HB4545sam001 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Sen. David Koehler

Filed: 5/23/2008

09500HB4545sam001 LRB095 17331 RLJ 51204 a

AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 4545

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 4545 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Illinois Rural Economic Development and Tourism Stimulus Act.

Section 10. Purpose. The express purpose of this legislation is to establish a method of enabling the creation of a locally customized program to utilize a palette of economic development incentives already in wide use throughout the State but organized in a unique, locally established district to attract businesses and tourism-related activity to provide stimulation of the local economies of the areas where these districts are formed in order to increase economic development, including jobs and tax revenues of every type, and to improve the quality of life in the areas affected by the unemployment, disinvestment, and population losses that characterize these areas and thereby increase the opportunities for rural Illinois families to remain intact and prosper.

Section 15. Definitions.

(a) "Special taxing district" means those districts created pursuant to this Act, which are political subdivisions of the State of Illinois.

(b) "Board of Directors" means the group of representatives appointed pursuant to the requirements of this Act to serve as a governing body for those districts created pursuant to this Act.

Section 20. Enabling authority. The State of Illinois hereby confers to counties the authority to, by majority vote of the county board in which a proposed district would reside, the authority to create certain special taxation districts, which are designed to employ certain economic development incentives currently allowed under State law to address conditions of persistent lack of economic development, chronic underemployment or unemployment, and poverty.

Section 25. Requirements. All special taxation districts created pursuant to this Act shall first meet the following economic and employment criteria before they are eligible for consideration and approval by the county board of the county in which the district is proposed to be located:

(1) the median income or wage within the county is equal to or less than 60% of the State median;

(2) unemployment levels within the county are equal to or greater than 25% of the State median;

(3) the percentage of county population living below the poverty level is more than 25% higher than the State average; and

(4) the area consists of at least 1,000 acres within the county seeking to institute such a district but lying outside of the corporate limits of any municipality.

Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, territory within a special taxing district created by this Act may not be annexed by another political subdivision of the State and is not subject to extra-territorial applications of existing municipal law.

Section 30. Board makeup.

(a) A District created by this Act shall be governed by a Board of Directors consisting of 3 members appointed by the county board of the county in which the district is situated. Members must be residents of that county. Of the initial members appointed pursuant to this Section, one shall serve for a 2-year term, one shall serve for a 3-year term, and one shall serve for a 4-year term. Their successors shall be appointed for 4-year terms. Members shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses.

(b) The Board of Directors shall:

(1) appoint from among its members a Chairman, a Secretary and such other officers as may be necessary to conduct its business;

(2) keep and maintain a complete and accurate record of all of its proceedings; the Board is a public body, subject to all laws governing political subdivisions of the State of Illinois;

(3) enter into intergovernmental agreements with the county within which it is located for administrative and staff support and meeting accommodations for accomplishing the purposes of the District;

(4) enter into contracts and other agreements in the interest of the District or to carry out and accomplish the purposes of this Act, including construction contracts; and

(5) contract for consulting, legal, accounting, and other outside professional services, including a contracts with a professional facility management company.

Section 35. Powers. A county, by ordinance, may create a special taxation district pursuant to this Act. The District shall have the authority to:

(1) collect and provide for the expenditure of that portion of all sales taxes due from licensed economic activities within the District, normally collected by and allocated to the general revenue fund of the county in which the District is located;

(2) enter into economic incentive agreements as provided in Section 8-11-20 of the Illinois Municipal Code to allocate utilization of the municipality's share of any non-home rule retailers' occupation taxes generated within the Redevelopment Project Area in accordance with Section 8-11-20 of the Illinois Municipal Code;

(3) levy and allocate the use of a Municipal Use Tax (infrastructure tax) under procedures described in Section 8-11-1.5 of the Illinois Municipal Code;

(4) provide for the assessment of and the utilization of a Hotel-Motel tax, not to exceed 5%, as is permitted in Section 8-3-14 of the Illinois Municipal Code;

(5) enter into intergovernmental agreements by the affirmative vote of its board of directors;

(6) provide for the use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to collect property taxes for all real property located within the District for the maximum period allowable under State law;

(7) create an Illinois Business District pursuant to the Business District Development and Redevelopment Act;

