55 ILCS 85/ County Economic Development Project Area Property Tax Allocation Act.

(55 ILCS 85/1) (from Ch. 34, par. 7001)

Sec. 1. Short title. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the County Economic Development Project Area Property Tax Allocation Act.

(Source: P.A. 86-1388.)

(55 ILCS 85/2) (from Ch. 34, par. 7002)

Sec. 2. Legislative declaration of public purposes. The General Assembly hereby finds, determines and declares:

(a) that the loss of job opportunities for the residents of the State is a serious menace to the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the people of the entire State;

(b) that a vigorous, growing economy is the basic source of job opportunities;

(c) that protection against the economic burdens associated with the loss of job opportunities, the consequent spread of economic stagnation and the resulting harm to the tax base of the State can best be provided by promoting, attracting, stimulating, retaining and revitalizing industry, manufacturing, and commerce within the State;

(d) that the continual encouragement, development, growth and expansion of commercial businesses and industrial and manufacturing facilities within the State requires a cooperative and continuous partnership between government and the private sector;

(e) that the State has a responsibility to help create a favorable climate for new and improved job opportunities for its citizens and to increase the tax base of the State and its political subdivisions by encouraging the development by the private sector of new commercial businesses and industrial and manufacturing facilities and the retention of existing commercial businesses and industrial and manufacturing facilities within the State;

(f) that the loss of job opportunities within the State has persisted despite efforts of State and local authorities and private organizations to attract new commercial businesses and industrial and manufacturing facilities to the State and to retain existing commercial businesses and industrial and manufacturing facilities within the State;

(g) that persistent loss of job opportunities in the State may continue and worsen if the State and its political subdivisions are not able to provide additional incentives to commercial businesses and industrial and manufacturing facilities to locate or to remain in the State; and

(h) that the provision of such additional incentives by the State and its political subdivisions will relieve conditions of unemployment, maintain existing levels of employment, create new job opportunities, retain jobs within the State, increase industry and commerce within the State, thereby creating job opportunities for the residents of the State and reducing the evils attendant upon unemployment, and increase the tax base of the State and its political subdivisions.

It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State, in the interest of promoting the health, safety, morals and general welfare of all the people of the State, to provide incentives which will create new job opportunities and retain existing commercial businesses and industrial and manufacturing facilities within the State and related job opportunities, and it is further determined and declared that the relief of conditions of unemployment, the maintenance of existing levels of employment, the creation of new job opportunities, the retention of existing commercial businesses and industrial and manufacturing facilities within the State and related job opportunities, the increase of industry and commerce with the State, the reduction of the evils attendant upon unemployment, and the increase and the maintenance of the tax base of the State and its political subdivisions are public purposes and for the public safety, benefit, and welfare of the residents of this State.

(Source: P.A. 86-1388.)

(55 ILCS 85/3) (from Ch. 34, par. 7003)

Sec. 3. Definitions. In this Act, words or terms shall have the following meanings unless the context usage clearly indicates that another meaning is intended.

(a) "Department" means the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

(b) "Economic development plan" means the written plan of a county which sets forth an economic development program for an economic development project area. Each economic development plan shall include but not be limited to (1) estimated economic development project costs, (2) the sources of funds to pay such costs, (3) the nature and term of any obligations to be issued by the county to pay such costs, (4) the most recent equalized assessed valuation of the economic development project area, (5) an estimate of the equalized assessed valuation of the economic development project area after completion of the economic development plan, (6) the estimated date of completion of any economic development project proposed to be undertaken, (7) a general description of any proposed developer, user, or tenant of any property to be located or improved within the economic development project area, (8) a description of the type, structure and general character of the facilities to be developed or improved in the economic development project area, (9) a description of the general land uses to apply in the economic development project area, (10) a description of the type, class and number of employees to be employed in the operation of the facilities to be developed or improved in the economic development project area and (11) a commitment by the county to fair employment practices and an affirmative action plan with respect to any economic development program to be undertaken by the county. The economic development plan for an economic development project area authorized by subsection (a-15) of Section 4 of this Act must additionally include (1) evidence indicating that the redevelopment project area on the whole has not been subject to growth and development through investment by private enterprise and is not reasonably expected to be subject to such growth and development without the assistance provided through the implementation of the economic development plan and (2) evidence that portions of the economic development project area have incurred Illinois Environmental Protection Agency or United States Environmental Protection Agency remediation costs for, or a study conducted by an independent consultant recognized as having expertise in environmental remediation has determined a need for, the clean-up of hazardous waste, hazardous substances, or underground storage tanks required by State or federal law, provided that the remediation costs constitute a material impediment to the development or redevelopment of the project area.

