(65 ILCS 55/0.01) (from Ch. 24, par. 808.01) Sec. 0.01. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Municipal Federal Grant Tax and Bond Act. (Source: P.A. 86-1324.)

(65 ILCS 55/1) (from Ch. 24, par. 808.1) Sec. 1. Any city, village or incorporated town which has heretofore entered into an agreement with the Federal government or any agency thereof for the construction, extension, improvement or repair of streets, or of a sewerage system or water system with the aid of a Federal grant, may, for the purpose of raising its portion of the funds necessary for such construction, extension, improvement or repair, provide a special tax or special assessment of the property benefited, and to anticipate the collection of such special tax or special assessment, or any installment thereof, may issue bonds, payable out of such special tax or special assessment, bearing interest at a rate not more than the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract, nor less than 3 1/2% per annum. With respect to instruments for the payment of money issued under this Section either before, on, or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1989, it is and always has been the intention of the General Assembly (i) that the Omnibus Bond Acts are and always have been supplementary grants of power to issue instruments in accordance with the Omnibus Bond Acts, regardless of any provision of this Act that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts, (ii) that the provisions of this Section are not a limitation on the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts, and (iii) that instruments issued under this Section within the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts are not invalid because of any provision of this Act that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts. (Source: P.A. 86-4.)

(65 ILCS 55/2) (from Ch. 24, par. 808.2) Sec. 2. No special tax or special assessment shall be levied or collected except in pursuance of an ordinance passed by the governing body of the city, village or incorporated town, provided, that no special tax or assessment shall be levied or assessed upon any property in an amount in excess of the special benefit which such property shall receive from such project. Such ordinance shall not be deemed conclusive of such benefit, but the question of such benefit and of the amount of the special tax or assessment shall be subject to the review and determination of the court having jurisdiction in the manner hereinafter set forth. (Source: Laws 1935-36, 1st SS, p. 39.)

(65 ILCS 55/3) (from Ch. 24, par. 808.3) Sec. 3. Upon the passage of any such ordinance, it shall be the duty of the officer specified therein to file a petition in the circuit court in said county, or, if such city, village or town is situated in more than one county and the proposed improvement lies in more than one county, then in the circuit court in the county in which the major part of the territory to be affected thereby is situated, in the name of such municipality, praying that steps be taken to levy a special assessment for the said improvement in accordance with the provision of the said ordinance. The several circuit courts of this State shall have jurisdiction of any proceedings under this Act. There shall be attached to or filed with such petition, a copy of the said ordinance, certified by the clerk under the corporate seal. Upon the filing of such petition, the superintendent of special assessments, in cities where such officer is provided for by law, otherwise some competent person appointed by the Mayor and City Council of Cities and the President and Board of Trustees of villages and incorporated towns, shall make a true and impartial assessment of the cost of the said improvement upon the petitioning municipality and the property benefited by such improvement. (Source: Laws 1965, p. 3376.)

(65 ILCS 55/4) (from Ch. 24, par. 808.4) Sec. 4. In levying any special assessment or special tax, each lot, block, tract or parcel of land shall be assessed separately, in the same manner as upon assessment for general taxation: Provided, that this requirement shall not apply to the property of railroad companies, or the right of way and franchise of street railway companies, but the same may be described in any manner sufficient to reasonably identify the property intended to be assessed. (Source: Laws 1935-36, 1st SS, p. 39.)

(65 ILCS 55/5) (from Ch. 24, par. 808.5) Sec. 5. The assessment roll shall contain a list of all the lots, blocks, tracts and parcels of land assessed for the proposed improvement, the amount assessed against each, the name of the person who paid the taxes on each such parcel during the last preceding calendar year in which taxes were paid, as ascertained upon investigation by the officer making the return, or under his direction, the residence of the person so paying the taxes on each such parcel if the same can on diligent inquiry be found; in case of assessment in installments the amount of each installment shall also be stated; and the officer making such roll shall certify under oath that he verily believes that the amounts assessed against each parcel of property are just and equitable, and do not exceed the benefit which will in each case be derived from said improvement, and that no lot, block, tract or parcel of land has been assessed more than its proportionate share of the cost of said improvement. Several lots, or parts of land, owned and improved as one parcel may be assessed as one parcel. Notice shall be given of the nature of the improvement, of the pendency of said proceedings, of the time and place of filing the petition therefor, of the time and place of filing the assessment roll therein, and of the time and place at which application will be made for confirmation of the assessment, the same to be not less than fifteen (15) days after the mailing of such notice. Such notices shall be sent by mail postpaid to each of the said persons paying the taxes on the respective parcels during the last preceding year in which taxes were paid, at his residence as shown in the assessment roll, or, if not shown, then to such person so paying the taxes, directed generally to the city, village or town in which said improvement is proposed to be made. Such notice shall state the amount assessed to the person to whom the same is directed for the improvement proposed and the total amount of the cost of said improvement to be borne by the municipality. An affidavit shall be filed before the final hearing showing a compliance with the requirements of this section, and also showing that the affiant (either the officer making the said return, or some one acting under his direction) made a careful examination of the collector's books showing the payments of general taxes during the last preceding year in which the taxes were paid thereon, to ascertain the person or persons who last paid the taxes on said respective parcels, and a diligent search for their residences, and that the report correctly states the same as ascertained by the affiant; and said report and affidavit shall be conclusive evidence, for the purpose of said proceeding, of the correctness of the assessment roll in said particulars; but in case the said affidavit shall be found in any respect wilfully false, the person making the same shall be deemed guilty of perjury, and subject to the penalties provided for such offense by the laws of this State. (Source: Laws 1935-36, 1st SS, p. 39.)

