Public Act 093-1049
 
SB2196 Enrolled LRB093 15617 MKM 41224 b

    AN ACT concerning stormwater management.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Property Tax Code is amended by changing
Section 18-185 as follows:
 
    (35 ILCS 200/18-185)
    Sec. 18-185. Short title; definitions. This Division 5 may
be cited as the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law. As used
in this Division 5:
    "Consumer Price Index" means the Consumer Price Index for
All Urban Consumers for all items published by the United
States Department of Labor.
    "Extension limitation" means (a) the lesser of 5% or the
percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index during the
12-month calendar year preceding the levy year or (b) the rate
of increase approved by voters under Section 18-205.
    "Affected county" means a county of 3,000,000 or more
inhabitants or a county contiguous to a county of 3,000,000 or
more inhabitants.
    "Taxing district" has the same meaning provided in Section
1-150, except as otherwise provided in this Section. For the
1991 through 1994 levy years only, "taxing district" includes
only each non-home rule taxing district having the majority of
its 1990 equalized assessed value within any county or counties
contiguous to a county with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants.
Beginning with the 1995 levy year, "taxing district" includes
only each non-home rule taxing district subject to this Law
before the 1995 levy year and each non-home rule taxing
district not subject to this Law before the 1995 levy year
having the majority of its 1994 equalized assessed value in an
affected county or counties. Beginning with the levy year in
which this Law becomes applicable to a taxing district as
provided in Section 18-213, "taxing district" also includes
those taxing districts made subject to this Law as provided in
Section 18-213.
    "Aggregate extension" for taxing districts to which this
Law applied before the 1995 levy year means the annual
corporate extension for the taxing district and those special
purpose extensions that are made annually for the taxing
district, excluding special purpose extensions: (a) made for
the taxing district to pay interest or principal on general
obligation bonds that were approved by referendum; (b) made for
any taxing district to pay interest or principal on general
obligation bonds issued before October 1, 1991; (c) made for
any taxing district to pay interest or principal on bonds
issued to refund or continue to refund those bonds issued
before October 1, 1991; (d) made for any taxing district to pay
interest or principal on bonds issued to refund or continue to
refund bonds issued after October 1, 1991 that were approved by
referendum; (e) made for any taxing district to pay interest or
principal on revenue bonds issued before October 1, 1991 for
payment of which a property tax levy or the full faith and
credit of the unit of local government is pledged; however, a
tax for the payment of interest or principal on those bonds
shall be made only after the governing body of the unit of
local government finds that all other sources for payment are
insufficient to make those payments; (f) made for payments
under a building commission lease when the lease payments are
for the retirement of bonds issued by the commission before
October 1, 1991, to pay for the building project; (g) made for
payments due under installment contracts entered into before
October 1, 1991; (h) made for payments of principal and
interest on bonds issued under the Metropolitan Water
Reclamation District Act to finance construction projects
initiated before October 1, 1991; (i) made for payments of
principal and interest on limited bonds, as defined in Section
3 of the Local Government Debt Reform Act, in an amount not to
exceed the debt service extension base less the amount in items
(b), (c), (e), and (h) of this definition for non-referendum
obligations, except obligations initially issued pursuant to
referendum; (j) made for payments of principal and interest on
bonds issued under Section 15 of the Local Government Debt
Reform Act; (k) made by a school district that participates in
the Special Education District of Lake County, created by
special education joint agreement under Section 10-22.31 of the
School Code, for payment of the school district's share of the
amounts required to be contributed by the Special Education
District of Lake County to the Illinois Municipal Retirement
Fund under Article 7 of the Illinois Pension Code; the amount
of any extension under this item (k) shall be certified by the
school district to the county clerk; and (l) made to fund
expenses of providing joint recreational programs for the
handicapped under Section 5-8 of the Park District Code or
Section 11-95-14 of the Illinois Municipal Code.
