HB2516eng 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB2516 Engrossed LRB096 09542 RCE 19701 b

AN ACT concerning counties.

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

Section 5. The Counties Code is amended by adding Section 5-1035.3 as follows:

(55 ILCS 5/5-1035.3 new)

Sec. 5-1035.3. Tax increase opt out.

(a) A county, by ordinance or resolution adopted by the county board or by referendum, may opt out of any tax increase imposed pursuant to Section 4.03 of the Regional Transportation Act, as amended by Public Act 95-708, and to be used by the county as provided in Section 4.03.3 of that Act. If a county opts out of a tax increase, then the tax increase shall no longer be imposed or collected in the county and the county shall no longer receive distributions or any other benefits derived from the imposition of the tax increase.

(b) The county board, by resolution, may provide for the submission to the electors the question of whether the county shall opt out of a tax increase. The board shall certify the resolution and proposition to the proper election officials, who shall submit the question to the electors at the consolidated or general election next occurring and in accordance with the general election law. The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:

Shall the County of (insert name of county) opt out of (insert description of tax increase)?

The votes shall be recorded as "Yes" or "No".

If a majority of the electors voting on the proposition vote in favor of it, then the county has opted out of the tax increase.

(c) A county may not opt out of any tax increase under this Section if the proceeds are pledged to make principal or interest payments on bonds or other long-term debt.

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