(65 ILCS 55/6) (from Ch. 24, par. 808.6) Sec. 6. It shall be lawful to provide by the ordinance for any such project, any portion of the cost of which is to be defrayed by special assessment or special taxation, or by ordinance passed at any time before the confirmation of the assessment roll, that the aggregate amount assessed, and each individual assessment be divided into installments not more than ten (10) in number. In all cases such division shall be made so that all installments shall be equal in amount, except that all fractional amounts shall be added to the first installment, so as to leave the remaining installments of the aggregate equal in amount. The first installment shall be due and payable on the second day of January next after the date of the first voucher issued on account of work done, and the second installment one (1) year thereafter, and so on annually until all the installments are paid; and it is the duty of the municipality to file in the office of the clerk of the court in which such assessment was confirmed, a certificate signed by presiding officer, of the date of said first voucher and of the amount thereof, within thirty (30) days after the issuance thereof. All installments shall bear interest as hereinafter provided until paid, at the rate of not to exceed six (6) per centum per annum. Interest on assessments shall begin to run from the date of the first voucher issued on account of work done as aforesaid. The interest on each installment shall be payable as follows: On the second day of January next succeeding the date of the first voucher aforesaid so certified as aforesaid, the interest accrued up to that time on all unpaid installments shall be due and payable and be collected with the installment, and thereafter the interest on all unpaid installments then payable, shall be payable annually and be due and payable at the same time as the installments maturing in such year and be collected therewith. In all cases it shall be the duty of the municipal collectors, as the case may be, whenever payment is made of any installment to collect interest thereon up to the date of such payment whether such payment be made at or after maturity. Any person may at any time pay the whole assessment against any lot, piece or parcel of land, or any installment thereof, with interest as provided herein up to the date of payment. (Source: Laws 1935-36, 1st SS, p. 39.)

(65 ILCS 55/7) (from Ch. 24, par. 808.7) Sec. 7. The petitioner shall, in addition to other notices hereinbefore provided for, cause notice to be given, not more than 30 nor less than 15 days in advance of the time at which confirmation of the assessment is sought, by publishing a notice thereof at least twice in one or more newspapers published in the municipality, or, if no newspaper is published therein, then in one or more newspapers with a general circulation within the municipality; except that, in municipalities with less than 500 population in which no newspaper is published, publication may be made by posting a notice in 3 prominent places within the municipality. The notice shall be over the name of the officer levying such assessment, and be substantially as follows:

(65 ILCS 55/8) (from Ch. 24, par. 808.8) Sec. 8. Any person interested in any real estate to be affected by such assessment, may appear and file objections to such report, by the time mentioned in said notice, or in case of incomplete notice then as specified in the last preceding section, or within such further time as the court may allow, and the court may make such order in regard to the time of filing such objections as may be made in cases at law in regard to filing pleas; but no prior rule need be taken therefor unless directed by the court. As to all lots, blocks, tracts and parcels of land, to the assessment of which objections are not filed within the time aforesaid, or such other time as may be ordered by the court, default may be entered, and the assessment confirmed by the court, notwithstanding objections may be pending and undisposed of as to other property. (Source: Laws 1935-36, 1st SS, p. 39.)

(65 ILCS 55/9) (from Ch. 24, par. 808.9) Sec. 9. Upon objection or motion for that purpose, the court in which said proceeding is pending may, in a summary way, inquire whether the officer making the report has omitted any property benefited; also whether or not the assessment, as made and returned, is an equitable and just distribution of the cost of said improvement. The court may either make such corrections or changes, or determine in general the manner in which the same shall be made, and refer the assessment roll to any competent person for revision, correction or alteration in such manner as the court may determine. (Source: Laws 1935-36, 1st SS, p. 39.)

