Home Rule
In 2002, the City Became a Home Rule Unit of Local Government.
At that time, the City pledged to do the following:
- To continue to fund the current tourism advertising program sponsored by the City through its Hotel, Convention and Visitors Commission, at funding levels comparable to those that are currently in place.
- To utilize Hotel-Motel Tax Revenue for critical City services including police protection, snow removal and street maintenance and for capital improvements including street reconstruction and facilities maintenance.
- To not utilize home rule powers to levy additional property taxes, and to that end, we adopted a home rule property tax cap ordinance. The ordinance requires the City to comply with the provisions of the Illinois Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (the “Tax Cap”).
CITY OF OAKBROOK TERRACE
RESOLUTION NO. R02 –
A RESOLUTION TO ENDORSE THE ADOPTION OF HOME RULE FOR THE CITY OF OAKBROOK TERRACE
IN THE NOVEMBER 5, 2002 GENERAL ELECTION
WHEREAS, the City of Oakbrook Terrace, DuPage County, Illinois (the “City”), is a municipality incorporated and operating pursuant to the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/1-1-1, et seq.), and the Illinois Constitution of 1970 (the “Illinois Constitution”); and
WHEREAS, Chapter 10 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes (10 ILCS 5/1-1, et seq.) and the Illinois Constitution allow the Mayor and Aldermen of the City (the “City Council”), to submit public questions to the voters of the City; and
WHEREAS, On August 27, 2002, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 02 – 20: A Resolution Initiating a Public Question for Submission to the Qualified Electors of the City of Oakbrook Terrace, and Certifying Such Question to the DuPage Board of Election Commissioners in order to submit to the voters of the City the question of whether the City shall become a home rule unit of local government; and
WHEREAS, by adopting Resolution No. 02 – 20 and having the City Clerk properly file the resolution with the DuPage Board of Election Commissioners and the Illinois Secretary of State, the City Council has assured that a public question will appear on the ballot for the General Election on November 5, 2002 asking the voters of the City whether the City shall become a home rule unit of local government under the Illinois Municipal Code 65 ILCS 5/1-1-1, et seq.) and the Illinois Constitution; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed the benefits to the City of becoming a home rule unit of local government and has found those benefits to be significant, and of great assistance to the City Council, in its goal of assuring the life, health, and safety of the City’s residents and businesses and the continued financial viability of the City government; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that one of the most important benefits of home rule for the residents and businesses of the City would be the City’s ability to utilize Hotel-Motel Tax funds for general operating expenses, including police protection, snow plowing and street repairs, and capital improvements, including street reconstruction and facilities maintenance, instead of having the use of those revenues restricted by State law to generating additional hotel stays and promoting tourism, conventions and other special events within the City; and
WHEREAS, the City Council strongly supports the current tourism advertising program sponsored through the City’s Hotel, Convention and Visitors Commission, and, if the City becomes a home rule unit of local government, the City Council will be committed to continue the program at funding levels comparable to those that are currently in place; and
WHEREAS, although home rule powers would allow the City to levy property taxes above the levels established by the Illinois Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (35 ILCS 200-18-185, et seq.) without referendum approval, the City Council will be committed to not utilizing home rule powers to levy additional property taxes, and as evidence of that commitment, will adopt a home rule property tax cap ordinance before the home rule question appears on the ballot for the General Election on November 5, 2002; and
WHEREAS, the City Council, in its official capacity, wishes to provide a clear expression to the voters of its strong belief that the City should become a home rule unit of local government as soon as possible.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the Mayor and the City Council of the City of Oakbrook Terrace, DuPage County, Illinois, as follows:
Section One. Approval of the Home Rule Referendum. The City Council hereby endorses an affirmative vote by the voters of the City on the question that will appear on the ballot for the General Election on November 5, 2002, to determine whether the City should become a home rule unit of local government.
Section Two. Utilization of Hotel-Motel Tax Revenue. If the City becomes a home rule unit of local government, the City Council hereby pledges to continue to fund the current tourism advertising program sponsored by the City, through its Hotel, Convention and Visitors Commission, at funding levels comparable to those that are currently in place., and further, the City Council hereby pledges that it will utilize Hotel-Motel Tax Revenue for critical City services including police protection, snow removal and street maintenance and for capital improvements including street reconstruction and facilities maintenance.
Section Three. Home Rule Property Tax Cap. If the City becomes a home rule unit of local government, the City Council hereby commits itself not to utilize home rule powers to levy additional property taxes, and to that end, commits to adopting a home rule property tax cap ordinance before the home rule question appears on the ballot for the General Election on November 5, 2002. Said ordinance will require the City to comply with the provisions of the Illinois Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (35 ILCS 200-18-185, et seq.),.
PASSED AND APPROVED by the Mayor and City Council of the City of Oakbrook Terrace, DuPage County, Illinois