(8) levy and collect additional taxes including, but not limited to, utility taxes and telecommunications taxes on all property owners within the District. Any expenditure of funds collected pursuant to this Act shall only be expended according to a budget approved by a majority vote of the District's Board of Directors. Any subsequent increase in the tax rate must be approved by a majority vote of the District's Board of Directors;

(9) levy a special use tax on business activity in the District that is subject to taxation under the law; the tax shall be levied at a rate to be determined by majority vote of the Board of Directors;

(10) adopt and use a corporate seal;

(11) sue and be sued;

(12) adopt administrative rules as necessary to administer and operate the District and any property under its jurisdiction;

(13) retain legal counsel and other consultants as necessary to carry out the purposes of the District; and

(14) acquire by any lawful means and operate, maintain, encumber and dispose of real and personal property and interests in property. The district shall not have the power of eminent domain.

Section 40. Financial provisions. On or before June 30 of each year, the Board shall hold a public hearing to adopt a budget for the following fiscal year that includes:

(1) District receipts during the preceding fiscal year;

(2) expenditures during the preceding fiscal year;

(3) estimates of amounts necessary for expenses during the following fiscal year, including amounts proposed for:

(i) costs of planning, constructing, financing, and maintaining the District's facilities; and

(ii) administrative costs of the District;

(4) anticipated revenue to the District from each source in the following fiscal year;

(5) a complete asset and liability statement;

(6) a statement of profit or loss;

(7) cash on hand as of the date the budget is adopted and the anticipated balance at the end of the current fiscal year; and

(8) a description of the amount and nature of private funding and financing committed to the operation of the District.

Section 45. General fund; investments. Each District established pursuant to this Act shall maintain a general fund and may establish accounts and subaccounts within the general fund as necessary and convenient. All revenues and moneys received by the District shall be deposited in the general fund. The District may invest any unexpended moneys in the fund as provided by State law governing investments by public entities. Interest and other income from investments of monies in any account shall be credited to that account except as otherwise provided by law.

The District's investments must mature when the fund assets will be required for the purposes of this Section. If the liquid assets in the fund become insufficient to meet the District's obligations, the Board shall direct the fiscal agent to liquidate sufficient securities to meet all of the current obligations and immediately notify the Auditor General of the insufficiency. The Auditor General shall investigate and audit the circumstances surrounding the depletion of the fund and report the findings to the Board.

Section 50. Audit. The Board shall cause an annual audit to be conducted of the District's funds, accounts, and subaccounts by an independent certified public accountant within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year. The Board shall immediately file a certified copy of the audit with the Auditor General and the county board. The Auditor General may make such further audits and examinations as necessary and may take appropriate action relating to the audit or examination pursuant to the Illinois State Auditing Act. If the Auditor General takes no further action within 30 days after the audit is filed, the audit is considered to be sufficient. The Board shall pay negotiated and approved fees and costs of the Certified Public Accountant and Auditor General under this Section.

Section 55. Annexation. A district formed under this Act may not be annexed by any other unit of local government without the express approval of the board of commissioners of the district.

Section 60. The Counties Code is amended by changing Section 5-1062.3 as follows:

(55 ILCS 5/5-1062.3 new)

Sec. 5-1062.3. Stormwater management; Peoria.

(a) The purpose of this Section is to allow management and mitigation of the effects of urbanization on stormwater drainage in Peoria County and references to "county" in this Section apply only to that county. The purpose of this Section shall be achieved by:

(1) Consolidating the existing stormwater management framework into a united, countywide structure.

(2) Setting minimum standards for floodplain and stormwater management.

(3) Preparing a countywide plan for the management of stormwater runoff, including the management of natural and man-made drainageways. The countywide plan may incorporate watershed plans.

(b) A stormwater management planning committee may be established by county board resolution, with its membership consisting of equal numbers of county board and municipal representatives from each county board district, and such other members as may be determined by the county and municipal members. The county board may by ordinance divide the county into not less than 6 areas of approximately equal population, to be used instead of county board districts for the purpose of determining representation on the stormwater management planning committee.

