(55 ILCS 5/5-44005)

Sec. 5-44005. Findings and purpose.

(a) The General Assembly finds:

(1) Illinois has more units of local government than any other state.

(2) The large number of units of local government results in the inefficient delivery of governmental services at a higher cost to taxpayers.

(3) In a number of cases, units of local government provide services that are duplicative in nature, as they are provided by other units of local government.

(4) It is in the best interest of taxpayers that more efficient service delivery structures be established in order to replace units of local government that are not financially sustainable.

(5) Units of local government managed by appointed governing boards not directly accountable to the electorate can encourage a lack of oversight and complacency that is not in the best interest of taxpayers.

(6) Various provisions of Illinois law governing the dissolution of units of local government are inconsistent and outdated.

(7) The lack of a streamlined method to consolidate government functions and to dissolve units of local government results in an unfair tax burden on the citizens of the State of Illinois residing in those units of local government and prevents the expenditure of limited public funds for critical programs and services.

(b) The purpose of this Act is to provide county boards with supplemental authority regarding the dissolution of units of local government and the consolidation of governmental functions.

(Source: P.A. 98-126, eff. 8-2-13.)