who  rely  on treatment by prayer or spiritual
20    means alone for healing in accordance  with  the  tenets  and
21    practice  of  a  well  recognized religious denomination. The
22    board of trustees may provide for  payment  by  the  sanitary
23    district of the premium or charge for such insurance.
24        If  the  board  of  trustees elects to do not provide the
25    insurance, but does not provide for a plan pursuant to  which
26    the  sanitary  district  pays  the  premium or charge for any
27    group insurance plan, the board of trustees may  provide  for
28    the  withholding  and deducting from the compensation of such
29    of the employees and trustees as consent thereto the  premium
30    or  charge for any group life, health, accident, hospital and
31    medical insurance.
32        If the board of  trustees  elects  to  provide  insurance
33    under  the  provisions  of  this Section, it may exercise the
HB2553 Enrolled             -11-               LRB9008938MWgc
 1    powers granted in this Section only  if  the  kinds  of  such
 2    group  insurance  are  obtained  from  any  insurance company
 3    authorized to do business in the State of  Illinois,  or  any
 4    non-profit  hospital  service corporation organized under the
 5    provisions of the Non-Profit Hospital Service  Plan  Act,  as
 6    heretofore  and  hereafter amended, or incorporated under the
 7    provisions of the Medical Service Plan Act, as heretofore and
 8    hereafter amended, or any other for-profit or  not-for-profit
 9    organization  or  service offering similar coverage including
10    without limitation, hospitals,  clinics,  health  maintenance
11    organizations,  and physicians' groups. The board of trustees
12    may enact an ordinance prescribing the method of operation of
13    the such insurance or self-insurance program and for entering
14    into   contracts   with   for-profit    and    not-for-profit
15    organizations or services providing health care services.
16    (Source: Laws 1963, p. 2755.)
17        Section 10.  The Sanitary District Act of 1936 is amended
18    by changing Section 27.1 as follows:
19        (70 ILCS 2805/27.1) (from Ch. 42, par. 438.1)
20        Sec. 27.1.  Special service areas.
21        (a)  A  sanitary  district  organized  under this Act may
22    provide  special  services  limited  to   the   construction,
23    maintenance,  alteration,  and  extension  of  the district's
24    drains,  sewers,  laterals,  and  other  necessary  adjuncts,
25    including pumps and pumping stations, in any special  service
26    area  within  the  district.   The district may levy a tax to
27    provide those special services or to provide for the  payment
28    of  debt  incurred  to  provide  those  special  services  in
29    accordance with this Act.
30        (b)  The  manner  of  providing  special  services and of
31    levying the tax authorized by  subsection  (a)  shall  be  as
32    provided in this Section.
HB2553 Enrolled             -12-               LRB9008938MWgc
 1        (c)  "Special  Service  Area"  means  a  contiguous  area
 2    within  a district in which special governmental services are
 3    provided in addition to  those  services  provided  generally
 4    throughout  the  district, the cost of those special services
 5    to be paid from  revenues  collected  from  taxes  levied  or
 6    imposed   upon  property  within  that  area.   Territory  is
 7    "contiguous" for purposes of this Section even though certain
 8    completely surrounded portions of the territory are  excluded
 9    from  the  special  service  area.   A  district may create a
10    special service area within a municipality or  municipalities
11    when  the  municipality  or  municipalities  consent  to  the
12    creation of the special service area. A district may create a
13    special  service  area  within  the  unincorporated area of a
14    county when the  county  consents  to  the  creation  of  the
15    special service area.
16        (d)  The  corporate  authorities of the district shall be
17    the governing body of the special service area.
18        (e)  Taxes may be levied or imposed by  the  district  in
19    the  special  service  area  at  a  rate  or  amount  of  tax
20    sufficient  to  produce  revenues  required  to  provide  the
21    special  services.  Before  the  first  levy  of taxes in the
22    special service area, notice shall be given and hearing shall
23    be held under the provisions of subsections (f) and (g).  For
24    purposes of this subsection the notice shall include:
25             (1)  the time and place of hearing;
26             (2)  the boundaries of the area by legal description
27        and by street location, where possible;
28             (3)  a  notification  that  all  interested persons,
29        including  all  persons  owning  taxable  real   property
30        located within the special service area, will be given an
31        opportunity  to be heard at the hearing regarding the tax
32        levy and an opportunity to file objections to the  amount
33        of  the tax levy if the tax is a tax upon their property;
34        and
HB2553 Enrolled             -13-               LRB9008938MWgc
 1             (4)  the maximum rate of taxes to be extended in any
 2        year and may include a maximum number of years the  taxes
 3        will be levied.