    "Aggregate extension" for the taxing districts to which
this Law did not apply before the 1995 levy year (except taxing
districts subject to this Law in accordance with Section
18-213) means the annual corporate extension for the taxing
district and those special purpose extensions that are made
annually for the taxing district, excluding special purpose
extensions: (a) made for the taxing district to pay interest or
principal on general obligation bonds that were approved by
referendum; (b) made for any taxing district to pay interest or
principal on general obligation bonds issued before March 1,
1995; (c) made for any taxing district to pay interest or
principal on bonds issued to refund or continue to refund those
bonds issued before March 1, 1995; (d) made for any taxing
district to pay interest or principal on bonds issued to refund
or continue to refund bonds issued after March 1, 1995 that
were approved by referendum; (e) made for any taxing district
to pay interest or principal on revenue bonds issued before
March 1, 1995 for payment of which a property tax levy or the
full faith and credit of the unit of local government is
pledged; however, a tax for the payment of interest or
principal on those bonds shall be made only after the governing
body of the unit of local government finds that all other
sources for payment are insufficient to make those payments;
(f) made for payments under a building commission lease when
the lease payments are for the retirement of bonds issued by
the commission before March 1, 1995 to pay for the building
project; (g) made for payments due under installment contracts
entered into before March 1, 1995; (h) made for payments of
principal and interest on bonds issued under the Metropolitan
Water Reclamation District Act to finance construction
projects initiated before October 1, 1991; (h-4) made for
stormwater management purposes by the Metropolitan Water
Reclamation District of Greater Chicago under Section 12 of the
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act; (i) made for
payments of principal and interest on limited bonds, as defined
in Section 3 of the Local Government Debt Reform Act, in an
amount not to exceed the debt service extension base less the
amount in items (b), (c), and (e) of this definition for
non-referendum obligations, except obligations initially
issued pursuant to referendum and bonds described in subsection
(h) of this definition; (j) made for payments of principal and
interest on bonds issued under Section 15 of the Local
Government Debt Reform Act; (k) made for payments of principal
and interest on bonds authorized by Public Act 88-503 and
issued under Section 20a of the Chicago Park District Act for
aquarium or museum projects; (l) made for payments of principal
and interest on bonds authorized by Public Act 87-1191 or
93-601 this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly and (i)
issued pursuant to Section 21.2 of the Cook County Forest
Preserve District Act, (ii) issued under Section 42 of the Cook
County Forest Preserve District Act for zoological park
projects, or (iii) issued under Section 44.1 of the Cook County
Forest Preserve District Act for botanical gardens projects;
(m) made pursuant to Section 34-53.5 of the School Code,
whether levied annually or not; (n) made to fund expenses of
providing joint recreational programs for the handicapped
under Section 5-8 of the Park District Code or Section 11-95-14
of the Illinois Municipal Code; and (o) made by the Chicago
Park District for recreational programs for the handicapped
under subsection (c) of Section 7.06 of the Chicago Park
District Act.
    "Aggregate extension" for all taxing districts to which
this Law applies in accordance with Section 18-213, except for
those taxing districts subject to paragraph (2) of subsection
(e) of Section 18-213, means the annual corporate extension for
the taxing district and those special purpose extensions that
are made annually for the taxing district, excluding special
purpose extensions: (a) made for the taxing district to pay
interest or principal on general obligation bonds that were
approved by referendum; (b) made for any taxing district to pay
interest or principal on general obligation bonds issued before
the date on which the referendum making this Law applicable to
the taxing district is held; (c) made for any taxing district
to pay interest or principal on bonds issued to refund or
continue to refund those bonds issued before the date on which
the referendum making this Law applicable to the taxing
district is held; (d) made for any taxing district to pay
interest or principal on bonds issued to refund or continue to
refund bonds issued after the date on which the referendum
making this Law applicable to the taxing district is held if
the bonds were approved by referendum after the date on which
the referendum making this Law applicable to the taxing
district is held; (e) made for any taxing district to pay
interest or principal on revenue bonds issued before the date
on which the referendum making this Law applicable to the
taxing district is held for payment of which a property tax
levy or the full faith and credit of the unit of local
government is pledged; however, a tax for the payment of
interest or principal on those bonds shall be made only after
the governing body of the unit of local government finds that
all other sources for payment are insufficient to make those
payments; (f) made for payments under a building commission
lease when the lease payments are for the retirement of bonds
issued by the commission before the date on which the
referendum making this Law applicable to the taxing district is
held to pay for the building project; (g) made for payments due
under installment contracts entered into before the date on
which the referendum making this Law applicable to the taxing
district is held; (h) made for payments of principal and
interest on limited bonds, as defined in Section 3 of the Local
Government Debt Reform Act, in an amount not to exceed the debt
service extension base less the amount in items (b), (c), and
(e) of this definition for non-referendum obligations, except
obligations initially issued pursuant to referendum; (i) made
for payments of principal and interest on bonds issued under
Section 15 of the Local Government Debt Reform Act; (j) made
for a qualified airport authority to pay interest or principal
on general obligation bonds issued for the purpose of paying
obligations due under, or financing airport facilities
required to be acquired, constructed, installed or equipped
pursuant to, contracts entered into before March 1, 1996 (but
not including any amendments to such a contract taking effect
on or after that date); and (k) made to fund expenses of
providing joint recreational programs for the handicapped
under Section 5-8 of the Park District Code or Section 11-95-14
of the Illinois Municipal Code.