The county board members shall be appointed by the chairman of the county board. Municipal members from each county board district or other represented area shall be appointed by a majority vote of the mayors of those municipalities that have the greatest percentage of their respective populations residing in that county board district or other represented area. All municipal and county board representatives shall be entitled to a vote; the other members shall be nonvoting members, unless authorized to vote by the unanimous consent of the municipal and county board representatives. A municipality that is located in more than one county may choose, at the time of formation of the stormwater management planning committee and based on watershed boundaries, to participate in the stormwater management planning program of either or both of the counties. Subcommittees of the stormwater management planning committee may be established to serve a portion of the county or a particular drainage basin that has similar stormwater management needs. The stormwater management planning committee shall adopt bylaws, by a majority vote of the county and municipal members, to govern the functions of the committee and its subcommittees. Officers of the committee shall include a chair and vice chair, one of whom shall be a county representative and one a municipal representative.

The principal duties of the committee shall be to develop a stormwater management plan for presentation to and approval by the county board, and to direct the plan's implementation and revision. The committee may retain engineering, legal, and financial advisors and inspection personnel. The committee shall meet at least quarterly and shall hold at least one public meeting during the preparation of the plan and prior to its submittal to the county board. The committee may make grants to units of local government that have adopted an ordinance requiring actions consistent with the stormwater management plan and to landowners for the purposes of stormwater management, including special projects; use of the grant money must be consistent with the stormwater management plan.

The committee shall not have or exercise any power of eminent domain.

(c) In the preparation of a stormwater management plan, a county stormwater management planning committee shall coordinate the planning process with each adjoining county to ensure that recommended stormwater projects will have no significant impact on the levels or flows of stormwaters in inter-county watersheds or on the capacity of existing and planned stormwater retention facilities. An adopted stormwater management plan shall identify steps taken by the county to coordinate the development of plan recommendations with adjoining counties.

(d) The stormwater management committee may not enforce any rules or regulations that would interfere with (i) any power granted by the Illinois Drainage Code (70 ILCS 605/) to operate, construct, maintain, or improve drainage systems or (ii) the ability to operate, maintain, or improve the drainage systems used on or by land or a facility used for production agriculture purposes, as defined in the Use Tax Act (35 ILCS 105/), except newly constructed buildings and newly installed impervious paved surfaces. Disputes regarding an exception shall be determined by a mutually agreed upon arbitrator paid by the disputing party or parties.

(e) Before the stormwater management planning committee recommends to the county board a stormwater management plan for the county or a portion thereof, it shall submit the plan to the Office of Water Resources of the Department of Natural Resources for review and recommendations. The Office, in reviewing the plan, shall consider such factors as impacts on the levels or flows in rivers and streams and the cumulative effects of stormwater discharges on flood levels. The Office of Water Resources shall determine whether the plan or ordinances enacted to implement the plan complies with the requirements of subsection (f). Within a period not to exceed 60 days, the review comments and recommendations shall be submitted to the stormwater management planning committee for consideration. Any amendments to the plan shall be submitted to the Office for review.

(f) Prior to recommending the plan to the county board, the stormwater management planning committee shall hold at least one public hearing thereon and shall afford interested persons an opportunity to be heard. The hearing shall be held in the county seat. Notice of the hearing shall be published at least once no less than 15 days in advance of the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation published in the county. The notice shall state the time and place of the hearing and the place where copies of the proposed plan will be accessible for examination by interested parties. If an affected municipality having a stormwater management plan adopted by ordinance wishes to protest the proposed county plan provisions, it shall appear at the hearing and submit in writing specific proposals to the stormwater management planning committee. After consideration of the matters raised at the hearing, the committee may amend or approve the plan and recommend it to the county board for adoption.

The county board may enact the proposed plan by ordinance. If the proposals for modification of the plan made by an affected municipality having a stormwater management plan are not included in the proposed county plan, and the municipality affected by the plan opposes adoption of the county plan by resolution of its corporate authorities, approval of the county plan shall require an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the county board members present and voting. If the county board wishes to amend the county plan, it shall submit in writing specific proposals to the stormwater management planning committee. If the proposals are not approved by the committee, or are opposed by resolution of the corporate authorities of an affected municipality having a municipal stormwater management plan, amendment of the plan shall require an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the county board members present and voting.

(g) The county board may prescribe by ordinance reasonable rules and regulations for floodplain management and for governing the location, width, course, and release rate of all stormwater runoff channels, streams, and basins in the county, in accordance with the adopted stormwater management plan. Land, facilities, and drainage district facilities used for production agriculture as defined in subsection (d) shall not be subjected to regulation by the county board or stormwater management committee under this Section for floodplain management and for governing location, width, course, maintenance, and release rate of stormwater runoff channels, streams and basins, or water discharged from a drainage district. These rules and regulations shall, at a minimum, meet the standards for floodplain management established by the Office of Water Resources and the requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program. The Commission may not impose more stringent regulations regarding water quality on entities discharging in accordance with a valid National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit issued under the Environmental Protection Act.

