(60 ILCS 1/Art. 125 heading)
(60 ILCS 1/125-5)
Sec. 125-5. Power to issue park bonds; park size.
(a) For the purpose of promoting the health and welfare of its citizens, a township may issue bonds for the purpose of procuring and improving lands to be set apart and forever held as one or more public parks to be kept and maintained for the free use of the public.
(b) No park shall exceed 25 acres in extent.
(Source: P.A. 90-438, eff. 1-1-98.)
(60 ILCS 1/125-10)
Sec. 125-10. Petition and referendum.
(a) Legal voters of a township numbering no less than 5% or 50, whichever is greater, of the registered voters of the township, may file a petition in writing in the office of the circuit clerk in the county in which the township is located, with a copy of such petition required to be filed on the same day with the township clerk, asking that a referendum be held to authorize the issuance of bonds for the purpose of providing funds for the purchase and improvement of one or more public parks in the township. The petition shall designate the amount of bonds proposed to be issued for the acquirement and improvement of the parks. Within 5 business days after the filing of the petition, the township clerk shall provide public notice of the existence of the filed petition in the same manner as notices of meetings of the township board are provided. After a hearing conducted no less than 30 days after the filing of the petition, at which time the validity of the petition may be challenged in accordance with the general election law, the circuit court, if it determines that the petition conforms with the requirements of the law, shall certify the question to the proper election officials, who shall submit the question at an election to the legally qualified voters of the township. The court shall designate the election at which the question shall be submitted. The notice of the referendum shall state the amount of bonds proposed to be issued and identify any specific park acquisition or improvement projects intended to be supported by the bond proceeds, and the notice shall be given and the referendum conducted in accordance with the general election law.
(b) The proposition at the referendum shall be substantially in one of the following forms:
(c) If a majority of the votes cast upon the proposition are in favor of the issuance of bonds, the township supervisor and township clerk shall issue the bonds of the township not exceeding the amount voted upon at the township election. The bonds shall become due not more than 20 years after their date, shall be in denominations of $100 or any multiple of $100, and shall bear interest, evidenced by coupons, at the rate of not exceeding 5% per annum, payable semiannually.
(Source: P.A. 94-622, eff. 8-18-05.)
(60 ILCS 1/125-12)
Sec. 125-12. Public hearing following referendum approval.
(a) Before the bonds shall be sold, the township board shall hold at least one public hearing on the subject of how the bond proceeds may be spent. In addition to providing no less than 15 days' advance public notice of such hearing in a manner consistent with meetings of the township board, notice of such public hearing shall be provided to all municipalities and park districts located within the township. All interested residents and local government officials within the township shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard during the public hearing.
(b) When Form A of the referendum question is used, the township shall consider all legitimate park acquisition and improvement projects that are submitted in connection with the public hearing. When Form B of the referendum question is used, the township shall consider only those park acquisition and improvement projects that were identified in the question.
(Source: P.A. 94-622, eff. 8-18-05.)
(60 ILCS 1/125-15)
Sec. 125-15. Supervisor's and clerk's certificate; tax; board of park commissioners.
(a) The bonds shall be sold, and the proceeds shall be used, solely for the purpose of procuring and improving one or more parks in the township; specifically, the bond proceeds may be used in connection with one or more acquisition projects, one or more improvement projects, or a combination thereof. The bond proceeds may be used to support projects at parks operated by the township or, through grants or intergovernmental agreements, at parks operated by a municipality or park district. At or before the time of the delivery of the bonds for value, the township supervisor and township clerk shall file with the county clerk of the county in which the township is situated their certificate in writing, under their signatures, stating the amount of bonds to be issued, their denomination, and the rate of interest and where payable. The certificate shall include a form of the bond to be issued.
(b) The supervisor and clerk shall levy a direct annual tax upon all the taxable property in the township sufficient to pay the principal and interest of the bonds as and when they respectively mature. The certificate filed with the county clerk is full and complete authority to the county clerk to extend the tax named in the certificate upon all the taxable property in the township. The tax is in addition to all other taxes authorized by law.
(c) If there is a board of park commissioners invested by law with control over any park that lies wholly or in part in the township, the duties required of the supervisor and clerk by this Section and subsection (c) of Section 125-10 shall be performed by the board of park commissioners or under its authority.
(Source: P.A. 94-622, eff. 8-18-05.)
(60 ILCS 1/125-20)
Sec. 125-20. Use of bond proceeds. The proceeds of the bonds shall be received and held by the township supervisor but shall be expended under the direction and upon the warrant of a majority of the members of the board of trustees of the township. However, a majority of the members of the board of trustees may designate that the bond proceeds be expended under the direction and upon the warrant of the highway commissioner if the highway commissioner provides written consent to that action. If, however, at the time the proceeds are received there is a board of park commissioners invested by law with control over any park that lies wholly or in part in the township, the proceeds of the bonds shall be expended upon the warrants of a majority of the board of park commissioners. The board of trustees, highway commissioner or board of park commissioners may designate the parcel or parcels of land or property to be utilized for the purchase of the parks and may determine the character, time, and manner of improving, developing, maintaining, and adorning the parcel or parcels.
(Source: P.A. 95-759, eff. 7-28-08.)
(60 ILCS 1/125-25)
Sec. 125-25. Supplementary power. This Article does not repeal any prior Acts passed by the General Assembly regarding the issuance of bonds for park purposes but grants additional and supplementary power in relation to the issuance of bonds for park purposes.
(Source: Laws 1915, p. 722; P.A. 88-62.)