    "Aggregate extension" for all taxing districts to which
this Law applies in accordance with paragraph (2) of subsection
(e) of Section 18-213 means the annual corporate extension for
the taxing district and those special purpose extensions that
are made annually for the taxing district, excluding special
purpose extensions: (a) made for the taxing district to pay
interest or principal on general obligation bonds that were
approved by referendum; (b) made for any taxing district to pay
interest or principal on general obligation bonds issued before
the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997; (c) made for
any taxing district to pay interest or principal on bonds
issued to refund or continue to refund those bonds issued
before the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997; (d)
made for any taxing district to pay interest or principal on
bonds issued to refund or continue to refund bonds issued after
the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997 if the bonds
were approved by referendum after the effective date of this
amendatory Act of 1997; (e) made for any taxing district to pay
interest or principal on revenue bonds issued before the
effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997 for payment of
which a property tax levy or the full faith and credit of the
unit of local government is pledged; however, a tax for the
payment of interest or principal on those bonds shall be made
only after the governing body of the unit of local government
finds that all other sources for payment are insufficient to
make those payments; (f) made for payments under a building
commission lease when the lease payments are for the retirement
of bonds issued by the commission before the effective date of
this amendatory Act of 1997 to pay for the building project;
(g) made for payments due under installment contracts entered
into before the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997;
(h) made for payments of principal and interest on limited
bonds, as defined in Section 3 of the Local Government Debt
Reform Act, in an amount not to exceed the debt service
extension base less the amount in items (b), (c), and (e) of
this definition for non-referendum obligations, except
obligations initially issued pursuant to referendum; (i) made
for payments of principal and interest on bonds issued under
Section 15 of the Local Government Debt Reform Act; (j) made
for a qualified airport authority to pay interest or principal
on general obligation bonds issued for the purpose of paying
obligations due under, or financing airport facilities
required to be acquired, constructed, installed or equipped
pursuant to, contracts entered into before March 1, 1996 (but
not including any amendments to such a contract taking effect
on or after that date); and (k) made to fund expenses of
providing joint recreational programs for the handicapped
under Section 5-8 of the Park District Code or Section 11-95-14
of the Illinois Municipal Code.
    "Debt service extension base" means an amount equal to that
portion of the extension for a taxing district for the 1994
levy year, or for those taxing districts subject to this Law in
accordance with Section 18-213, except for those subject to
paragraph (2) of subsection (e) of Section 18-213, for the levy
year in which the referendum making this Law applicable to the
taxing district is held, or for those taxing districts subject
to this Law in accordance with paragraph (2) of subsection (e)
of Section 18-213 for the 1996 levy year, constituting an
extension for payment of principal and interest on bonds issued
by the taxing district without referendum, but not including
excluded non-referendum bonds. For park districts (i) that were
first subject to this Law in 1991 or 1995 and (ii) whose
extension for the 1994 levy year for the payment of principal
and interest on bonds issued by the park district without
referendum (but not including excluded non-referendum bonds)
was less than 51% of the amount for the 1991 levy year
constituting an extension for payment of principal and interest
on bonds issued by the park district without referendum (but
not including excluded non-referendum bonds), "debt service
extension base" means an amount equal to that portion of the
extension for the 1991 levy year constituting an extension for
payment of principal and interest on bonds issued by the park
district without referendum (but not including excluded
non-referendum bonds). The debt service extension base may be
established or increased as provided under Section 18-212.