(h) In accordance with, and if recommended in, the adopted stormwater management plan, the county board may adopt a schedule of fees as may be necessary to mitigate the effects of stormwater runoff based on actual costs. The fees shall not exceed the cost of satisfying the onsite stormwater retention or detention requirements of the adopted stormwater management plan. The fees shall be used to finance activities undertaken by the county or its included municipalities to mitigate the effects of urban stormwater runoff by providing regional stormwater retention or detention facilities, as identified in the county plan. The county board shall provide for a credit or reduction in fees for any onsite retention, detention, drainage district assessments, or other similar stormwater facility consistent with the stormwater management ordinance. Developers are exempt from any fees under this Section if the new development satisfies onsite retention or detention pursuant to any other local ordinance addressing erosion, sediment, or stormwater control and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency regulations that place the development into compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program at the time of the dedication of public infrastructure. All these fees collected by the county shall be held in a separate fund, and shall be expended only in the watershed within which they were collected.

(i) For the purpose of implementing this Section and for the development, design, planning, construction, operation, and maintenance of stormwater facilities provided for in the stormwater management plan, a county board that has established a stormwater management planning committee pursuant to this Section may cause an annual tax of not to exceed 0.20% of the value, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, of all taxable property in the county to be levied upon all the taxable property in the county or occupation and use taxes of 1/10 of one cent. The property tax shall be in addition to all other taxes authorized by law to be levied and collected in the county and shall be in addition to the maximum tax rate authorized by law for general county purposes. The 0.20% limitation provided in this Section may be increased or decreased by referendum in accordance with the provisions of Sections 18-120, 18-125, and 18-130 of the Property Tax Code (35 ILCS 200/).

Any revenues generated as a result of ownership or operation of facilities or land acquired with the tax funds collected pursuant to this subsection shall be held in a separate fund and be used either to abate such property tax or for implementing this Section.

However, the tax authorized by this subsection shall not be levied until the question of its adoption, either for a specified period or indefinitely, has been submitted to the electors thereof and approved by a majority of those voting on the question. This question may be submitted at any election held in the county after the adoption of a resolution by the county board providing for the submission of the question to the electors of the county. The county board shall certify the resolution and proposition to the proper election officials, who shall submit the proposition at an election in accordance with the general election law. If a majority of the votes cast on the question is in favor of the levy of the tax, it may thereafter be levied in the county for the specified period or indefinitely, as provided in the proposition. The question shall be put in substantially the following form:

Shall an annual tax be levied for stormwater management purposes (for a period of not more than ..... years) at a rate not exceeding .....% of the equalized assessed value of the taxable property of Peoria County? Or this question may be submitted at any election held in the county after the adoption of a resolution by the county board providing for the submission of the question to the electors of the county to authorize use and occupation taxes of 1/10 of one cent:

Shall use and occupation taxes be raised for stormwater management purposes (for a period of not more than ..... years) at a rate of 1/10 of one cent for taxable goods in Peoria County?

Votes shall be recorded as Yes or No.

(j) If the county adopts a property tax in accordance with the provisions in this Section, the stormwater management committee shall offer property tax abatements or incentive payments to property owners who construct, maintain, and use approved stormwater management devices. If the county adopts use and occupation taxes in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the stormwater management committee may offer tax rebates or incentive payments to property owners who construct, maintain, and use approved stormwater management devices. The stormwater management committee is authorized to offer credits to the property tax, if applicable, based on authorized practices consistent with the stormwater management plan and approved by the committee. Expenses of staff of a stormwater management committee that are expended on regulatory project review may be no more than 20% of the annual budget of the committee, including funds raised under subsections (h) and (i).

(k) If the county has adopted a county stormwater management plan under this Section it may, after 10 days written notice receiving consent of the owner or occupant, enter upon any lands or waters within the county for the purpose of inspecting stormwater facilities or causing the removal of any obstruction to an affected watercourse. If consent is denied or cannot be reasonably obtained, the county ordinance shall provide a process or procedure for an administrative warrant to be obtained. The county shall be responsible for any damages occasioned thereby.