 4        After  the  first levy, taxes may be extended against the
 5    special service  area  for  the  services  specified  without
 6    additional  hearings, provided the taxes shall not exceed the
 7    rate specified in the notice and,  if  a  maximum  number  of
 8    years  is  specified  in  the  notice, the taxes shall not be
 9    extended for a longer period. Tax rates may be increased  and
10    the  period  specified  may  be  extended, provided notice is
11    given and new public hearings are  held  in  accordance  with
12    subsections (f) and (g).
13        (f)  Before  or  within 60 days after the adoption of the
14    ordinance proposing the establishment of  a  special  service
15    area,  the district shall fix a time and a place for a public
16    hearing. Notice of the hearing shall be given by  publication
17    and   mailing.  Notice  by  publication  shall  be  given  by
18    publication at least once not less than 15  days  before  the
19    hearing  in  a  newspaper  of  general circulation within the
20    district. Notice by mailing shall be given by depositing  the
21    notice  in the United States mails addressed to the person or
22    persons  in  whose  name  the  general  taxes  for  the  last
23    preceding year were paid on each lot, block, tract, or parcel
24    of land lying within the special  service  area.  The  notice
25    shall be mailed not less than 10 days before the time set for
26    the public hearing. In the event taxes for the last preceding
27    year  were  not  paid, the notice shall be sent to the person
28    last listed on the tax rolls before that year as the owner of
29    the property.
30        (g)  At  the  public  hearing  any   interested   person,
31    including  all  persons  owning taxable real property located
32    within the proposed special service area, may file  with  the
33    district  clerk written objections to and may be heard orally
34    in respect to any issues embodied in the notice. The district
HB2553 Enrolled             -14-               LRB9008938MWgc
 1    shall hear and determine all protests and objections  at  the
 2    hearing,  and  the  hearing  may be adjourned to another date
 3    without further notice other than a motion to be entered upon
 4    the minutes fixing the time and place of its adjournment.  At
 5    the public hearing or at the first  regular  meeting  of  the
 6    corporate  authorities  thereafter,  the  district may delete
 7    area from the special service area, except that  the  special
 8    service  area  must still be a contiguous area as provided in
 9    subsection (c).
10        (h)  Bonds secured by the full faith and  credit  of  the
11    area  included  in the special service area may be issued for
12    providing the special services. Bonds, when so issued,  shall
13    be  retired  by  the  levy of taxes, in addition to the taxes
14    specified in subsection (e), against all of the taxable  real
15    property  included  in  the area as provided in the ordinance
16    authorizing the issuance of the bonds or by the imposition of
17    another tax within the  special  service  area.   The  county
18    clerk  shall annually extend taxes against all of the taxable
19    property situated in the county and contained in the  special
20    service  area in amounts sufficient to pay maturing principal
21    and interest of those bonds without limitation as to rate  or
22    amount and in addition to and in excess of any taxes that may
23    now  or hereafter be authorized to be levied by the district.
24    Before the issuance of bonds, notice shall  be  given  and  a
25    hearing shall be held under the provisions of subsections (f)
26    and  (g).  For  purposes  of  this  subsection a notice shall
27    include:
28             (1)  the time and place of hearing;
29             (2)  the boundaries of the area by legal description
30        and by street location, where possible;
31             (3)  a notification  that  all  interested  persons,
32        including   all  persons  owning  taxable  real  property
33        located within the special service area, will be given an
34        opportunity to be heard  at  the  hearing  regarding  the
HB2553 Enrolled             -15-               LRB9008938MWgc
 1        issuance   of  the  bonds  and  an  opportunity  to  file
 2        objections to the issuance of the bonds; and
 3             (4)  the maximum amount  of  bonds  proposed  to  be
 4        issued,  the  maximum period of time over which the bonds
 5        shall be retired, and the maximum interest rate the bonds
 6        shall bear.