(65 ILCS 55/10) (from Ch. 24, par. 808.10) Sec. 10. On the application of the petitioner, at any time after the return day, the court may set down all objections, except the objection that the property of the objector will not be benefited to the amount assessed against it, and that said property is assessed more than its proportionate share of the cost of such improvement, for a hearing at a time to be fixed by the court, and upon such hearing the court shall determine all questions relating to the sufficiency of the proceedings, and of the benefits between the different parcels of property assessed, together with all other questions arising in such proceeding, with the exception aforesaid, and shall thereupon enter an order in accordance with the conclusions it shall reach; but such order shall not be deemed a final disposition of any such questions for the purpose of appeal, unless objectors shall waive further controversy as to the remaining questions upon the record. (Source: Laws 1935-36, 1st SS, p. 39.)

(65 ILCS 55/11) (from Ch. 24, par. 808.11) Sec. 11. If it be objected on the part of any property assessed for such improvement, that it will not be benefited thereby to the amount assessed thereon, and that it is assessed more than its proportionate share of the cost of such improvement, and a jury be not waived by agreement of parties, the court shall impanel a jury to try the said issue, and in such case, unless otherwise ordered by the court, all such objections shall be tried and disposed of before a single jury. The assessment roll, as returned by the officer making the same, or as revised and corrected by the court on the hearing of the legal objections, shall be prima facie evidence of the correctness of the amount assessed against each objecting owner but shall not be counted as the testimony of any witness or witnesses in the cause. Such assessment roll may be submitted to the jury and may be taken into the jury room by the jury when it retires to deliberate on its verdict. Either party may introduce such other evidence as may bear upon the said issue or issues. The hearing shall be conducted as in other cases at law, and if it shall appear that the premises of any objector are assessed more than they will be benefited by the said improvement, or more than its proportionate share of the cost of such improvement, the jury shall so find, and shall also find the amount for which such premises ought to be assessed, and judgment shall be rendered accordingly. (Source: Laws 1935-36, 1st SS, p. 39.)

(65 ILCS 55/12) (from Ch. 24, par. 808.12) Sec. 12. Wherever, on a hearing by the court, or before a jury, the amount of any assessment shall be reduced or cancelled, so that there shall be a deficiency in the total amount remaining assessed in the proceeding, the court shall have the power, in the same proceeding, to distribute such deficiency upon the other property in the district assessed, in such manner as the court shall find to be just and equitable, not exceeding, however, the amount it will be benefited by said improvement. In case any portion of such deficiency be charged against such property not represented in court, a new notice, of the same nature as the original notice, shall be given in like manner as the original notice, to show the cause why the assessment, as thus increased, should not be confirmed, and the owners of or parties interested in such property shall have the right to object in the same form and with the same effect as in case of the original assessment, and the court shall have the same power to dispose thereof. (Source: Laws 1935-36, 1st SS, p. 39.)

(65 ILCS 55/13) (from Ch. 24, par. 808.13) Sec. 13. The hearing in all the cases arising under this Act shall have precedence over all other cases in any court where the same shall be brought, except criminal cases, or other cases in which the public is a moving party. The court before which any such proceedings may be pending shall have authority to modify, alter, change, annul or confirm any assessment returned as aforesaid, in addition to the authority already conferred upon it, and may take all such proceedings, and make all such orders, as may be necessary to such improvement, according to the principles of this Act, and may from time to time, as may be necessary, continue the application for that purpose, as to the whole or any part of the premises. (Source: Laws 1935-36, 1st SS, p. 3376.)

(65 ILCS 55/14) (from Ch. 24, par. 808.14) Sec. 14. In case of a special assessment or a special tax levied to be paid by installments, under the provisions of this Act, the order of confirmation that shall be entered upon the return of the assessment roll shall apply to all of the installments thereof, and may be entered in one order. (Source: Laws 1935-36, 1st SS, p. 39.)