(c) "Economic development project" means any development project in furtherance of the objectives of this Act.

(d) "Economic development project area" means any improved or vacant area which is located within the corporate limits of a county and which (1) is within the unincorporated area of such county, or, with the consent of any affected municipality, is located partially within the unincorporated area of such county and partially within one or more municipalities, (2) is contiguous, (3) is not less in the aggregate than 100 acres and, for an economic development project area authorized by subsection (a-15) of Section 4 of this Act, not more than 2,000 acres, (4) is suitable for siting by any commercial, manufacturing, industrial, research or transportation enterprise of facilities to include but not be limited to commercial businesses, offices, factories, mills, processing plants, assembly plants, packing plants, fabricating plants, industrial or commercial distribution centers, warehouses, repair overhaul or service facilities, freight terminals, research facilities, test facilities or transportation facilities, whether or not such area has been used at any time for such facilities and whether or not the area has been used or is suitable for such facilities and whether or not the area has been used or is suitable for other uses, including commercial agricultural purposes, and (5) which has been certified by the Department pursuant to this Act.

(e) "Economic development project costs" means and includes the sum total of all reasonable or necessary costs incurred by a county incidental to an economic development project, including, without limitation, the following:

(1) Costs of studies, surveys, development of plans and specifications, implementation and administration of an economic development plan, personnel and professional service costs for architectural, engineering, legal, marketing, financial, planning, sheriff, fire, public works or other services, provided that no charges for professional services may be based on a percentage of incremental tax revenue;

(2) Property assembly costs within an economic development project area, including but not limited to acquisition of land and other real or personal property or rights or interests therein, and specifically including payments to developers or other non-governmental persons as reimbursement for property assembly costs incurred by such developer or other non-governmental person;

(3) Site preparation costs, including but not limited to clearance of any area within an economic development project area by demolition or removal of any existing buildings, structures, fixtures, utilities and improvements and clearing and grading; site improvement addressing ground level or below ground environmental contamination; and including installation, repair, construction, reconstruction, or relocation of public streets, public utilities, and other public site improvements within or without an economic development project area which are essential to the preparation of the economic development project area for use in accordance with an economic development plan; and specifically including payments to developers or other non-governmental persons as reimbursement for site preparation costs incurred by such developer or non-governmental person;

(4) Costs of renovation, rehabilitation, reconstruction, relocation, repair or remodeling of any existing buildings, improvements, and fixtures within an economic development project area, and specifically including payments to developers or other non-governmental persons as reimbursement for such costs incurred by such developer or non-governmental person;

(5) Costs of construction within an economic development project area of public improvements, including but not limited to, buildings, structures, works, improvements, utilities or fixtures;

(6) Financing costs, including but not limited to all necessary and incidental expenses related to the issuance of obligations, payment of any interest on any obligations issued hereunder which accrues during the estimated period of construction of any economic development project for which such obligations are issued and for not exceeding 36 months thereafter, and any reasonable reserves related to the issuance of such obligations;

(7) All or a portion of a taxing district's capital costs resulting from an economic development project necessarily incurred or estimated to be incurred by a taxing district in the furtherance of the objectives of an economic development project, to the extent that the county by written agreement accepts, approves and agrees to incur or to reimburse such costs;

(8) Relocation costs to the extent that a county determines that relocation costs shall be paid or is required to make payment of relocation costs by federal or State law;

(9) The estimated tax revenues from real property in an economic development project area acquired by a county which, according to the economic development plan, is to be used for a private use and which any taxing district would have received had the county not adopted property tax allocation financing for an economic development project area and which would result from such taxing district's levies made after the time of the adoption by the county of property tax allocation financing to the time the current equalized assessed value of real property in the economic development project area exceeds the total initial equalized value of real property in that area;

(10) Costs of rebating ad valorem taxes paid by any developer or other nongovernmental person in whose name the general taxes were paid for the last preceding year on any lot, block, tract or parcel of land in the economic development project area, provided that:

