The Legislative Scene

World's Fail, Commissions spotlighted as session ends

By Peter M. Murphy, Legal/Legislative Counsel

Controversy surrounding a funding package for the 1992 Chicago World's Fair and the proposed abolition of the more than 54 commissions serving state government marked the close of the legislative session in June.

The Senate Rules Committee took an active role in order to sideline the proliferation of House bills passed this year. Many considered to be unnecessary or too controversial for an election year never made it to a committee hearing.

Of special significance to local governments was the failure of H.B. 1395 to be voted out of the Rules Committee. The thrust of this bill would have been to require the use of a local government's prior years equalized assessed valuation (EAV) for tax extension purposes. The effect of this proposal on your agency can be illustrated by the use of your 1983 EAV as the basis for your 1985 tax levy. The commendable intent of this proposal is to put the tax cycle on schedule, save the cost of borrowing as the result of delays in revenue, as well as to provide local governments with a current picture of their assessment base in order to avoid levying in the blind.

Obviously, the resulting freeze in the revenue base of local governments makes H.B. 1395 as proposed most unpalatable to those districts currently experiencing rapid growth. The Senate Rules Committee also sidelined H.B. 1855, which attempts to clarify the tax-exempt status of park and conservation districts' property.

Farmland assessment legislation continues to be on track in both the House and Senate. H.B. 2388/S.B. 1462 provide that, beginning with the 1984 assessment year, the increase or decrease in aggregate equalized assessed valuation of all farmland in a county shall not exceed 10 percent of the EAV of such farmland from the immediately preceding year. These bills also include a finding that the state mandate of this legislation accommodates a request from local governments, and that any added costs to local governments are offset by commensurate savings.

It is interesting to note that for the 69 counties in which final 1983 EAV figures are available, the total EAV has declined in 55 counties while rising in only 14. Note that these figures will be exacerbated by the yet-to-be-computed decrease in assessed valuation attributable to the Homestead Exemption. Other bills that have a significant impact on park and recreation agencies are:

H.B. 2394 - STECZO - Amends the Park District Code. Provides that a new park district coterminous with the boundaries of a municipality with a population under 500 may be organized out of an existing park district upon petition and approval by the voters of the territory of the new district. Provides that the remainder of the existing district shall continue to exist as a separate park district.

LAST ACTION: Referred to Senate Rules Committee. May 10. 1984.

H.B. 2512 - CHURCHILL - Amends the Revenue Act of 1939. Provides that the Board of Review shall not change an assessment, and the Property Tax Appeal Board shall not overturn a decision of the Board of Review, unless an interested party can show substantial cause why it should do so. Provides that the Board of Review and the Property Tax Appeal Board shall give notice to all interested taxing bodies in cases not involving single family residences. Authorizes taxing districts to issue general obligation bonds when an assessment of non-single family residence taxpayers to supply the assessor with certain information regarding the value of their property.

LAST ACTION: Assigned to Senate Revenue Committee, June 5, 1984.

(From the left) Sen. James Rupp (R-51), Carl P. Hartmann and Sen. William Mahar (R-19).

Illinois Parks and Recreation 14 July/August 1984

Rep. Ralph Dunn (R-115), at left, and George Whitehead.

(From the left) Susan Rizzo, Sen. Robert Kustra (R-28), Dan Brown, Judy Beck, Anita Rifkind, Jack Solomon and Steve Meyer.

H.B. 2568 - CURRIE - Amends the Act concerning aquariums and museums in parks and the Act concerning the Chicago Park District. Increases the authorized annual property tax rate from .12 percent to .15 percent for the purpose of maintaining aquariums and museums for park districts over 500,000 population.

LAST ACTION: Senate Calendar, Order of 2nd reading, June 6, 1984.

H.B. 2738 - RICHMOND -Amends the Park District Code. Raises the maximum general tax rate, for park districts which do not levy a recreation tax, from .10 percent to .175 percent of the assessed valuation of property in the district.

LAST ACTION: Interim Study, House Committee on Cities and Villages, May 25, 1984.

H.B. 2794 - CURRIE - Creates Special Districts Dissolution Act. Requires special districts to make annual reports to the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs; provides for dissolution procedures for active and inactive special districts; establishes procedures for the payment of debts owed by dissolved special districts.

LAST ACTION: Study Calendar, House Committee on Cities and Villages, May 25, 1984.

H.B. 3128 - DANIELS - Abolishes existing legislative commissions and statutory legislative committees, and establishes a Legislative Service Bureau consisting of the President and Minority Leader of the Senate and the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives to provide legislative support services.

LAST ACTION: Placed on Senate Calendar, Order of 2nd reading, June 6, 1984.

H.B. 3174 - HOMER - Amends the Toxic Substance Disclosure to Employees Act. Provides that the employer shall annually submit a list of substances for which the employer acquired Material Safety Data Sheets, together with the sheets, to the county clerk of the county where the facility handling toxic substances is located.

HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1 -Excepts certain retail trade establishments listed in the Standard Industrial Classification Manual from the Act.

LAST ACTION: Senate Calendar, Order of 2nd reading, June 7, 1984.

H.B. 3229 - BULLOCK - Creates the Illinois Coastal Resources Management Act. Requires the Department of Transportation, Division of Water Resources, to develop and implement a State Management program for regulation of the Lake Michigan coastal waters and adjacent lands. Requires a Department permit for construction or land modification unless the affected county or municipality has been certified by the Department by approval of a Municipal Management Program.

LAST ACTION: Interim Study, House Energy Committee, May 24, 1984.

S.B. 1478 - PHILIP - Creates the Local Governmental Tax Collection Act and amends an Act concerning county treasurers. Provides that the county treasurer must pay interest on all distributions of taxes collected on behalf of units of local government which are made more than 15 days after they are received. Provides that a unit of local government may elect to receive the interest earned on the first 15 days or have the interest credited to the county for the maintenance of the county jail. Requires the county treasurer to publish a notice on the use of interest earned on public funds.

LAST ACTION: House Calendar, Order of 2nd reading, June 6, 1984.

S.B. 1728 - ETHEREDGE -Amends the Park District Code. Provides that in a Pleasure Driveway and Park District, the trustees of which are appointed, petitions for the submission of public questions shall be signed by a number of registered voters of such district equal to at least 10 percent of the number of registered voters in such district as of the last preceding regular election.

LAST ACTION: Passed both Houses, June 7, 1984.

EDITOR'S NOTE: All bills which are recorded as still being in committee are "dead" for the remainder of the spring session in accordance with House and Senate Rules. The final status of all bills affecting park and recreation agencies will be contained in the annual Legislative Report sent to members after the General Assembly adjourns.

(From the left) Rick Rymer, Rep. Robert Churchill (R-62) and Chuck Paxton.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 15 July/August 1984