(l) Upon petition of the municipality, and based on a finding of the stormwater management planning committee, the county shall not enforce rules and regulations adopted by the county in any municipality located wholly or partly within the county that has a municipal stormwater management ordinance that is consistent with and at least as stringent as the county plan and ordinance, and is being enforced by the municipal authorities. On issues that the county ordinance is more stringent as deemed by the committee, the county shall only enforce rules and regulations adopted by the county on the more stringent issues and accept municipal permits. The county shall have no more than 60 days to review permits or the permits shall be deemed approved.

(m) The county may issue general obligation bonds for implementing any stormwater plan adopted under this Section in the manner prescribed in Section 5-1012; except that the referendum requirement of Section 5-1012 does not apply to bonds issued pursuant to this Section on which the principal and interest are to be paid entirely out of funds generated by the taxes and fees authorized by this Section.

(n) The powers authorized by this Section may be implemented by the county board for a portion of the county subject to similar stormwater management needs.

(o) The powers and taxes authorized by this Section are in addition to the powers and taxes authorized by Division 5-15; in exercising its powers under this Section, a county shall not be subject to the restrictions and requirements of that Division.

(p) A home rule municipality may opt out of this Section by a majority vote of that municipality's governing body.

Section 65. The County Economic Development Project Area Property Tax Allocation Act is amended by changing Sections 4 and 5 as follows:

(55 ILCS 85/4) (from Ch. 34, par. 7004)

Sec. 4. Establishment of economic development project area; ordinance; joint review board; notice; hearing; changes in economic development plan; annual reporting requirements. Economic development project areas shall be established as follows:

(a) The corporate authorities of Whiteside County may by ordinance propose the establishment of an economic development project area and fix a time and place for a public hearing, and shall submit a certified copy of the ordinance as adopted to the Department.

(a-5) After the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, the corporate authorities of Stephenson County may by ordinance propose the establishment of an economic development project area and fix a time and place for a public hearing, and shall submit a certified copy of the ordinance as adopted to the Department.

(a-10) The corporate authorities of Grundy County may, by ordinance, propose the establishment of an economic development project and fix a time and place for a public hearing. Upon passage of the ordinance, the corporate authorities of Grundy County shall submit a certified copy of the ordinance, as adopted, to the Department.

(a-15) The corporate authorities of Peoria County may, by ordinance, propose the establishment of an economic development project and fix a time and place for a public hearing. Upon passage of the ordinance, the corporate authorities of Peoria County shall submit a certified copy of the ordinance, as adopted, to the Department.

(b) Any county which adopts an ordinance which fixes a date, time and place for a public hearing shall convene a joint review board as hereinafter provided. Not less than 45 days prior to the date fixed for the public hearing, the county shall give notice by mailing to the chief executive officer of each affected taxing district having taxable property included in the proposed economic development project area and, if the ordinance is adopted by Stephenson County, the chief executive officer of any municipality within Stephenson County having a population of more than 20,000 that such chief executive officer or his designee is invited to participate in a joint review board. The designee shall serve at the discretion of the chief executive officer of the taxing district for a term not to exceed 2 years. Such notice shall advise each chief executive officer of the date, time and place of the first meeting of such joint review board, which shall occur not less than 30 days prior to the date of the public hearing. Such notice by mail shall be given by depositing such notice in the United States Postal Service by certified mail.

At or prior to the first meeting of such joint review board the county shall furnish to any member of such joint review board copies of the proposed economic development plan and any related documents which such member shall reasonably request. A majority of the members of such joint review board present at any meeting shall constitute a quorum. Additional meetings may be called by any member of a joint review board upon the giving of notice not less than 72 hours prior to the date of any additional meeting to all members of the joint review board. The joint review board shall review such information and material as its members reasonably deem relevant to the county's proposals to approve economic development plans and economic development projects and to designate economic development project areas. The county shall provide such information and material promptly upon the request of the joint review board and may also provide administrative support and facilities as the joint review board may reasonably require.

Within 30 days of its first meeting, a joint review board shall provide the county with a written report of its review of any proposal to approve an economic development plan and economic development project and to designate an economic development project area. Such written report shall include such information and advisory, nonbinding recommendations as a majority of the members of the joint review board shall deem relevant. Written reports of joint review boards may include information and advisory, nonbinding recommendations provided by a minority of the members thereof. Any joint review board which does not provide such written report within such 30-day period shall be deemed to have recommended that the county proceed with a proposal to approve an economic development plan and economic development project and to designate an economic development project area.