(i) such economic development project area is located in an enterprise zone created pursuant to the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act; compliance with this provision (i) is not required in Grundy County in relation to one or more contiguous parcels not exceeding a total area of 120 acres within which an electric generating facility is intended to be constructed and where the owner of such proposed electric generating facility has entered into a redevelopment agreement with Grundy County in respect thereto between July 25, 2013 and July 26, 2017;

(ii) such ad valorem taxes shall be rebated only in such amounts and for such tax year or years as the county and any one or more affected taxing districts shall have agreed by prior written agreement; beginning on July 25, 2013 and ending on July 25, 2017, compliance with this provision (ii) is not required in Grundy County in relation to one or more contiguous parcels not exceeding a total area of 120 acres within which an electric generating facility is intended to be constructed and where the owner of such proposed electric generating facility has entered into a redevelopment agreement with Grundy County in respect thereto if the county receives approval from 2/3 of the taxing districts having taxable property within such parcels and representing no less than 75% of the aggregate tax levy for those taxing districts for the levy year;

(iii) any amount of rebate of taxes shall not exceed the portion, if any, of taxes levied by the county or such taxing district or districts 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 existing at the time property tax allocation financing was adopted for said economic development project area; and

(iv) costs of rebating ad valorem taxes shall be paid by a county solely from the special tax allocation fund established pursuant to this Act and shall be paid from the proceeds of any obligations issued by a county.

(11) Costs of job training, advanced vocational education or career education programs, including but not limited to courses in occupational, semi-technical or technical fields leading directly to employment, incurred by one or more taxing districts, provided that such costs are related to the establishment and maintenance of additional job training, advanced vocational education or career education programs for persons employed or to be employed by employers located in an economic development project area, and further provided, that when such costs are incurred by a taxing district or taxing districts other than the county, they shall be set forth in a written agreement by or among the county and the taxing district or taxing districts, which agreement describes the program to be undertaken, including, but not limited to, the number of employees to be trained, a description of the training and services to be provided, the number and type of positions available or to be available, itemized costs of the program and sources of funds to pay the same, and the term of the agreement. Such costs include, specifically, the payment by community college districts of costs pursuant to Section 3-37, 3-38, 3-40 and 3-40.1 of the Public Community College Act and by school districts of costs pursuant to Sections 10-22.20 and 10-23.3a of the School Code;

(12) Private financing costs incurred by developers or other non-governmental persons in connection with an economic development project, and specifically including payments to developers or other non-governmental persons as reimbursement for such costs incurred by such developer or other non-governmental persons provided that:

(A) private financing costs shall be paid or reimbursed by a county only pursuant to the prior official action of the county evidencing an intent to pay such private financing costs;

(B) except as provided in subparagraph (D) of this Section, the aggregate amount of such costs paid or reimbursed by a county in any one year shall not exceed 30% of such costs paid or incurred by such developer or other non-governmental person in that year;

(C) private financing costs shall be paid or reimbursed by a county solely from the special tax allocation fund established pursuant to this Act and shall not be paid or reimbursed from the proceeds of any obligations issued by a county;

(D) if there are not sufficient funds available in the special tax allocation fund in any year to make such payment or reimbursement in full, any amount of such private financing costs remaining to be paid or reimbursed by a county shall accrue and be payable when funds are available in the special tax allocation fund to make such payment; and

(E) in connection with its approval and certification of an economic development project pursuant to Section 5 of this Act, the Department shall review any agreement authorizing the payment or reimbursement by a county of private financing costs in its consideration of the impact on the revenues of the county and the affected taxing districts of the use of property tax allocation financing.

(f) "Obligations" means any instrument evidencing the obligation of a county to pay money, including without limitation, bonds, notes, installment or financing contracts, certificates, tax anticipation warrants or notes, vouchers, and any other evidence of indebtedness.

(g) "Taxing districts" means municipalities, townships, counties, and school, road, park, sanitary, mosquito abatement, forest preserve, public health, fire protection, river conservancy, tuberculosis sanitarium and any other county corporations or districts with the power to levy taxes on real property.

(Source: P.A. 98-109, eff. 7-25-13; 99-513, eff. 6-30-16.)

