Illinois Statutes Chapter 70. Special Districts § 410/13.1. Tax referendum; research projects

§ 13.1. (a) Not less than 5% of the voters in any district may petition the board of that district to levy, in addition to all other taxes which the board is now or may hereafter be authorized to levy, an annual tax for the purpose of providing staff, special educational programming, equipment, supplies, maintenance of facilities and equipment, and funding for research projects associated with endangered, threatened, and protected species, as defined by State and Federal law, of native Illinois fauna and flora. Upon the filing of such petition with the board of a district, the board shall adopt an ordinance calling for the referendum and setting forth the proposition of whether to levy such a tax. The clerk or secretary of the district shall certify the ordinance and the proposition to the proper election officials who shall submit the proposition to the voters of the district at a referendum in accordance with the general election law.

(b) If such tax is first approved at the referendum by a majority of voters voting on the issue, the board may levy the tax at a rate not to exceed .01% of the value, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, of taxable property in the district. Funds derived from the tax shall not be used for land acquisition or for the construction of permanent facilities.

(c) The board of any district may maintain within that district buildings and such other facilities as may be used for the protection and study of such fauna or flora, or permit the directors or trustees of any not for profit organization devoted to such purposes to maintain such facilities out of funds belonging to such not for profit organization, or to contract with the directors or trustees of any not for profit organization on such terms and conditions as the board may deem best, relative to the operation and maintenance of facilities for the protection and study of such fauna and flora within the District, out of the tax funds received from this Section.