"Excluded non-referendum bonds" means (i) bonds authorized by
Public Act 88-503 and issued under Section 20a of the Chicago
Park District Act for aquarium and museum projects; (ii) bonds
issued under Section 15 of the Local Government Debt Reform
Act; or (iii) refunding obligations issued to refund or to
continue to refund obligations initially issued pursuant to
referendum.
    "Special purpose extensions" include, but are not limited
to, extensions for levies made on an annual basis for
unemployment and workers' compensation, self-insurance,
contributions to pension plans, and extensions made pursuant to
Section 6-601 of the Illinois Highway Code for a road
district's permanent road fund whether levied annually or not.
The extension for a special service area is not included in the
aggregate extension.
    "Aggregate extension base" means the taxing district's
last preceding aggregate extension as adjusted under Sections
18-215 through 18-230.
    "Levy year" has the same meaning as "year" under Section
1-155.
    "New property" means (i) the assessed value, after final
board of review or board of appeals action, of new improvements
or additions to existing improvements on any parcel of real
property that increase the assessed value of that real property
during the levy year multiplied by the equalization factor
issued by the Department under Section 17-30, (ii) the assessed
value, after final board of review or board of appeals action,
of real property not exempt from real estate taxation, which
real property was exempt from real estate taxation for any
portion of the immediately preceding levy year, multiplied by
the equalization factor issued by the Department under Section
17-30, and (iii) in counties that classify in accordance with
Section 4 of Article IX of the Illinois Constitution, an
incentive property's additional assessed value resulting from
a scheduled increase in the level of assessment as applied to
the first year final board of review market value. In addition,
the county clerk in a county containing a population of
3,000,000 or more shall include in the 1997 recovered tax
increment value for any school district, any recovered tax
increment value that was applicable to the 1995 tax year
calculations.
    "Qualified airport authority" means an airport authority
organized under the Airport Authorities Act and located in a
county bordering on the State of Wisconsin and having a
population in excess of 200,000 and not greater than 500,000.
    "Recovered tax increment value" means, except as otherwise
provided in this paragraph, the amount of the current year's
equalized assessed value, in the first year after a
municipality terminates the designation of an area as a
redevelopment project area previously established under the
Tax Increment Allocation Development Act in the Illinois
Municipal Code, previously established under the Industrial
Jobs Recovery Law in the Illinois Municipal Code, or previously
established under the Economic Development Area Tax Increment
Allocation Act, of each taxable lot, block, tract, or parcel of
real property in the redevelopment project area over and above
the initial equalized assessed value of each property in the
redevelopment project area. For the taxes which are extended
for the 1997 levy year, the recovered tax increment value for a
non-home rule taxing district that first became subject to this
Law for the 1995 levy year because a majority of its 1994
equalized assessed value was in an affected county or counties
shall be increased if a municipality terminated the designation
of an area in 1993 as a redevelopment project area previously
established under the Tax Increment Allocation Development Act
in the Illinois Municipal Code, previously established under
the Industrial Jobs Recovery Law in the Illinois Municipal
Code, or previously established under the Economic Development
Area Tax Increment Allocation Act, by an amount equal to the
1994 equalized assessed value of each taxable lot, block,
tract, or parcel of real property in the redevelopment project
area over and above the initial equalized assessed value of
each property in the redevelopment project area. In the first
year after a municipality removes a taxable lot, block, tract,
or parcel of real property from a redevelopment project area
established under the Tax Increment Allocation Development Act
in the Illinois Municipal Code, the Industrial Jobs Recovery
Law in the Illinois Municipal Code, or the Economic Development
Area Tax Increment Allocation Act, "recovered tax increment
value" means the amount of the current year's equalized
assessed value of each taxable lot, block, tract, or parcel of
real property removed from the redevelopment project area over
and above the initial equalized assessed value of that real
property before removal from the redevelopment project area.
    Except as otherwise provided in this Section, "limiting
rate" means a fraction the numerator of which is the last
preceding aggregate extension base times an amount equal to one
plus the extension limitation defined in this Section and the
denominator of which is the current year's equalized assessed
value of all real property in the territory under the
jurisdiction of the taxing district during the prior levy year.
For those taxing districts that reduced their aggregate
extension for the last preceding levy year, the highest
aggregate extension in any of the last 3 preceding levy years
shall be used for the purpose of computing the limiting rate.