(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) For a period of 2 years beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, 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.

(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 an 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.

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. 96-1262, eff. 7-26-10.)

(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 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, and again on or before July 1, 2012, 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, 2008 the authority granted hereunder to counties to establish economic development project areas under subsections (a), (a-5), and (a-10) of Section 4 of this Act 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. Two years after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, the authority granted to Grundy County to establish an economic development project under subsection (a-15) of Section 4 of this Act and to adopt property tax allocation financing in connection therewith shall expire.

(Source: P.A. 96-1262, eff. 7-26-10.)

(55 ILCS 85/6) (from Ch. 34, par. 7006)

Sec. 6. Filing with county clerk; certification of initial equalized assessed value.

(a) The county shall file a certified copy of any ordinance authorizing property tax allocation financing for an economic development project area with the county clerk, and the county clerk shall immediately thereafter determine (1) the most recently ascertained equalized assessed value of each lot, block, tract or parcel of real property within the economic development project area from which shall be deducted the homestead exemptions under Article 15 of the Property Tax Code, which value shall be the "initial equalized assessed value" of each such piece of property, and (2) the total equalized assessed value of all taxable real property within the economic development project area by adding together the most recently ascertained equalized assessed value of each taxable lot, block, tract, or parcel of real property within such economic development project area, from which shall be deducted the homestead exemptions provided by Sections 15-170, 15-175, and 15-176 of the Property Tax Code. Upon receiving written notice from the Department of its approval and certification of such economic development project area, the county clerk shall immediately certify such amount as the "total initial equalized assessed value" of the taxable property within the economic development project area.

(b) After the county clerk has certified the "total initial equalized assessed value" of the taxable real property in the economic development project area, then in respect to every taxing district containing an economic development project area, the county clerk or any other official required by law to ascertain the amount of the equalized assessed value of all taxable property within that taxing district for the purpose of computing the rate percent of tax to be extended upon taxable property within the taxing district, shall in every year that property tax allocation financing is in effect ascertain the amount of value of taxable property in an economic development project area by including in that amount the lower of the current equalized assessed value or the certified "total initial equalized assessed value" of all taxable real property in such area. The rate percent of tax determined shall be extended to the current equalized assessed value of all property in the economic development project area in the same manner as the rate percent of tax is extended to all other taxable property in the taxing district. The method of allocating taxes established under this Section shall terminate when the county adopts an ordinance dissolving the special tax allocation fund for the economic development project area. This Act shall not be construed as relieving property owners within an economic development project area from paying a uniform rate of taxes upon the current equalized assessed value of their taxable property as provided in the Property Tax Code.

(Source: P.A. 95-644, eff. 10-12-07.)

(55 ILCS 85/7) (from Ch. 34, par. 7007)

Sec. 7. Creation of special tax allocation fund. If a county has adopted property tax allocation financing by ordinance for an economic development project area, the Department has approved and certified the economic development project area, and the county clerk has thereafter certified the "total initial equalized value" of the taxable real property within such economic development project area in the manner provided in subsection (b) of Section 6 of this Act, each year after the date of the certification by the county clerk of the "initial equalized assessed value" until economic development project costs and all county obligations financing economic development project costs have been paid, the ad valorem taxes, if any, arising from the levies upon the taxable real property in the economic development project area by taxing districts and tax rates determined in the manner provided in subsection (b) of Section 6 of this Act shall be divided as follows:

(1) That portion of the 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 existing at the time property tax allocation financing was adopted shall be allocated and when collected shall be paid by the county collector to the respective affected taxing districts in the manner required by the law in the absence of the adoption of property tax allocation financing.

(2) That portion, if any, of those 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 are, over and above the initial equalized assessed value of each property existing at the time property tax allocation financing was adopted 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.

The county, by an ordinance adopting property tax allocation financing, may pledge the funds in and to be deposited in the special tax allocation fund for the payment of obligations issued under this Act and for the payment of economic development project costs. No part of the current equalized assessed valuation of each property in the economic development project area attributable to any increase above the total initial equalized assessed value of such properties shall be used in calculating the general State school aid formula, provided for in Section 18-8 of the School Code, or the evidence-based funding formula, provided for in Section 18-8.15 of the School Code, until such time as all economic development projects costs have been paid as provided for in this Section.

