School districts and community college boards are not usually considered special-purpose governments despite their narrow focus on education.
[1] The Office of the Illinois Comptroller, which uses a broader definition that includes special districts without budget autonomy, determined the state has 4,755 as of December 2015.
[1] Authorities may locate, construct, improve, maintain, operate, and lease a public airport and related facilities within their corporate limits or upon adjacent property.
Civic center authorities have the power to plan, sponsor, and finance exhibitions and activities; acquire, own, construct, operate, and maintain real property; appoint and fix compensation of employees; pass ordinances and make rules and regulations; enter into contracts; and assess fines and penalties.
Districts may issue bonds, levy property taxes, and fix charges for the use of facilities and services.
The districts are established by the circuit court judge upon petition of either voters or the board of a local tax supported library and after hearing and referendum.
The boundaries of these library districts occasionally coincide with those of another governmental entity, such as a township, but more often, they are set independently.
Metra's creation was a result of the anticipated failure of commuter service operated and owned by various private railroad companies in the 1970s.
Since its inception, Metra has directed more than $5 billion into the commuter rail system of the Chicago metropolitan area.
Illinois state statute authorized the creation of mass transit districts effective July 21, 1959.
Illinois state statute authorized the creation of county historical museum districts effective January 1, 1990.
[3] Two or more park districts may create Special Recreation Associations, which are considered a special-purpose government by the U.S. Census Bureau.
[3] This authority was created by special act to maintain a system of linked pathways and bicycle trails.
[3] Districts to provide rescue services may be established in contiguous areas serving at least 300 persons upon voter petition to the circuit court and after referendum.
[3] Districts to prevent stream pollution, conserve and protect water supplies, and promote public health are established by the circuit court judge upon voter petition and after referendum.
[3] Soil and water conservation districts may be established by the state department of agriculture, upon voter petition and after hearing and referendum.
[1] Illinois state statute authorized the creation of solid waste disposal districts effective July 1, 1907.
[3] These districts are authorized by general law to provide and maintain solid waste disposal facilities.
In the case of multicounty or multitownship districts, formation must be approved by the state environmental protection agency.
The district board may levy property taxes, charge fees, and with voter approval, issue bonds.
[1] Illinois state statute authorized the creation of surface water protection districts effective July 1, 1907.
[3] Districts to provide flood control facilities may be established by the circuit court on petition of resident voters after public hearing and local referendum.
The authority's fiscal monitoring powers expanded over time to include approving the budgets, financial plans and contracts submitted to the Board of Education.
In 1995, Richard M. Daley convinced the Illinois General Assembly to place CPS under the mayor's control.
[13] The small units are also criticized for a lack of transparency and their "patchwork nature" making it difficult for local residents to ascertain which entities are responsible for which services.
[14] In 2012, DuPage County performed a review that found a variety of small units of government that provide mosquito abatement, sanitary and street lighting services cost taxpayers $300 million annually.
[17] In response, Tom Cullerton introduced SB 494 as a pilot program to allow for consolidation of these types of government bodies.
[18] The bill's cosponsors included suburban legislators and it was supported by Republican County Board Chair Dan Cronin.
[23] In 2015, Representative Jack Franks a co-sponsor of SB 494 proposed legislation to give McHenry and Lake counties the same ability to consolidate small, special purpose districts.
[24] In 2015, Bruce Rauner created a 28-member bipartisan Government Consolidation and Unfunded Mandates Task Force chaired by Evelyn Sanguinetti, then the Lieutenant Governor of Illinois with a focus on reducing unfunded mandates and promoting consolidation of special districts.