 7        The question of the creation of a special  service  area,
 8    the  levy or imposition of a tax in the special service area,
 9    and the issuance of bonds for providing special services  may
10    all be considered together at one hearing.
11        Any  bonds  issued  shall not exceed the number of bonds,
12    the interest rate, and the period of extension set  forth  in
13    the  notice,  unless an additional hearing is held.  No bonds
14    issued under this Section shall be regarded  as  indebtedness
15    of  the district for the purpose of any limitation imposed by
16    any law.
17        (i)  Boundaries  of  a  special  service  area   may   be
18    enlarged,  but  only  after hearing and notice as provided in
19    subsections (f) and (g), the  notice  to  be  served  in  the
20    original  area  of  the special service area and in any areas
21    proposed to be added to  the  special  service  area,  except
22    where the property being added represents less than 5% of the
23    assessed valuation of the entire original area, as determined
24    by  the clerk of the county wherein the land is located, then
25    the notice by mailing requirement of subsection (f) shall  be
26    limited  only to the area to be added and not to the original
27    special service area. The property added to the area shall be
28    subject to all taxes levied after  that  property  becomes  a
29    part  of  the  area  and shall become additional security for
30    bonded indebtedness outstanding at the time the  property  is
31    added to the area.
32        (j)  If a petition signed by at least 51% of the electors
33    residing  within the special service area and by at least 51%
34    of the owners of record  of  the  land  included  within  the
HB2553 Enrolled             -16-               LRB9008938MWgc
 1    boundaries  of  the  special  service  area is filed with the
 2    district clerk within 60 days following the final adjournment
 3    of the public  hearing  objecting  to  the  creation  of  the
 4    special  service  area, the enlargement of the area, the levy
 5    or imposition of a tax, or the  issuance  of  bonds  for  the
 6    provision  of  special services to the area, or to a proposed
 7    increase in the tax rate, no such  area  may  be  created  or
 8    enlarged,  no  such tax may be levied or imposed nor the rate
 9    increased, or no such bonds may be issued. The subject matter
10    of the  petition  shall  not  be  proposed  relative  to  any
11    signatories  of  the  petition within the next 2 years.  Each
12    resident of the special service area registered  to  vote  at
13    the  time  of  the  public  hearing  held  with regard to the
14    special service area shall be considered  an  elector.   Each
15    person  in whose name legal title to land included within the
16    boundaries of the special service area is held  according  to
17    the  records  of the county wherein the land is located shall
18    be considered an owner of record.  Owners of record shall  be
19    determined at the time of the public hearing held with regard
20    to  a special service area.  Land owned in the name of a land
21    trust,  corporation,  estate,   or   partnership   shall   be
22    considered to have a single owner of record.
23        (k)  Any  territory  located within the boundaries of any
24    special service area organized under this Section may  become
25    disconnected  from  the  area  in the manner provided in this
26    subsection.  A  majority  of  the  resident  electors  and  a
27    majority of the record owners of land in the territory sought
28    to  be  disconnected  from the area may sign a petition.  The
29    petition shall be addressed to the circuit  court  and  shall
30    contain  a  definite  description  of  the  boundaries of the
31    territory sought to be disconnected  and  recite  as  a  fact
32    that, as of the date the petition is filed, the territory was
33    not,  is  not, and is not intended by the corporate authority
34    that created the special service area to be either  benefited
HB2553 Enrolled             -17-               LRB9008938MWgc
 1    or  served  by  any  work or services either then existing or
 2    then authorized by the special service  area,  and  that  the
 3    territory  constitutes  less than 1.5% of the special service
 4    area's total equalized assessed valuation.
 5        Upon the filing of the petition, the court shall set  the
 6    petition  for public hearing within 60 days after the date of
 7    the filing of the petition.  The court shall give at least 45
 8    days notice of  the  hearing  by  publishing  notice  of  the
 9    hearing  once  in  a  newspaper  having a general circulation
10    within the special service area from which the  territory  is
11    sought  to be disconnected. The notice (i) shall refer to the
12    petition filed  with  the  court,  (ii)  shall  describe  the
13    territory  proposed  to be disconnected, (iii) shall indicate
14    the prayer of the petition and the date, time, and  place  at
15    which the public hearing will be held, and (iv) shall further
16    indicate  that  the  corporate  authority  that  created  the
17    special  service  area  and any persons residing in or owning
18    property in the territory involved or in the special  service
19    area  from  which  the territory is sought to be disconnected
20    shall have an opportunity to be heard on the  prayer  of  the
21    petition.    Notice  of  the  filing  of  the  petition,  the
22    substance of which shall be as prescribed for  the  published
23    notice,  shall also be mailed to the presiding officer of the
24    corporate authority from which the territory is sought to  be
25    disconnected.