Whenever a county issues bonds for the purpose of financing economic development project costs, the county may provide by ordinance for the appointment of a trustee, which may be any trust company within the State, and for the establishment of the funds or accounts to be maintained by such trustee as the county shall deem necessary to provide for the security and payment of the bonds. If the county provides for the appointment of a trustee, the trustee shall be considered the assignee of any payments assigned by the county pursuant to the ordinance and this Section. Any amounts paid to the trustee as assignee shall be deposited in the funds or accounts established pursuant to the trust agreement, and shall be held by the trustee in trust for the benefit of the holders of the bonds, and the holders shall have a lien on and a security interest in those bonds or accounts so long as the bonds remain outstanding and unpaid. Upon retirement of the bonds, the trustee shall pay over any excess amounts held to the county for deposit in the special tax allocation fund.

When the economic development project costs, including without limitation all county obligations financing economic development project costs incurred under this Act, have been paid, all surplus funds then remaining in the special tax allocation funds shall be distributed by being paid by the county treasurer to the county collector, who shall immediately thereafter pay those funds to the taxing districts having taxable property in the economic development project area in the same manner and proportion as the most recent distribution by the county collector to those taxing districts of real property taxes from real property in the economic development project area.

Upon the payment of all economic development project costs, retirement of obligations and the distribution of any excess monies pursuant to this Section and not later than 23 years from the date of adoption of the ordinance adopting property tax allocation financing, the county shall adopt an ordinance dissolving the special tax allocation fund for the economic development project area and terminating the designation of the economic development project area as an economic development project area; however, in relation to one or more contiguous parcels not exceeding a total area of 120 acres within which an electric generating facility is intended to be constructed, and with respect to which the owner of that proposed electric generating facility has entered into a redevelopment agreement with Grundy County on or before July 25, 2017, the ordinance of the county required in this paragraph shall not dissolve the special tax allocation fund for the existing economic development project area and shall only terminate the designation of the economic development project area as to those portions of the economic development project area excluding the area covered by the redevelopment agreement between the owner of the proposed electric generating facility and Grundy County; the county shall adopt an ordinance dissolving the special tax allocation fund for the economic development project area and terminating the designation of the economic development project area as an economic development project area with regard to the electric generating facility property not later than 35 years from the date of adoption of the ordinance adopting property tax allocation financing. Thereafter the rates of the taxing districts shall be extended and taxes levied, collected and distributed in the manner applicable in the absence of the adoption of property tax allocation financing.

Nothing in this Section shall be construed as relieving property in economic development project areas from being assessed as provided in the Property Tax Code or as relieving owners of that property from paying a uniform rate of taxes, as required by Section 4 of Article IX of the Illinois Constitution of 1970.

(Source: P.A. 99-513, eff. 6-30-16; 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)

(55 ILCS 85/8) (from Ch. 34, par. 7008)

Sec. 8. Issuance of obligations for economic development project costs. Obligations secured by the special tax allocation fund provided for in Section 7 for an economic development project area may be issued to provide for economic development project costs. Those obligations, when so issued, shall be retired in the manner provided in the ordinance authorizing the issuance of the obligations by the receipts of taxes levied as specified in Section 6 against the taxable property included in the economic development project area and by other revenues designated or pledged by the county. A county may in the ordinance pledge all or any part of the funds in and to be deposited in the special tax allocation fund created pursuant to Section 7 to the payment of the economic development project costs and obligations. Whenever a county pledges all of the funds to the credit of a special tax allocation fund to secure obligations issued or to be issued to pay economic development project costs, the county may specifically provide that funds remaining to the credit of such special tax allocation fund after the payment of such obligations shall be accounted for annually and shall be deemed to be "surplus" funds, and such "surplus" funds shall be distributed as hereinafter provided. Whenever a county pledges less than all of the monies to the credit of a special tax allocation fund to secure obligations issued or to be issued to pay economic development project costs, the county shall provide that monies to the credit of a special tax allocation fund and not subject to such pledge or otherwise encumbered or required for payment of contractual obligations for specified economic development project costs shall be calculated annually and shall be deemed to be "surplus" funds, and such "surplus" funds shall be distributed as hereinafter provided. All funds to the credit of a special tax allocation fund which are deemed to be "surplus" funds shall be distributed annually within 180 days after the close of the county's fiscal year by being paid by the county treasurer to the county collector. The county collector shall thereafter make distribution to the respective taxing districts in the same manner and proportion as the most recent distribution by the county collector to those taxing districts of real property taxes from real property in the economic development project area.

