SUMMARY OF SENATE BILL 651 as introduced 9-13-95:

The bill would create a new act to allow the legislative bodies of certain local units of government to make a park improvement, defray all or part of the cost of the park improvement by special assessment, and finance the park improvement by borrowing money and issuing bonds in anticipation of the collection of special assessments.

A county board of commissioners, the city council of a city organized under the Fourth Class City Act, the legislative body of a city organized under the Home Rule City Act, the legislative body of a village, or the township board of a township could proceed with special assessments and bonding in the same manner as those units are authorized to do under current laws. The proceedings for establishing a special assessment for a park improvement, however, would have to be initiated by the filing of a petition that met the following requirements: was signed by record owners of land constituting at least two-thirds of the total land area in the special assessment district as finally established, and was signed by two-thirds of the record owners of land in the special assessment district as finally established.

A county, township, city, or village could not acquire property for a park under the bill by condemnation. Property, instead, would have to be acquired from a willing seller. The powers granted by the bill would be in addition to, and not a limitation on, those powers granted by law or charter.

“Park” would mean an area of land or water or both, dedicated to one or more of the following uses:

-- Recreational purposes, including but not limited to landscaped tracts; picnic grounds; playgrounds; athletic fields; camps; campgrounds; zoological and botanical gardens; swimming, boating, hunting, fishing, and birding areas; and, foot and bridle paths.

-- Open or scenic space.

-- Environmental, conservation, nature, or wildlife areas.

“Park improvement” would mean the acquisition, improvement, maintenance, or operation of a park.

Legislative Analyst: L. Arasim

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State government. The fiscal impact on counties, cities, villages, and townships that undertake park improvements, would be determined by the amount of the special assessments. Prior to collections of the special assessments, the counties, cities, villages, and townships could finance the park improvements by issuing bonds to borrow money. The special assessments would increase total property tax collections.

Fiscal Analyst: R. Ross

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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.