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COUNTIES
(55 ILCS 5/) Counties Code.

55 ILCS 5/Div. 2-5

 
    (55 ILCS 5/Div. 2-5 heading)
Division 2-5. County Executive Form of Government

55 ILCS 5/2-5001

    (55 ILCS 5/2-5001) (from Ch. 34, par. 2-5001)
    Sec. 2-5001. Subtitle. This Division shall be subtitled the "County Executive Law".
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/2-5002

    (55 ILCS 5/2-5002) (from Ch. 34, par. 2-5002)
    Sec. 2-5002. Legislative determination. It is declared as a matter of legislative determination that in order to promote the health, safety, morals and welfare of the public it is necessary in the public interest to provide for an elected county executive form of county government in accordance with Sections 4(a) and 6(a) of Article VII of the 1970 Illinois Constitution, and to permit counties which become home rule units by adopting an elected form of county executive government to simultaneously, pursuant to Section 6(b) of Article VII of the 1970 Illinois Constitution, elect not to be home rule units by referendum.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/2-5003

    (55 ILCS 5/2-5003) (from Ch. 34, par. 2-5003)
    Sec. 2-5003. Definitions. As used in this Division, unless the context requires otherwise:
    "County board" or "board" means the legislative governing body of any county other than Cook County which has adopted the county executive form of government under this Division.
    "County board speaker" or "speaker" means the county board member elected by the county board to serve as the lead representative for the county board, and may be referred to as the "county board speaker", "speaker", "county board chair", or "chair".
    "County executive" means the county official elected by the voters of any county other than Cook County to be the chief executive officer to administer the county executive form of government under this Division.
    "County executive form of government" means that form of government in which the departments of county government are administered by a single county official called the county executive elected at large by the qualified voters of the county. The board shall act as the legislative body of the county under this form of county government.
(Source: P.A. 102-1120, eff. 1-23-23.)

55 ILCS 5/2-5004

    (55 ILCS 5/2-5004) (from Ch. 34, par. 2-5004)
    Sec. 2-5004. Establishment of county executive form of government. Any county other than Cook County may establish the county executive form of government for that county by submission to and approval by the electors of the county of the proposition at a referendum as provided in Section 2-5005. A referendum to adopt the county executive form of government may be called by a resolution adopted by the county board of the county or by the filing of a petition as provided in Section 2-5005.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/2-5005

    (55 ILCS 5/2-5005) (from Ch. 34, par. 2-5005)
    Sec. 2-5005. Referendum on resolution of county board. (a) If the county board adopts a resolution calling for a referendum on the proposal to adopt the county executive form of government and home rule for the county, within the time provided in the general election law, the county clerk and the county board shall provide for the submission of such proposition to the electors of the county in accordance with this Section at the next general election held in an even-numbered year.
    Upon filing of a petition with the clerk of the circuit court of the county within the time provided in the general election law signed by at least 2% of the registered voters in the county or 500 individuals, whichever is less, requesting that the county executive form of government be established in the county, the clerk of the circuit court shall transmit the petition to the chief judge of the circuit court who shall determine the sufficiency of the petition or shall assign the determination of the sufficiency of the petition to a circuit judge who shall make the determination. If the judge determines that the petition is sufficient, he shall certify the sufficiency of the petition and shall issue an order directing the county clerk and the county board to provide for the submission of such proposition to the electors of the county at the next general election held in an even-numbered year.
    The referendum shall be conducted in such a manner as is prescribed in the general election law.
    The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:
--------------------------------------------------------------
    Shall the County of
.......... become a Home             YES
Rule County and establish the   ------------------------------
county executive form of             NO
government?
--------------------------------------------------------------
    (b) If the county board adopts a resolution calling for a referendum on the proposal to adopt the county executive form of government and elect not to be a home rule unit within the time provided in the general election law, the county clerk and the county board shall provide for the submission of such proposition to the electors of the county in accordance with this Section at the next general election held in an even-numbered year.
    Upon filing of a petition with the clerk of the circuit court of the county within the time provided in the general election law signed by at least 2% of the registered voters in the county or 500 individuals, whichever is less, requesting that the county executive form of government be established in the county and that the county elect not to be a home rule unit, the clerk of the circuit court shall transmit the petition to the chief judge of the circuit court who shall determine the sufficiency of the petition or shall assign the determination of the sufficiency of the petition to a circuit judge who shall make the determination. If the judge determines that the petition is sufficient, he shall certify the sufficiency of the petition and shall issue an order directing the county clerk and the county board to provide for the submission of such proposition to the electors of the county at the next general election held in an even-numbered year.
    The referendum shall be conducted in such a manner as is prescribed in the general election law.
    The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:
--------------------------------------------------------------
    Shall the County of .......                 YES
adopt the county executive          --------------------------
form of government and elect                    NO
not to become a home rule unit?
--------------------------------------------------------------
    (c) If a majority of the voters voting on the proposition described in subsection (a) or (b) vote in favor of it, the board shall proceed to establish the county executive form of government in accordance with this Division. A referendum under this Section may be held in a county only once within any 23-month period.
(Source: P.A. 86-962; 86-1028.)