Without limiting the foregoing in this Section the county may, in addition to obligations secured by the special tax allocation fund, pledge for a period not greater than the term of the obligations towards payment of those obligations any part or any combination of the following: (i) net revenues of all or part of any economic development project; (ii) taxes levied and collected on any or all property in the county, including, specifically, taxes levied or imposed by the county in a special service area pursuant to "An Act to provide the manner of levying or imposing taxes for the provision of special services to areas within the boundaries of home rule units and non-home rule municipalities and counties", approved September 21, 1973; (iii) the full faith and credit of the county; (iv) a mortgage on part or all of the economic development project; or (v) any other taxes or anticipated receipts that the county may lawfully pledge.

Such obligations may be issued in one or more series bearing interest at such rate or rates as the corporate authorities of the county shall determine by ordinance, which rate or rates may be variable or fixed, without regard to any limitations contained in any law now in effect or hereafter adopted. Such obligations shall bear such date or dates, mature at such time or times not exceeding 20 years from their respective dates, but in no event exceeding 23 years from the date of establishment of the economic development project area; however, with respect to obligations payable from incremental revenues generated from an area comprised of one or more contiguous parcels not exceeding a total area of 120 acres within which an electric generating facility is intended to be constructed, and with respect to which the owner of such proposed electric generating facility has entered into a redevelopment agreement with Grundy County on or before July 25, 2017, those obligations shall bear such date or dates, mature at such time or times not exceeding 35 years from the date of establishment of the economic development project area, be in such denomination, be in such form, whether coupon, registered or book-entry, carry such registration, conversion and exchange privileges, be executed in such manner, be payable in such medium of payment at such place or places within or without the State of Illinois, contain such covenants, terms and conditions, be subject to redemption with or without premium, be subject to defeasance upon such terms, and have such rank or priority, as such ordinance shall provide. Obligations issued pursuant to this Act may be sold at public or private sale at such price as shall be determined by the corporate authorities of the counties. Such obligations may, but need not, be issued utilizing the provisions of any one or more of the omnibus bond Acts specified in Section 1.33 of "An Act to revise the law in relation to the construction of the statutes", approved March 5, 1874, as such term is defined in the Statute on Statutes. No referendum approval of the electors shall be required as a condition to the issuance of obligations pursuant to this Act except as provided in this Section.

In the event the county (i) authorizes the issuance of obligations pursuant to the authority of this Act and secured by the full faith and credit of the county or (ii) pledges taxes levied and collected on any or all property in the county, which obligations or taxes are not obligations or taxes authorized under home rule powers pursuant to Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, or are not obligations or taxes authorized under "An Act to provide the manner of levying or imposing taxes for the provision of special services to areas within the boundaries of home rule units and non-home rule municipalities and counties", approved September 21, 1973, the ordinance authorizing the issuance of those obligations or pledging those taxes shall be published within 10 days after the ordinance has been adopted, in one or more newspapers having a general circulation within the county. The publication of the ordinance shall be accompanied by a notice of (1) the specific number of voters required to sign a petition requesting the questions of the issuance of the obligations or pledging ad valorem taxes to be submitted to the electors; (2) the time within which the petition must be filed; and (3) the date of the prospective referendum. The county clerk shall provide a petition form to any individual requesting one.

If no petition is filed with the county clerk, as hereinafter provided in this Section, within 21 days after the publication of the ordinance, the ordinance shall be in effect. However, if within that 21 day period a petition is filed with the county clerk, signed by electors numbering not less than 5% of the number of legal voters who voted at the last general election in such county, asking that the question of issuing obligations using the full faith and credit of the county as security for the cost of paying for economic development project costs, or of pledging ad valorem taxes for the payment of those obligations, or both, be submitted to the electors of the county, the county shall not be authorized to issue obligations of the county using the full faith and credit of the county as security or pledging ad valorem taxes for the payment of those obligations, or both, until the proposition has been submitted to and approved by a majority of the voters voting on the proposition at a regularly scheduled election. The county shall certify the proposition to the proper election authorities for submission in accordance with the general election law.