The denominator shall not include new property. The denominator
shall not include the recovered tax increment value.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02; 93-601, eff. 1-1-04;
93-606, eff. 11-18-03; 93-612, eff. 11-18-03; revised
12-10-03.)
 
    Section 10. The Counties Code is amended by changing
Section 5-1062.1 as follows:
 
    (55 ILCS 5/5-1062.1)  (from Ch. 34, par. 5-1062.1)
    Sec. 5-1062.1. Stormwater management planning councils in
Cook County.
    (a) Stormwater management in Cook County shall be conducted
as provided in Section 7h of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation
District Act. As used in this Section, "District" means the
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.
    The purpose of this Section is to create planning councils,
organized by watershed, to contribute to the stormwater
management process by advising the Metropolitan Water
Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and representing the
needs and interests of the members of the public and the local
governments included within their respective watersheds. allow
management and mitigation of the effects of urbanization on
stormwater drainage in Cook County, and this Section applies
only to Cook County. In addition, this Section is intended to
improve stormwater and floodplain management in Cook County by
the following:
        (1) Setting minimum standards for floodplain and
    stormwater management.
        (2) Preparing plans for the management of floodplains
    and stormwater runoff, including the management of natural
    and man-made drainage ways.
    (b) The purpose of this Section shall be achieved by the
following:
        (1) Creating 6 Stormwater management planning councils
    shall be formed for each of the following according to the
    established watersheds of the Chicago Metropolitan Area:
    North Branch Chicago River, Lower Des Plaines Tributaries,
    Cal-Sag Channel, Little Calumet River, Poplar Creek, and
    Upper Salt Creek. In addition a stormwater management
    planning council shall be established for the combined
    sewer areas of Cook County. Additional stormwater
    management planning councils may be formed by the District
    Stormwater Management Planning Committee for other
    watersheds within Cook County. Membership on the watershed
    councils shall consist of the chief elected official, or
    his or her designee, from each municipality and township
    within the watershed and the Cook County Board President,
    or his or her designee, if unincorporated area is included
    in the watershed. A municipality or township shall be a
    member of more than one watershed council if the corporate
    boundaries of that municipality, or township extend
    entered into more than one watershed, or if the
    municipality or township is served in part by separate
    sewers and combined sewers. Subcommittees of the
    stormwater management planning councils may be established
    to assist the stormwater management planning councils in
    performing their duties preparing and implementing a
    stormwater management plan. The councils may adopt bylaws
    to govern the functioning of the stormwater management
    councils and subcommittees.
        (2) Creating, by intergovernmental agreement, a
    county-wide Stormwater Management Planning Committee with
    its membership consisting of the Chairman of each of the
    watershed management councils, the Cook County Board
    President or his designee, and the Northeastern Illinois
    Planning Commission President or his designee.
        (c) (3) The principal duties of the watershed planning
    councils shall be to advise the District on the development
    and implementation of the countywide develop a stormwater
    management plan with respect to matters relating to their
    respective watersheds and to advise and represent the
    concerns of for the watershed area and to recommend the
    plan for adoption to the units of local government in the
    watershed area. The councils shall meet at least quarterly
    and shall hold at least one public hearing during the
    preparation of the plan. Adoption of the watershed plan
    shall be by each municipality in the watershed and by vote
    of the County Board.
        (d) (4) The District principal duty of the county-wide
    Stormwater Management Committee shall give careful
    consideration to the recommendations and concerns of the
    watershed planning councils throughout the planning
    process and shall be to coordinate the 6 watershed plans as
    developed and to coordinate the planning process with the
    adjoining counties to ensure that recommended stormwater
    projects will have no significant adverse impact on the
    levels or flows of stormwater in the inter-county watershed
    or on the capacity of existing and planned stormwater
    retention facilities. The District shall include cost
    benefit analysis in its deliberations and in evaluating
    priorities for projects from watershed to watershed. The
    District committee shall identify in an annual published
    report steps taken by the District to accommodate the
    concerns and recommendations of the watershed planning
    councils. committee to coordinate the development of plan
    recommendations with adjoining counties. The committee
    shall also publish a coordinated stormwater document of all
    activity in the Cook County area and agreed upon stormwater
    planning standards.