55 ILCS 5/2-5006

    (55 ILCS 5/2-5006) (from Ch. 34, par. 2-5006)
    Sec. 2-5006. Election of chief executive officer. The electors of a county which has adopted the county executive form of government under this Division shall, at the next general election, and at the general election every 4 years subsequent, elect a chief executive officer. Nominations for the office of chief executive officer shall be made in the manner provided for other county officers in the general election law. The election of the chief executive officer shall be governed by the provisions of the general election law applicable to the election of county officers.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/2-5007

    (55 ILCS 5/2-5007) (from Ch. 34, par. 2-5007)
    Sec. 2-5007. Term of county executive. The county executive shall serve a term of 4 years, commencing on the first Monday in the month following the month of the election in which the county executive was elected and until a successor is elected and qualified.
(Source: P.A. 102-1120, eff. 1-23-23.)

55 ILCS 5/2-5008

    (55 ILCS 5/2-5008) (from Ch. 34, par. 2-5008)
    Sec. 2-5008. Qualifications of county executive. The qualifications for the office of county executive are the same as those for membership on the board. However, the county executive shall not be an elected member of the county board.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/2-5009

    (55 ILCS 5/2-5009) (from Ch. 34, par. 2-5009)
    Sec. 2-5009. Duties and powers of county executive. Any county executive elected under this Division shall:
    (a) see that all of the orders, resolutions and regulations of the board are faithfully executed;
    (b) coordinate and direct by executive order or otherwise all administrative and management functions of the county government except the offices of elected county officers;
    (b-5) control the internal operations of the county executive's office and procure the necessary equipment, materials, and services to perform the duties of that office;
    (c) prepare and submit to the board for its approval the annual budget for the county required by Division 6-1 of this Code;
    (d) appoint, with the advice and consent of the board, persons to serve on the various boards and commissions to which appointments are provided by law to be made by the board;
    (d-5) make appointments to fill vacancies occurring in the office of an elected county officer other than the office of an elected member of the county board in accordance with Section 25-11 of the Election Code in counties, other than Champaign County, operating under the county executive form of government under this Division;
    (e) appoint, with the advice and consent of the board, persons to serve on various special districts within the county except where appointment to serve on such districts is otherwise provided by law;
    (e-5) except as otherwise provided by law, remove or suspend, in the county executive's discretion and after notice and hearing, anyone whom the county executive has the power to appoint under subsection (d) or (e);
    (f) make an annual report to the board on the affairs of the county, on such date and at such time as the board shall designate, and keep the board fully advised as to the financial condition of the county and its future financial needs;
    (f-5) appoint, with the advice and consent of the board, all department heads for any county departments;
    (g) hire such subordinate deputies, employees and appointees for the general administration of county affairs as considered necessary, except those deputies, employees and appointees in the office of an elected county officer or county board member;
    (h) except as otherwise provided by law, remove or suspend, in the discretion of the county executive, department heads for a county department and anyone whom the county executive has the power to hire under subsection (g);
    (i) require reports and examine accounts, records and operations of all county administrative units;
    (j) supervise the care and custody of all county property including institutions and agencies;
    (k) approve or veto ordinances or resolutions pursuant to Section 2-5010;
    (l) preside over board meetings; however, the county executive is not entitled to vote except to break a tie vote;
    (l-5) for a county executive of a county that has adopted the executive form of government on or before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, if the County Executive is temporarily not available to preside over a board meeting, the County Executive shall designate a board member to preside over the board meeting;
    (m) call a special meeting of the county board, by a written executive order signed by the county executive and upon 24 hours notice by delivery of a copy of such order to the residence of each board member;
    (n) with the advice and consent of the county board, enter into intergovernmental agreements with other governmental units;
    (o) with the advice and consent of the county board, negotiate on behalf of the county with governmental units and the private sector for the purpose of promoting economic growth and development;
    (p) at the discretion of the county executive, appoint a person to serve as legal counsel at an annual salary no greater than the annual salary of the state's attorney of the county;
    (q) perform such other duties as shall be required of the county executive by the board.
(Source: P.A. 102-1120, eff. 1-23-23.)