The ordinance authorizing the obligations may provide that the obligations shall contain a recital that they are issued pursuant to this Act, which recital shall be conclusive evidence of their validity and of the regularity of their issuance.

In the event the county authorizes issuance of obligations pursuant to this Act secured by the full faith and credit of the county, the ordinance authorizing the obligations may provide for the levy and collection of a direct annual tax upon all taxable property within the county sufficient to pay the principal thereof and interest thereon as it matures, which levy may be in addition to and exclusive of the maximum of all other taxes authorized to be levied by the county, which levy, however, shall be abated to the extent that monies from other sources are available for payment of the obligations and the county certifies the amount of those monies available to the county clerk.

A certified copy of the ordinance shall be filed with the county clerk and shall constitute the authority for the extension and collection of the taxes to be deposited in the special tax allocation fund.

A county may also issue its obligations to refund, in whole or in part, obligations theretofore issued by the county under the authority of this Act, whether at or prior to maturity. However, the last maturity of the refunding obligations shall not be expressed to mature later than 23 years from the date of the ordinance establishing the economic development project area, however, with regard to obligations payable from incremental revenues generated from an area comprised of one or more contiguous parcels not exceeding a total area of 120 acres within which an electric generating facility is intended to be constructed, and with respect to which the owner of that proposed electric generating facility has entered into a redevelopment agreement with Grundy County on or before July 25, 2017, the last maturity of the refunding obligations shall not be expressed to mature later than 35 years from the date of the ordinance establishing the economic development project area.

In the event a county issues obligations under home rule powers and other legislative authority, including specifically, "An Act to provide the manner of levying or imposing taxes for the provisions of special services to areas within the boundaries of home rule units and non-home rule municipalities and counties", approved September 21, 1973, the proceeds of which are pledged to pay for economic development project costs, the county may, if it has followed the procedures in conformance with this Act, retire those obligations from funds in the special tax allocation fund in amount and in such manner as if those obligations had been issued pursuant to the provisions of this Act.

No obligations issued pursuant to this Act shall be regarded as indebtedness of the county issuing those obligations for the purpose of any limitation imposed by law.

Obligations issued pursuant to this Act shall not be subject to the provisions of the Bond Authorization Act.

(Source: P.A. 99-513, eff. 6-30-16.)

(55 ILCS 85/9) (from Ch. 34, par. 7009)

Sec. 9. Powers of counties. In addition to powers which it may now have, any county has the power under this Act:

(a) To make and enter into all contracts necessary or incidental to the implementation and furtherance of an economic development plan.

(b) Within an economic development project area, to acquire by purchase, donation, lease or eminent domain and to own, convey, lease, mortgage or dispose of land and other real or personal property or rights or interest therein; and to grant or acquire licenses, easements and options with respect thereto, all in the manner and at such price the county determines is reasonably necessary to achieve the objectives of the economic development plan. No conveyance, lease, mortgage, disposition of land or other property acquired by the county, or agreement relating to the development of property shall be made or executed except pursuant to prior official action of the county.

(c) To clear any area within an economic development project area by demolition or removal of any existing buildings, structures, fixtures, utilities or improvements, and to clear and grade land.

(d) To install, repair, construct, reconstruct or relocate public streets, public utilities, and other public site improvements within or without an economic development project area which are essential to the preparation of an economic development project area for use in accordance with an economic development plan.

(e) To renovate, rehabilitate, reconstruct, relocate, repair or remodel any existing buildings, improvements, and fixtures within an economic development project area.

(f) To construct public improvements, including but not limited to, buildings, structures, works, utilities or fixtures within any economic development project area.

(g) To issue obligations as in this Act provided.

(h) To fix, charge and collect fees, rents and charges for the use of any building, facility or property or any portion thereof owned or leased by the county within an economic development project area.

(i) To accept grants, guarantees, donations of property or labor, or any other thing of value for use in connection with an economic development project.

(j) To pay or cause to be paid economic development project costs. Any payments to be made by the county to developers or other nongovernmental persons shall be made only pursuant to the prior official action of the county evidencing an intent to pay or cause to be paid those economic development project costs. A county is not required to obtain any right, title or interest in any real or personal property in order to pay economic development costs associated with such property. The county shall adopt such accounting procedures as may be necessary to determine that those economic development project costs are properly paid.