        (5) The stormwater management planning committee shall
    submit the coordinated watershed plans to the Office of
    Water Resources of the Department of Natural Resources and
    to the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission for
    review and recommendation. The Office and the Commission,
    in reviewing the plan, shall consider those factors as
    impact on the level or flows in the rivers and streams and
    the cumulative effects of stormwater discharges on flood
    levels. The review comments and recommendations shall be
    submitted to the watershed councils for consideration.
        (e) (6) The stormwater management planning councils
    committee may recommend rules and regulations to the
    District watershed councils governing the location, width,
    course, and release rates of all stormwater runoff
    channels, streams, and basins in their respective
    watersheds the county.
        (f) (7) The Northwest Municipal Conference, the South
    Suburban Mayors and Managers Association, and the West
    Central Municipal Conference shall be responsible for the
    coordination of the planning councils created under this
    Section.
(Source: P.A. 88-649, eff. 9-16-94; 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)
 
    Section 15. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
Act is amended by adding Section 7h and by changing Section 12
as follows:
 
    (70 ILCS 2605/7h new)
    Sec. 7h. Stormwater management.
    (a) Stormwater management in Cook County shall be under the
general supervision of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation
District of Greater Chicago. The District has the authority to
plan, manage, implement, and finance activities relating to
stormwater management in Cook County. The authority of the
District with respect to stormwater management extends
throughout Cook County and is not limited to the area otherwise
within the territory and jurisdiction of the District under
this Act.
    For the purposes of this Section, the term "stormwater
management" includes, without limitation, the management of
floods and floodwaters.
    (b) The District may utilize the resources of cooperating
local watershed councils (including the stormwater management
planning councils created under Section 5-1062.1 of the
Counties Code), councils of local governments, the
Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission, and similar
organizations and agencies. The District may provide those
organizations and agencies with funding, on a contractual
basis, for providing information to the District, providing
information to the public, or performing other activities
related to stormwater management.
    The District, in addition to other powers vested in it, may
negotiate and enter into agreements with any county for the
management of stormwater runoff in accordance with subsection
(c) of Section 5-1062 of the Counties Code.
    The District may enter into intergovernmental agreements
with Cook County or other units of local government that are
located in whole or in part outside the District for the
purpose of implementing the stormwater management plan and
providing stormwater management services in areas not included
within the territory of the District.
    (c) The District shall prepare and adopt by ordinance a
countywide stormwater management plan for Cook County. The
countywide plan may incorporate one or more separate watershed
plans.
    Prior to adopting the countywide stormwater management
plan, the District shall hold at least one public hearing
thereon and shall afford interested persons an opportunity to
be heard.
    (d) The District may prescribe by ordinance reasonable
rules and regulations for floodplain and stormwater management
and for governing the location, width, course, and release rate
of all stormwater runoff channels, streams, and basins in Cook
County, in accordance with the adopted stormwater management
plan. These rules and regulations shall, at a minimum, meet the
standards for floodplain management established by the Office
of Water Resources of the Department of Natural Resources and
the requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency for
participation in the National Flood Insurance Program.
    (e) The District may impose fees on areas outside the
District but within Cook County to mitigate the effects of
increased stormwater runoff resulting from new development.
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 District or units of local
government within the District to mitigate the effects of urban
stormwater runoff by providing regional stormwater retention
or detention facilities, as identified in the plan. All such
fees collected by the District shall be held in a separate fund
and used for implementation of this Section.
    (f) Amounts realized from the tax levy for stormwater
management purposes authorized in Section 12 may be used by the
District for implementing this Section and for the development,
design, planning, construction, operation, and maintenance of
regional stormwater facilities provided for in the stormwater
management plan.
    The proceeds of any tax imposed under Section 12 for
stormwater management purposes and any revenues generated as a
result of the ownership or operation of facilities or land
acquired with the proceeds of taxes imposed under Section 12
for stormwater management purposes shall be held in a separate
fund and used either for implementing this Section or to abate
those taxes.
    (g) The District may plan, implement, finance, and operate
regional stormwater management projects in accordance with the
adopted countywide stormwater management plan.
    The District shall provide for public review and comment on
proposed stormwater management projects. The District shall
conform to State and federal requirements concerning public
information, environmental assessments, and environmental
impacts for projects receiving State or federal funds.
    The District may issue bonds under Section 9.6a of this Act
for the purpose of funding stormwater management projects.