26        The  public hearing may be continued from time to time by
27    the court.  After the public hearing  and  having  heard  all
28    persons   desiring  to  be  heard,  including  the  corporate
29    authority that created  the  special  service  area  and  all
30    persons  residing  in  or  owning  property  in the territory
31    involved or in  the  special  service  area  from  which  the
32    territory  is  sought  to be disconnected, if the court finds
33    that all the allegations of the petition are true, the  court
34    shall  grant  the  prayer  of the petition and shall enter an
HB2553 Enrolled             -18-               LRB9008938MWgc
 1    order disconnecting the territory from  the  special  service
 2    area,  which  order shall be entered at length in the records
 3    of the court, and  the  clerk  of  the  court  shall  file  a
 4    certified  copy  of  the order with the clerk of the district
 5    that  created  the  special  service  area  from  which   the
 6    territory has been disconnected.  If the court finds that the
 7    allegations  contained in the petition are not true, then the
 8    court shall enter an order dismissing the petition.
 9        Any disconnected territory shall cease to be  subject  to
10    any taxes levied under this Section and shall not be security
11    for  any  future  bonded indebtedness. When the amount of any
12    taxes levied by a special service area is  cancelled  due  to
13    disconnection  of  territory,  the  court  may,  in  the same
14    disconnection proceeding,  distribute  the  cancelled  amount
15    upon  the  other  property  in the area assessed, in a manner
16    that the court  finds  just  and  equitable,  not  exceeding,
17    however,  the amount by which such property will benefit from
18    the special service.
19        (l)  If a property  tax  is  levied,  the  tax  shall  be
20    extended  by  the county clerk in the special service area in
21    the manner  provided  by  the  Property  Tax  Code  based  on
22    assessed values as established under that Act.  In that case,
23    the  district  shall  file  a certified copy of the ordinance
24    creating the special service area, including an accurate  map
25    of   the   area,   with  the  county  clerk.   The  corporate
26    authorities of the district are authorized to levy  taxes  in
27    the  special  service  area  for  the  same year in which the
28    ordinance and map  are  filed  with  the  county  clerk.   In
29    addition,  the  corporate  authorities shall file a certified
30    copy of each ordinance levying taxes in the  special  service
31    area on or before the third Tuesday of September of each year
32    and  shall file a certified copy of any ordinance authorizing
33    the issuance of bonds and providing for a property  tax  levy
34    in  that  ordinance  by  December 31 of the year of the first
HB2553 Enrolled             -19-               LRB9008938MWgc
 1    levy.
 2        Instead of or in addition to that property tax, a special
 3    tax may be levied and extended  within  the  special  service
 4    area on any other basis that provides a rational relationship
 5    between the amount of the tax levied against each lot, block,
 6    tract, and parcel of land in the special service area and the
 7    special service benefit rendered; a special tax roll shall be
 8    prepared  containing  (i)  an  explanation  of  the method of
 9    spreading the special tax,  (ii)  a  list  of  lots,  blocks,
10    tracts,  and parcels of land in the special service area, and
11    (iii) the amount assessed against each.  The special tax roll
12    shall be included in the ordinance establishing  the  special
13    service  area or in an amendment to that ordinance, and shall
14    be filed with the county clerk for use in extending the  tax.
15    The  lien  and  foreclosure remedies provided in Article 9 of
16    the Illinois Municipal Code shall apply  upon  nonpayment  of
17    the special tax.
18        (m)  An  ordinance  establishing  a  special service area
19    shall  not  take  effect  until  a  certified  copy  of   the
20    ordinance,  containing  a description of the territory of the
21    area, is filed for record in the office of  the  recorder  in
22    each county in which any part of the area is located.
23    (Source: P.A. 88-670, eff. 12-2-94.)
24        Section  99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect upon
25    becoming law.

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