Illinois Statutes Chapter 30. Finance § 350/5. Backdoor referendum procedure

§ 5. Backdoor referendum procedure. (a) Whenever applicable law provides that the authorization or the issuance of bonds, or the becoming effective of an ordinance providing for the authorization or issuance of bonds, may be subject to a backdoor referendum, the provisions of this Section may be used as an alternative to the specific procedures as otherwise set forth by applicable law.

(b) The governing body may adopt an authorizing ordinance describing briefly the authority under which bonds are proposed to be issued, the nature of the project or purpose to be financed, the estimated total costs of the project or purpose, including in such costs all items related to financing the project or purpose, and the maximum amount of bonds authorized to be issued to pay such costs. No further details or specifications are required in such authorizing ordinance. Such authorizing ordinance, along with any other notice as required by applicable law, including any notice as to the right of electors to file a petition and the number of voters required to sign any such petition, shall be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the governmental unit. The governing body may, but is not required to, post the notice electronically on its World Wide Web pages. A petition may be filed after such publication or posting during the period as provided by applicable law; but upon the expiration of any such period without the filing of a petition meeting the requirements of the applicable law, the governing body shall be authorized to issue such bonds as if they had followed all necessary procedures set forth in such applicable law.

(c) If no petition meeting the requirements of applicable law is filed during the petition period, then the governing body may adopt additional ordinances or proceedings supplementing or amending the authorizing ordinance so long as the maximum amount of bonds as set forth in the authorizing ordinance is not exceeded and there is no material change in the project or purpose described in the authorizing ordinance. Such additional ordinances or proceedings shall in all instances become effective immediately without publication or posting or any further act or requirement. The authorizing ordinance, together with such additional ordinance or proceedings, shall constitute complete authority for the issuance of such bonds under applicable law.

(d) If applicable law provides that notice alone shall be given to commence a backdoor referendum, the notice shall be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the governmental unit. The governing body may, but is not required to, post the notice electronically on its World Wide Web pages.