98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
SB2693

 

Introduced 1/28/2014, by Sen. Toi W. Hutchinson

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
70 ILCS 810/21  from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6424

    Amends the Cook County Forest Preserve District Act. Provides that no district may incur indebtedness for the acquisition of land or lands for any purpose in excess of 90,000 acres (currently, 75,000 acres) without prior certification to the proper election officials and approval by the district's voters. Effective immediately.


LRB098 16119 JLK 51175 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB2693LRB098 16119 JLK 51175 b

1    AN ACT concerning local government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Cook County Forest Preserve District Act is
5amended by changing Section 21 as follows:
 
6    (70 ILCS 810/21)  (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6424)
7    Sec. 21. The board may, for any of the purposes enumerated
8in this Act, borrow money upon the faith and credit of such
9district, and may issue bonds therefor. However, a district may
10not become indebted in any manner or for any purpose to an
11amount including existing indebtedness in the aggregate
12exceeding .345% of the assessed value of the taxable property
13therein, as ascertained by the last equalized assessment for
14State and county purposes. Except for indebtedness incurred
15under Section 21.1 of this Act and except for indebtedness
16incurred to construct, acquire, equip, repair, and renovate
17buildings or other improvements to land of the district or to
18acquire equipment for the district, no district may incur
19indebtedness for any purpose other than the acquisition of land
20including acquiring lands in fee simple along or enclosing
21water courses, drainage ways, lakes, ponds, planned
22impoundments or elsewhere which are required to store flood
23waters or control other drainage and water conditions necessary

 

 

SB2693- 2 -LRB098 16119 JLK 51175 b

1for the preservation and management of the water resources of
2the district, unless the proposition to issue bonds or
3otherwise incur indebtedness is first certified by the district
4to the proper election officials, who shall submit the
5proposition to the legal voters of the district at an election
6in accordance with the general election law and approved by a
7majority of those voting upon the proposition. No district may
8incur indebtedness for the acquisition of land or lands for any
9purpose in excess of 90,000 75,000 acres, including all lands
10theretofore acquired, unless the proposition to issue bonds or
11otherwise incur indebtedness is first certified by the district
12to the proper election officials, who shall submit the
13proposition to the voters of the district at an election in
14accordance with the general election law and approved by a
15majority of those voting upon the proposition. Before or at the
16time of issuing bonds, the board shall provide by ordinance for
17the collection of an annual tax sufficient to pay the interest
18on the bonds as it falls due, and to pay the bonds as they
19mature. All bonds issued by any forest preserve district must
20be divided into series, the first of which matures not later
21than 5 years after the date of issue and the last of which
22matures not later than 30 years after the date of issue.
23(Source: P.A. 88-503.)
 
24    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
25becoming law.