(c) Notice of the public hearing shall be given by publication and mailing.

(1) Notice by publication shall be given by publication at least twice, the first publication to be not more than 30 nor less than 10 days prior to the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation within the taxing districts having property in the proposed economic development project area. Notice by mailing shall be given by depositing such notice together with a copy of the proposed economic development plan in the United States Postal Service by certified mail addressed to the person or persons in whose name the general taxes for the last preceding year were paid on each lot, block, tract, or parcel of land lying within the proposed economic development project area. The notice shall be mailed not less than 10 days prior to the dates set for the public hearing. In the event taxes for the last preceding year were not paid, the notice shall also be sent to the persons last listed on the tax rolls within the preceding 3 years as the owners of the property.

(2) The notices issued pursuant to this Section shall include the following:

(A) The time and place of public hearing;

(B) The boundaries of the proposed economic development project area by legal description and by street location where possible;

(C) A notification that all interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing;

(D) An invitation for any person to submit alternative proposals or bids for any proposed conveyance, lease, mortgage or other disposition of land within the proposed economic development project area;

(E) A description of the economic development plan or economic development project if a plan or project is a subject matter of the hearing; and

(F) Such other matters as the county may deem appropriate.

(3) Not less than 45 days prior to the date set for hearing, the county shall give notice by mail as provided in this subsection (c) to all taxing districts of which taxable property is included in the economic development project area, and to the Department. In addition to the other requirements under this subsection (c), the notice shall include an invitation to the Department and each taxing district to submit comments to the county concerning the subject matter of the hearing prior to the date of the hearing.

(d) At the public hearing any interested person, the Department or any affected taxing district may file written objections with the county clerk and may be heard orally with respect to any issues embodied in the notice. The county 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 adjourned hearing. Public hearings with regard to an economic development plan, economic development project area, or economic development project may be held simultaneously.

(e) At the public hearing, or at any time prior to the adoption by the county of an ordinance approving an economic development plan, the county may make changes in the economic development plan. Changes which (1) alter the exterior boundaries of the proposed economic development project area, (2) substantially affect the general land uses established in the proposed economic development plan, (3) substantially change the nature of the proposed economic development plan, (4) change the general description of any proposed developer, user or tenant of any property to be located or improved within the economic development project area, or (5) change the description of the type, class and number of employees to be employed in the operation of the facilities to be developed or improved within the economic development project area shall be made only after review by joint review board, notice and hearing pursuant to the procedures set forth in this Section. Changes which do not (1) alter the exterior boundaries of a proposed economic development project area, (2) substantially affect the general land uses established in the proposed plan, (3) substantially change the nature of the proposed economic development plan, (4) change the general description of any proposed developer, user or tenant of any property to be located or improved within the economic development project area, or (5) change the description of the type, class and number of employees to be employed in the operation of the facilities to be developed or improved within the economic development project area may be made without further notice or hearing, provided that the county shall give notice of its changes by mail to the Department and to each affected taxing district and by publication in a newspaper or newspapers of general circulation with the affected taxing districts. Such notice by mail and by publication shall each occur not later than 10 days following the adoption by ordinance of such changes.

(f) At any time within 90 days of the final adjournment of the public hearing, a county may, by ordinance, approve the economic development plan, establish the economic development project area, and authorize property tax allocation financing for such economic development project area.

Any ordinance adopted by Whiteside County which approves the economic development plan shall contain findings that the economic development project is reasonably expected to create or retain not less than 500 full-time equivalent jobs, that private investment in an amount not less than $25,000,000 is reasonably expected to occur in the economic development project area, that the economic development project will encourage the increase of commerce and industry within the State, thereby reducing the evils attendant upon unemployment and increasing opportunities for personal income, and that the economic development project will increase or maintain the property, sales and income tax bases of the county and of the State.

Any ordinance adopted by Grundy County that approves the economic development plan shall contain findings that the economic development project is reasonably expected to create or retain not less than 250 full-time equivalent jobs, that private investment in an amount not less than $50,000,000 is reasonably expected to occur in the economic development project area, that the economic development project will encourage the increase of commerce and industry within the State, thereby reducing the evils attendant upon unemployment and increasing opportunities for personal income, and that the economic development project will increase or maintain the property, sales, and income tax bases of the county and of the State.