(k) To exercise any and all other powers necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Act.

(l) To create a commission of not less than 5 or more than 15 persons to be appointed by the chief executive officer of the county with the consent of the majority of the corporate authorities of the county. Members of a commission shall be appointed for initial terms of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years, respectively, in such numbers as to provide that the terms of not more than 1/3 of all such members shall expire in any one year. Their successors shall be appointed for a term of 5 years. The commission, subject to approval of the corporate authorities, may exercise the power to hold the public hearings required by this Act and make recommendations to the corporate authorities concerning the approval of economic development plans, the establishment of economic development project areas, and the adoption of property tax allocation financing for economic development project areas.

(Source: P.A. 86-1388.)

(55 ILCS 85/9.5)

Sec. 9.5. Eminent domain. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, any power granted under this Act to acquire property by condemnation or eminent domain is subject to, and shall be exercised in accordance with, the Eminent Domain Act.

(Source: P.A. 94-1055, eff. 1-1-07.)

(55 ILCS 85/10) (from Ch. 34, par. 7010)

Sec. 10. Conflicts of interests, disclosure. If any member of the corporate authorities of a county, or any employee or consultant of the county involved in the planning, analysis, preparation or administration of an economic development plan or an economic development project, or any proposed economic development plan or any proposed economic development project, owns or controls any interest, direct or indirect, in any property included in any economic development project area or proposed economic development project area, he or she shall disclose the same in writing to the county clerk, which disclosure shall include the dates, terms and conditions of any disposition of any such interest. The disclosures shall be acknowledged by the corporate authorities of the county and entered upon the official records and files of the corporate authorities. Any such individual holding any such interest shall refrain from any further official involvement regarding such established or proposed economic development project area, economic development plan or economic development project, and shall also refrain from voting on any matter pertaining to that project, plan or area and from communicating with any members of the corporate authorities of the county and no employee of the county shall acquire any interest, direct or indirect, in any real or personal property or rights or interest therein within an economic development project area or a proposed economic development project area after that person obtains knowledge of the project, plan or area or after the first public notice of the project, plan or area is given by the county, whichever shall first occur.

(Source: P.A. 99-642, eff. 7-28-16.)

(55 ILCS 85/11) (from Ch. 34, par. 7011)

Sec. 11. Payment of project costs; revenues from county property. Revenues received by a county from any property, building or facility owned, leased or operated by the county or any agency or authority established by the county may be used to pay economic development project costs, or reduce outstanding obligations of the county incurred under this Act for economic development project costs. The county may place those revenues in the special tax allocation fund which shall be held by the county treasurer or other person designated by the county. Revenue received by the county from the sale or other disposition of real property or personal property or rights or interests therein acquired by the county with the proceeds of obligations funded by property tax allocation financing shall be deposited by the county in the special tax allocation fund.

(Source: P.A. 86-1388.)

(55 ILCS 85/12)

Sec. 12. Status report; hearing. No later than 10 years after the corporate authorities of a county adopt an ordinance to establish an economic development project area, the county must compile a status report concerning the economic development project area. The status report must detail without limitation the following: (i) the amount of revenue generated within the economic development project area, (ii) any expenditures made by the county for the economic development project area including without limitation expenditures from the special tax allocation fund, (iii) the status of planned activities, goals, and objectives set forth in the economic development plan including details on new or planned construction within the economic development project area, (iv) the amount of private and public investment within the economic development project area, and (v) any other relevant evaluation or performance data. Within 30 days after the county compiles the status report, the county must hold at least one public hearing concerning the report. The county must provide 20 days' public notice of the hearing.

(Source: P.A. 96-1335, eff. 7-27-10.)

(55 ILCS 85/13)

Sec. 13. Requirements for annual budget. Beginning in fiscal year 2011 and in each fiscal year thereafter, a county must detail in its annual budget (i) the amount of revenue generated from economic development project areas by source and (ii) the expenditures made by the county for economic development project areas.

(Source: P.A. 96-1335, eff. 7-27-10.)

(55 ILCS 85/14) (from Ch. 34, par. 7014)

Sec. 14. This Act takes effect upon becoming a law.

(Source: P.A. 86-1388.)