    The District shall not use Cook County Forest Preserve
District land for stormwater or flood control projects without
the consent of the Forest Preserve District.
    (h) Upon the creation and implementation of a county
stormwater management plan, the District may petition the
circuit court to dissolve any or all drainage districts created
pursuant to the Illinois Drainage Code or predecessor Acts that
are located entirely within the District.
    However, any active drainage district implementing a plan
that is consistent with and at least as stringent as the county
stormwater management plan may petition the District for
exception from dissolution. Upon filing of the petition, the
District shall set a date for hearing not less than 2 weeks,
nor more than 4 weeks, from the filing thereof, and the
District shall give at least one week's notice of the hearing
in one or more newspapers of general circulation within the
drainage district, and in addition shall cause a copy of the
notice to be personally served upon each of the trustees of the
drainage district. At the hearing, the District shall hear the
drainage district's petition and allow the drainage district
trustees and any interested parties an opportunity to present
oral and written evidence. The District shall render its
decision upon the petition for exception from dissolution based
upon the best interests of the residents of the drainage
district. In the event that the exception is not allowed, the
drainage district may file a petition with the circuit court
within 30 days of the decision. In that case, the notice and
hearing requirements for the court shall be the same as
provided in this subsection for the petition to the District.
The court shall render its decision of whether to dissolve the
district based upon the best interests of the residents of the
drainage district.
    The dissolution of a drainage district shall not affect the
obligation of any bonds issued or contracts entered into by the
drainage district nor invalidate the levy, extension, or
collection of any taxes or special assessments upon the
property in the former drainage district. All property and
obligations of the former drainage district shall be assumed
and managed by the District, and the debts of the former
drainage district shall be discharged as soon as practicable.
    If a drainage district lies only partly within the
District, the District may petition the circuit court to
disconnect from the drainage district that portion of the
drainage district that lies within the District. The property
of the drainage district within the disconnected area shall be
assumed and managed by the District. The District shall also
assume a portion of the drainage district's debt at the time of
disconnection, based on the portion of the value of the taxable
property of the drainage district which is located within the
area being disconnected.
    A drainage district that continues to exist within Cook
County shall conform its operations to the countywide
stormwater management plan.
    (i) The District may assume responsibility for maintaining
any stream within Cook County.
    (j) The District may, after 10 days written notice to 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. The District shall be responsible for any damages
occasioned thereby.
    (k) The District shall report to the public annually on its
activities and expenditures under this Section and the adopted
countywide stormwater management plan.
    (l) The powers granted to the District under this Section
are in addition to the other powers granted under this Act.
This Section does not limit the powers of the District under
any other provision of this Act or any other law.
    (m) This Section does not affect the power or duty of any
unit of local government to take actions relating to flooding
or stormwater, so long as those actions conform with this
Section and the plans, rules, and ordinances adopted by the
District under this Section.
    A home rule unit located in whole or in part in Cook County
(other than a municipality with a population over 1,000,000)
may not regulate stormwater management or planning in Cook
County in a manner inconsistent with this Section or the plans,
rules, and ordinances adopted by the District under this
Section; provided, within a municipality with a population over
1,000,000, the stormwater management planning program of Cook
County shall be conducted by that municipality or, to the
extent provided in an intergovernmental agreement between the
municipality and the District, by the District pursuant to this
Section; provided further that the power granted to such
municipality shall not be inconsistent with existing powers of
the District. Pursuant to paragraph (i) of Section 6 of Article
VII of the Illinois Constitution, this Section specifically
denies and limits the exercise of any power that is
inconsistent with this Section by a home rule unit that is a
county with a population of 1,500,000 or more or is located, in
whole or in part, within such a county, other than a
municipality with a population over 1,000,000.
 
    (70 ILCS 2605/12)  (from Ch. 42, par. 332)
    Sec. 12. The board of commissioners annually may levy taxes
for corporate purposes upon property within the territorial
limits of such sanitary district, the aggregate amount of
which, exclusive of the amount levied for (a) the payment of
bonded indebtedness and the interest on bonded indebtedness (b)
employees' annuity and benefit purposes (c) construction
purposes, and (d) for the purpose of establishing and
maintaining a reserve fund for the payment of claims, awards,
losses, judgments or liabilities which might be imposed on such
sanitary district under the Workers' Compensation Act or the
Workers' Occupational Diseases Act, and any claim in tort,
including but not limited to, any claim imposed upon such
sanitary district under the Local Governmental and
Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act, and for the repair or
replacement of any property owned by such sanitary district
which is damaged by fire, flood, explosion, vandalism or any
other peril, natural or manmade, shall not exceed the sum
produced by extending the rate of .46% for each of the years
year 1979 through 2004 and by extending the rate of 0.41% for
the year 2005 and each year thereafter, upon the assessed
valuation of all taxable property within the sanitary district
as equalized and determined for State and local taxes.