Any ordinance adopted by Stephenson County that approves an economic development plan shall contain findings that (i) the economic development project is reasonably expected to create or retain not less than 500 full-time equivalent jobs; (ii) private investment in an amount not less than $10,000,000 is reasonably expected to occur in the economic development area; (iii) the economic development project will encourage the increase of commerce and industry within the State, thereby reducing the evils attendant upon unemployment and increasing opportunities for personal income; and (iv) the economic development project will increase or maintain the property, sales, and income tax bases of the county and of the State. Before the economic development project area is established by Stephenson County, the following additional conditions must be included in an intergovernmental agreement approved by both the Stephenson County Board and the corporate authorities of the City of Freeport: (i) the corporate authorities of the City of Freeport must concur by resolution with the findings of Stephenson County; (ii) both the corporate authorities of the City of Freeport and the Stephenson County Board shall approve any and all economic or redevelopment agreements and incentives for any economic development project within the economic development area; (iii) any economic development project that receives funds under this Act, except for any economic development project specifically excluded from annexation in the provisions of the intergovernmental agreement, shall agree to and must enter into an annexation agreement with the City of Freeport to annex property included in the economic development project area to the City of Freeport at the first point in time that the property becomes contiguous to the City of Freeport; (iv) the local share of all State occupation and use taxes allocable to the City of Freeport and Stephenson County and derived from commercial projects within the economic development project area shall be equally shared by and between the City of Freeport and Stephenson County for the duration of the economic development project; and (v) any development in the economic development project area shall be built in accordance with the building and related codes of both the City of Freeport and Stephenson County and the City of Freeport shall approve all provisions for water and sewer service.

Any ordinance adopted by Peoria County that approves an economic development plan shall contain findings that (i) the economic development project is reasonably expected to create or retain not less than 250 full-time equivalent jobs; (ii) private investment in an amount not less than $15,000,000 is reasonably expected to occur in the economic development project area; (iii) the economic development project will encourage the increase of commerce and industry within the State, thereby reducing the evils attendant upon unemployment and increasing opportunities for personal income; and (iv) the economic development project will increase or maintain the property, sales, and income tax bases of the county and of the State.

The ordinance shall also state that the economic development project area shall not include parcels to be used for purposes of residential development. Any ordinance adopted which establishes an economic development project area shall contain the boundaries of such area by legal description and, where possible, by street location. Any ordinance adopted which authorizes property tax allocation financing shall provide that the ad valorem taxes, if any, arising from the levies upon taxable real property in such economic development project area by taxing districts and tax rates determined in the manner provided in subsection (b) of Section 6 of this Act each year after the effective date of the ordinance until economic development project costs and all county obligations financing economic development project costs incurred under this Act have been paid shall be divided as follows:

(1) That portion of taxes levied upon each taxable lot, block, tract or parcel of real property which is attributable to the lower of the current equalized assessed value or the initial equalized assessed value of each such taxable lot, block, tract or parcel of real property in the economic development project area shall be allocated to, and when collected, shall be paid by the county collector to the respective affected taxing districts in the manner required by law in the absence of the adoption of property tax allocation financing.

(2) That portion, if any, of such taxes which is attributable to the increase in the current equalized assessed valuation of each taxable lot, block, tract or parcel of real property in the economic development project area over and above the initial equalized assessed value of each property in the economic development project area shall be allocated to and when collected shall be paid to the county treasurer who shall deposit those taxes into a special fund called the special tax allocation fund of the county for the purpose of paying economic development project costs and obligations incurred in the payment thereof.