(65 ILCS 55/15) (from Ch. 24, par. 808.15) Sec. 15. The judgments of the court shall be final as to all the issues involved, and the proceedings in the cause shall be subject to review by appeal as in other civil cases: Provided, however, that by mutual consent the same may be vacated or modified notwithstanding the expiration of 30 days from the rendition of such judgment, except as provided in this Act. Such judgments shall have the effect of several judgments as to each tract or parcel of land assessed, and no appeal from any such judgment shall invalidate or delay the judgments, except as to the property concerning which the appeal is taken. Such judgment shall be liens on behalf of the municipality making the improvement, for the payment of which the special tax or special assessment is levied, on the property assessed from the date thereof, to the same extent and of equal force and validity as a lien for the general taxes until such judgments are paid or the property against which any such judgment is entered is sold to pay the same. The municipality on behalf of which such lien is created may sell and assign the same and either the municipality or the assignees of such judgment lien may at any time in its or his own name, file a complaint to foreclose the lien in the same manner that foreclosures are by law permitted in case of delinquent general taxes: Provided, however, that no forfeiture of the property sought to be foreclosed shall have been had as a prerequisite to such foreclosure. (Source: P.A. 79-1361.)

(65 ILCS 55/16) (from Ch. 24, par. 808.16) Sec. 16. If from any cause any city, village or town shall fail to collect the whole or any portion of any special assessment or special tax which may be levied, which shall not be canceled or set aside by the order of any court, the city council or board of trustees may, at any time within five years after the confirmation of the original assessment, direct a new assessment to be made upon the delinquent property for the amount of such deficiency and interest thereon from the date of such original assessment, which assessment shall be made, as nearly as may be, in the same manner as is herein prescribed for the first assessment. In all cases where partial payments shall have been made on such former assessments, they shall be credited or allowed on the new assessment to the property for which they were made, so that the assessment shall be equal and impartial in its results. If such new assessment prove insufficient, either in whole or in part, the city council or board of trustees may, at any time within said period of five years, order a third to be levied, and so on in the same manner and for the same purpose; and it shall constitute no legal objection to such assessment that the property may have changed hands, or been encumbered subsequent to the date of the original assessment. (Source: Laws 1935-36, 1st SS, p. 39.)

(65 ILCS 55/17) (from Ch. 24, par. 808.17) Sec. 17. Within 30 days after the filing of the report of the amount and date of the first voucher issued on account of work done, as provided in this Act, the clerk of the court in which such judgment is rendered shall certify the assessment roll and judgment, to the officer of such city, village or town, authorized to collect such special assessment; or, if there has been an appeal taken on any part of such judgment, then he shall certify such part of the judgment as is not included in such appeal, and such certification shall be filed by the officer receiving the same in his office. With such assessment roll and judgment the clerk of such court shall also issue a warrant for the collection of such assessment. The court shall have power to recall such warrants as to all or any of the property affected at any time before payment or sale, in case the proceedings be abandoned by the petitioner or the judgment be vacated or modified in a material respect as hereinbefore provided, but not otherwise. (Source: Laws 1965, p. 3376.)

(65 ILCS 55/18) (from Ch. 24, par. 808.18) Sec. 18. Should an appeal be taken on any part of such judgment, and the municipality elect to proceed with the improvement, the clerk shall certify such appealed portion, from time to time, in the manner above mentioned, as the judgment is rendered thereon, and the warrant accompanying such certificate in each case shall be authority for the collection of so much of such assessment as shall be included in the portion of the roll thereto attached. The warrant in all cases of assessment, under this Act, shall contain a copy of such certificate of the judgment describing lots, blocks, tracts and parcels of land assessed so far as they shall be contained in the portion of the roll so certified, and the respective amount assessed on each lot, block, tract or parcel of land, and shall be delivered to the officer authorized to collect such special assessment. The collector having a warrant for any assessment levied to be paid by installments may receive any or all of the installments of such assessment, but if in part only, then in their order. (Source: P.A. 76-1408.)

(65 ILCS 55/19) (from Ch. 24, par. 808.19) Sec. 19. The collector receiving such warrant shall give notice thereof by publishing a notice at least twice, not more than 30 nor less than 15 days in advance, in one or more newspapers published in the municipality, or, if no newspaper is published therein, then in one or more newspapers with a general circulation within the municipality; except that, in municipalities with less than 500 population in which no newspaper is published, publication may be made by posting a notice in 3 prominent places within the municipality. Such notice may be substantially in the following form:

(65 ILCS 55/20) (from Ch. 24, par. 808.20) Sec. 20. Sections 9-2-80 through 9-2-96 and Section 9-2-98 of the "Illinois Municipal Code", approved May 29, 1961, as amended, are incorporated into and made part of this Act. (Source: P.A. 76-830.)

(65 ILCS 55/21) (from Ch. 24, par. 808.21) Sec. 21. The general revenue laws of this State in reference to proceedings to recover judgment for delinquent taxes, the sale of property thereon, the execution of certificates of sale and deeds thereon, the force and effect of such sales and deeds, and all other laws in relation to the enforcement and collection of taxes, and redemption from tax sales, except as herein otherwise provided, shall be applicable to proceedings to collect such special assessment and special taxes. (Source: Laws 1935-36, 1st SS, p. 39.)