55 ILCS 5/2-5010

    (55 ILCS 5/2-5010) (from Ch. 34, par. 2-5010)
    Sec. 2-5010. Approval of ordinances. Any ordinance passed, adopted or otherwise enacted by the board shall before it becomes effective be presented to the county executive. If the county executive approves such ordinance, resolution or motion, the county executive shall sign it; if not, the county executive shall return it to the board with the objections, which shall be entered and spread upon the journal, and the board shall proceed to reconsider the matter. If after such reconsideration 3/5 of the members of the board pass such ordinance, it shall become effective on the date prescribed but not earlier than the date of passage following reconsideration. In all such cases the votes of the members of the board shall be determined by yeas and nays and the names of the members voting for or against such ordinance objected to by the county executive shall be entered and spread upon the journal. If any ordinance is not returned by the county executive to the board at its first meeting occurring not less than 6 days, Sundays excepted, after it has been presented to the county executive, it shall become effective unless the board has recessed or adjourned for a period in excess of 60 days, in which case it shall not become effective without the approval of the county executive. Items of appropriation may be approved or vetoed by the county executive. Any item approved by the county executive and all items not vetoed shall become law, and any item vetoed shall be returned to and reconsidered by the board in the same manner as provided in this Section for other ordinances returned to the board without approval.
(Source: P.A. 102-1120, eff. 1-23-23.)

55 ILCS 5/2-5011

    (55 ILCS 5/2-5011) (from Ch. 34, par. 2-5011)
    Sec. 2-5011. Death, resignation or inability of county executive. In case of the death, resignation or other inability of the county executive to act, the board shall select a person qualified under Section 2-5008 and Section 25-11 of the Election Code to serve as the interim county executive until the next general election.
(Source: P.A. 96-1540, eff. 3-7-11.)

55 ILCS 5/2-5012

    (55 ILCS 5/2-5012) (from Ch. 34, par. 2-5012)
    Sec. 2-5012. Salary of county executive. The salary of the county executive shall be fixed by the board and shall be not less than 1 1/2 times the amount of the compensation to which a member of the board is entitled.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/2-5013

    (55 ILCS 5/2-5013) (from Ch. 34, par. 2-5013)
    Sec. 2-5013. Discontinuance of county executive form of government. Any county which has adopted the county executive form of government may discontinue that form of government only as provided in this Section. The board upon receipt of a petition, not less than 78 days before a general election, calling for discontinuance of the county executive form of government and signed by a number of registered voters of the county equal to or greater than 5% of the number who voted in the last regular election held in the county at which county officers were elected shall provide by resolution for submission of the proposition for discontinuance to the electors of the county at the next general election. The board shall certify the resolution and the proposition to the proper election officials who shall submit the proposition at the next general election in accordance with the general election law. The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:
--------------------------------------------------------------
    Shall the County of ..........
discontinue the county executive             YES
form of government and (if a home    -------------------------
rule county) become a nonhome rule           NO
county?
--------------------------------------------------------------
    If a majority of the voters voting on the proposition vote in favor of discontinuance of the county executive form of government, the office of county executive shall be abolished as of the first Monday in December following the holding of the election and the board elected in the county shall meet, organize and resume the conduct of the affairs of the county wholly as the county board. A referendum under this Section may be held in any county only once within any 47-month period.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/2-5014

    (55 ILCS 5/2-5014) (from Ch. 34, par. 2-5014)
    Sec. 2-5014. Certified statements by county clerk. At least 20 days prior to any referendum under Section 2-5005 or Section 2-5013, the county clerk shall file with the Secretary of State a certified statement indicating when such a referendum will be held. Within 30 days after any such referendum the county clerk shall file with the Secretary of State a certified statement showing the results of the referendum and the resulting status of the county as a home rule county or a non-home rule county. The Secretary of State shall maintain such certified statements in the office of the Secretary of State as a public record.
(Source: P.A. 102-1120, eff. 1-23-23.)

55 ILCS 5/2-5015

    (55 ILCS 5/2-5015) (from Ch. 34, par. 2-5015)
    Sec. 2-5015. County board chair; superseding plan for election of county board chairman.
    (a) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, in a county that has adopted the county executive form of government under this Division, the county board chairman, county board chairperson, or county board chair shall only have those powers and duties set forth in this Division. Any powers and duties vested in a county board chairman, county board chairperson, or county board chair in any Illinois statute, other than this Division, Section 11 of the Public Health District Act, and Section 25-11 of the Election Code, shall instead be vested in the county executive in those counties that have adopted the county executive form of government.
    (b) The adoption of the county executive form of government by any county pursuant to this Division shall supersede any plan adopted by the county board of that county pursuant to Section 2-3007, as now or hereafter amended, for the election of the chairman of the county board by the voters of the county.
(Source: P.A. 102-1120, eff. 1-23-23.)

55 ILCS 5/2-5016

    (55 ILCS 5/2-5016) (from Ch. 34, par. 2-5016)
    Sec. 2-5016. Policy concerning exercise of powers by counties. It is the policy of this State that any county with a chief executive officer elected by the electors of the county may (1) exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs, or (2) exercise those powers within traditional areas of county activity, except as limited by the Illinois Constitution or a proper limiting statute, notwithstanding effects on competition.
    It is the intention of the General Assembly that the "State action exemption" to the application of federal antitrust statutes be fully available to counties to the extent their activities are authorized by law as stated herein.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)