(g) After a county has by ordinance approved an economic development plan and established an economic development project area, the plan may be amended and the boundaries of the area may be altered only as herein provided. Amendments which (1) alter the exterior boundaries of an economic development project area, (2) substantially affect the general land uses established pursuant to the economic development plan, (3) substantially change the nature of the economic development plan, (4) change the general description of any proposed developer, user, or tenant of any property to be located or improved within the economic development project area, or (5) change the description of the type, class and number of employees to be employed in the operation of the facilities to be developed or improved shall be made only after review by a joint review board, notice and hearing pursuant to the procedures set forth in this Section. Amendments which do not (1) alter the exterior boundaries of an economic development project area, (2) substantially affect the general land uses established in the economic development plan, (3) substantially change the nature of the economic development plan, (4) change the description of any proposed developer, user, or tenant of any property to be located or improved within the economic development project area, or (5) change the description of the type, class and number of employees to be employed in the operation of the facilities to be developed or improved within the economic development project area may be made without further hearing or notice, provided that the county shall give notice of any amendment by mail to the Department and to each taxing district and by publication in a newspaper or newspapers of general circulation within the affected taxing districts. Such notices by mail and by publication shall each occur not later than 10 days following the adoption by ordinance of such amendments.

(h) After the adoption of an ordinance adopting property tax allocation financing for an economic development project area, the county shall annually report to each taxing district having taxable property within such economic development project area (i) any increase or decrease in the equalized assessed value of the real property located within such economic development project area above or below the initial equalized assessed value of such real property, (ii) that portion, if any, of the ad valorem taxes arising from the levies upon taxable real property in such economic development project area by the taxing districts which is attributable to the increase in the current equalized assessed valuation of each lot, block, tract or parcel of real property in the economic development project area over and above the initial equalized value of each property and which has been allocated to the county in the current year, and (iii) such other information as the county may deem relevant.

(i) The county shall give notice by mail as provided in this Section and shall reconvene the joint review board not less than annually for each of the 2 years following its adoption of an ordinance adopting property tax allocation financing for an economic development project area and not less than once in each 3-year period thereafter. The county shall provide such information, and may provide administrative support and facilities as the joint review board may reasonably require for each of such meetings.

(Source: P.A. 93-959, eff. 8-20-04; 94-259, eff. 1-1-06.)

(55 ILCS 85/5) (from Ch. 34, par. 7005)

Sec. 5. Submission to Department; certification by Department.

(a) The county shall submit certified copies of any ordinances adopted approving a proposed economic development plan, establishing an economic development project area, and authorizing tax increment allocation financing to the Department, together with (1) a map of the economic development project area, (2) a copy of the economic development plan as approved, (3) an analysis, and any supporting documents and statistics, demonstrating (i) that the economic development project is reasonably expected to create or retain not less than 500 full-time equivalent jobs and (ii) that private investment in the amount of not less than $25,000,000 for all ordinances adopted by Whiteside County , and in the amount of not less than $10,000,000 for any ordinance adopted by Stephenson County, and in the amount of not less than $15,000,000 for any ordinance adopted by Peoria County is reasonably expected to occur in the economic development project area, (4) an estimate of the economic impact of the economic development plan and the use of property tax allocation financing upon the revenues of the county and the affected taxing districts, (5) a record of all public hearings held in connection with the establishment of the economic development project area, and (6) such other information as the Department by regulation may require.

(b) Upon receipt of an application from a county the Department shall review the application to determine whether the economic development project area qualifies as an economic development project area under this Act. At its discretion, the Department may accept or reject the application or may request such additional information as it deems necessary or advisable to aid its review. If any such area is found to be qualified to be an economic development project area, the Department shall approve and certify such economic development project area and shall provide written notice of its approval and certification to the county and to the county clerk. In determining whether an economic development project area shall be approved and certified, the Department shall consider (1) whether, without public intervention, the State would suffer substantial economic dislocation, such as relocation of a commercial business or industrial or manufacturing facility to another state, territory or country, or would not otherwise benefit from private investment offering substantial employment opportunities and economic growth, and (2) the impact on the revenues of the county and the affected taxing districts of the use of tax increment allocation financing in connection with the economic development project.

(c) On or before July 1, 2007, the Department shall submit to the General Assembly a report detailing the number of economic development project areas it has approved and certified, the number and type of jobs created or retained therein, the aggregate amount of private investment therein, the impact in the revenues of counties and affected taxing districts of the use of property tax allocation financing therein, and such additional information as the Department may determine to be relevant. On July 1, 2009 2008 the authority granted hereunder to counties to establish economic development project areas and to adopt property tax allocation financing in connection therewith and to the Department to approve and certify economic development project areas shall expire unless the General Assembly shall have authorized counties and the Department to continue to exercise the powers granted to them under this Act.

(Source: P.A. 92-791, eff. 8-6-02; 93-959, eff. 8-20-04.)

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