(65 ILCS 55/22) (from Ch. 24, par. 808.22) Sec. 22. For the purpose of anticipating the collection of any special tax or special assessment or any installment thereof, it shall be lawful for such city, village or town, to issue bonds, payable out of said special tax, or special assessment, or installment thereof, bearing interest at a rate not more than the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract, nor less than 4% per annum, payable annually and signed by such officers as may be by ordinance prescribed; and bonds shall be issued in sums of $100, or some multiple thereof, and shall be dated and draw interest from the date of the issuing of the same. Each bond, if payable out of any installment, shall state on its face out of which installment it is payable, and shall state, by number or other designation, the assessment to which such installment belongs. The principal of such bonds shall not exceed, in the aggregate, the amount of such deferred installments, and shall be divided into as many series as there are deferred installments: Provided, nothing herein contained shall be construed to prevent the payment of any voucher or bond out of an installment having a surplus to its credit, other than the one against which the same is issued. The intent and meaning thereof being that in case from any cause the installment against which such bond or voucher is drawn has not sufficient money to the credit thereof to pay the same, the entire amount of the assessment or any installment thereof may be applied toward the payment of any such vouchers or bonds issued against the assessment. Each series shall become due at some time in the year in which the corresponding installment will mature, such date to conform, as nearly as may be, to the time when such installment will be actually collected, such time to be estimated and determined by the municipal officers issuing such bonds: Provided, also, that it shall be lawful to provide in the case of any one or more of the bonds in any series, that such bond or bonds shall not become due until some subsequent date, not later than the 31st day of December next succeeding the January in which the installment against which such series is issued shall become due and payable. Such bonds may be in the following form: State of Illinois,) ) ss.County of ........)

$.........

Series No. ..........

Bond No. ..........

.......... of ..........

(65 ILCS 55/23) (from Ch. 24, par. 808.23) Sec. 23. Payment for any improvement done or performed under the provisions of this Act, to be paid for out of any special assessment or special tax levied in installments, as herein provided, may be made in the bonds herein provided for. If such first installment is not collected when payments fall due, vouchers therefor may be issued, payable out of the first installment when collected. Such vouchers shall bear interest at a rate not more than six per centum per annum nor less than four per centum per annum, payable annually, and shall be signed by such officers as may be by ordinance prescribed. (Source: Laws 1935-36, 1st SS, p. 39.)

(65 ILCS 55/24) (from Ch. 24, par. 808.24) Sec. 24. Any property owner, or his agent, may pay his assessment wholly or in part, either before or after the same is due, and whether or not the assessment has been withdrawn from collection or the property assessed has been sold to any municipality or forfeited to the State for the non-payment of such assessment, with the bonds or vouchers heretofore or hereafter issued under this Act on account of such assessment, applying, however, the bonds and vouchers of each series only to the payment of the installments to which they relate. In making such payments, such vouchers and bonds shall be taken at their par value and interest accrued to the date of making such payment. All vouchers and bonds received in payment of such assessment shall be cancelled by the officer receiving the same, as of the date of their receipt, and deposited with the treasurer of the said town or village or the City Comptroller of the City issuing the same. Provided, however, that when the amount of the assessment is less than that of the bond or voucher, the officer receiving the same shall issue a receipt for the balance which shall entitle the owner to the same rights, except as to negotiability, as if the receipt were the original bond or voucher in the amount of the balance. Any such endorsement on any such bond or voucher shall be made by writing or stamping across the face thereof the words "Payments upon this bond (or voucher) are listed upon the back". (Source: Laws 1943, vol. 1, p. 422.)

(65 ILCS 55/25) (from Ch. 24, par. 808.25) Sec. 25. No person or persons accepting the vouchers or bonds as provided herein shall have any claim or lien upon the city, town or village in any event for the payment of such vouchers or bonds or the interest thereon, except from the collections of the assessment against which said vouchers or bonds are issued, but the municipality shall not, nevertheless, be in any way liable to the holders of said vouchers or bonds in case of failure to collect the same, but shall, with all reasonable diligence, so far as it can legally do so, cause a valid special assessment or assessments, special tax or taxes, as the case may be, to be levied and collected, to pay said bonds and vouchers, until all bonds and vouchers shall be fully paid. Any holder of vouchers or bonds, or their assigns, shall be entitled to summary relief by way of mandamus or injunction to enforce the provisions hereof. (Source: Laws 1935-36, 1st SS, p. 39.)