    In addition, for stormwater management purposes, including
but not limited to those provided in subsection (f) of Section
7(h), the board of commissioners may levy taxes for the year
2005 and each year thereafter at a rate not to exceed 0.05% of
the assessed valuation of all taxable property within the
District as equalized and determined for State and local taxes.
    And in addition thereto, for construction purposes as
defined in Section 5.2 of this Act, the board of commissioners
may levy taxes for the year 1985 and each year thereafter which
shall be at a rate not to exceed .10% of the assessed valuation
of all taxable property within the sanitary district as
equalized and determined for State and local taxes. Amounts
realized from taxes so levied for construction purposes shall
be limited for use to such purposes and shall not be available
for appropriation or used to defray the cost of repairs to or
expense of maintaining or operating existing or future
facilities, but such restrictions, however, shall not apply to
additions, alterations, enlargements, and replacements which
will add appreciably to the value, utility, or the useful life
of said facilities. Such rates shall be extended against the
assessed valuation of the taxable property within the corporate
limits as the same shall be assessed and equalized for the
county taxes for the year in which the levy is made and said
board shall cause the amount to be raised by taxation in each
year to be certified to the county clerk on or before the
thirtieth day of March; provided, however, that if during the
budget year the General Assembly authorizes an increase in such
rates, the board of commissioners may adopt a supplemental levy
and shall make such certification to the County Clerk on or
before the thirtieth day of December.
    For the purpose of establishing and maintaining a reserve
fund for the payment of claims, awards, losses, judgments or
liabilities which might be imposed on such sanitary district
under the Workers' Compensation Act or the Workers'
Occupational Diseases Act, and any claim in tort, including but
not limited to, any claim imposed upon such sanitary district
under the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort
Immunity Act, and for the repair or replacement, where the cost
thereof exceeds the sum of $10,000, of any property owned by
such sanitary district which is damaged by fire, flood,
explosion, vandalism or any other peril, natural or man-made,
such sanitary district may also levy annually upon all taxable
property within its territorial limits a tax not to exceed
.005% of the assessed valuation of said taxable property as
equalized and determined for State and local taxes; provided,
however, the aggregate amount which may be accumulated in such
reserve fund shall not exceed .05% of such assessed valuation.
    All taxes so levied and certified shall be collected and
enforced in the same manner and by the same officers as State
and county taxes, and shall be paid over by the officer
collecting the same to the treasurer of the sanitary district,
in the manner and at the time provided by the general revenue
law. No part of the taxes hereby authorized shall be used by
such sanitary district for the construction of permanent,
fixed, immovable bridges across any channel constructed under
the provisions of this Act. All bridges built across such
channel shall not necessarily interfere with or obstruct the
navigation of such channel, when the same becomes a navigable
stream, as provided in Section 24 of this Act, but such bridges
shall be so constructed that they can be raised, swung or moved
out of the way of vessels, tugs, boats or other water craft
navigating such channel. Nothing in this Act shall be so
construed as to compel said district to maintain or operate
said bridges, as movable bridges, for a period of 9 years from
and after the time when the water has been turned into said
channel pursuant to law, unless the needs of general navigation
of the Des Plaines and Illinois Rivers, when connected by said
channel, sooner require it. In levying taxes the board of
commissioners, in order to produce the net amount required by
the levies for payment of bonds and interest thereon, shall
include an amount or rate estimated to be sufficient to cover
losses in collection of taxes, the cost of collecting taxes,
abatements in the amount of such taxes as extended on the
collector's books and the amount of such taxes collection of
which will be deferred; the amount so added for the purpose of
producing the net amount required shall not exceed any
applicable maximum tax rate or amount.
(Source: P.A. 84-630.)
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.

Effective Date: 11/17/2004