70 ILCS 3615/4.11
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 70 - SPECIAL DISTRICTS|70 ILCS 3615/ - Regional Transportation Authority Act.|Article IV - Finances

 (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 704.11)Sec. 4.11. Budget Review Powers.(a)  Based  upon estimates which shall be given to the Authority by the Director of  the  Governor's Office of Management and Budget (formerly  Bureau of the Budget) of the receipts to be received by the  Authority from the taxes imposed  by the Authority and the authorized estimates of amounts  to be available from State and other sources to the Service Boards, and  the times at which such receipts and amounts will be available, the Board  shall, not later than the next preceding September 15th prior to the beginning  of the Authority's next fiscal year,  advise each Service Board of the amounts estimated by the Board to be available  for such Service Board during such fiscal year and the two following fiscal  years and  the times at which such amounts will be available.  The Board  shall, at the same time, also advise each Service Board of its required  system generated revenues recovery ratio for the next fiscal year which  shall be the percentage of the aggregate costs of providing public  transportation by or under jurisdiction of that Service Board which must be  recovered from system generated revenues. The Board shall, at the same time, consider the written determination of the Executive Director, made pursuant to Section 2.01d, of the costs of ADA paratransit services that are required to be provided under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and its implementing regulations, and shall amend the current year budgets of the Authority and the Service Boards to provide for additional funding for the provision of ADA paratransit services, if needed. The Board shall, at the same time, beginning with the 2007 fiscal year, also advise each Service Board that provides ADA paratransit services of its required system generated ADA paratransit services revenue recovery ratio for the next fiscal year which shall be the percentage of the aggregate costs of providing ADA paratransit services by or under jurisdiction of that Service Board which must be recovered from fares charged for such services, except that such required system generated ADA paratransit services revenue recovery ratio shall not exceed the minimum percentage established pursuant to Section 4.01(b)(ii) of this Act. In determining  a Service Board's system generated revenue recovery ratio, the Board shall  consider the historical system generated revenues recovery ratio for the  services subject to the jurisdiction of that  Service Board.  The Board shall not increase a Service Board's system generated  revenues recovery ratio for the next fiscal year over such ratio for the  current fiscal year disproportionately or prejudicially to increases in  such ratios for other Service Boards.  The Board may, by ordinance,  provide that (i) the cost of research and development projects in the  fiscal year beginning January 1, 1986 and ending December 31, 1986  conducted pursuant to Section 2.09 of this Act, (ii) the costs for passenger security, and (iii) expenditures of amounts granted to a Service Board from the Innovation, Coordination, and Enhancement Fund for operating purposes may be exempted from the  farebox recovery ratio or the system generated revenues recovery ratio of  the Chicago Transit Authority, the Suburban Bus Board, and the Commuter  Rail Board, or any of them. During fiscal years 2008 through 2012, the Board may also allocate the exemption of $200,000,000 and the reducing amounts of costs provided by this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly from the farebox recovery ratio or system generated revenues recovery ratio of each Service Board.(b)(1) Not later than the next preceding November 15 prior to the  commencement of such fiscal year, each Service Board shall submit to the  Authority its proposed budget for such fiscal year and its proposed  financial plan for the two following fiscal years.  Such budget and  financial plan shall (i) be prepared in the format, follow the financial and budgetary practices, and be based on any assumptions and projections required by the Authority and (ii) not project or assume a receipt of revenues from the  Authority in amounts greater than those set forth in the estimates provided  by the Authority pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section.(2) The Board shall review the proposed budget and two-year  financial plan submitted  by each Service Board.  The Board shall approve the budget and two-year financial plan of a Service Board if:(i)  such budget and plan show a balance between (A)     anticipated revenues from all sources including operating subsidies and (B) the costs of providing the services specified and of funding any operating deficits or encumbrances incurred in prior periods, including provision for payment when due of principal and interest on outstanding indebtedness;(ii)  such budget and plan show cash balances     including the proceeds of any anticipated cash flow borrowing sufficient to pay with reasonable promptness all costs and expenses as incurred;(iii)  such budget and plan provide for a level of     fares or charges and operating or administrative costs for the public transportation provided by or subject to the jurisdiction of such Service Board sufficient to allow the Service Board to meet its required system generated revenue recovery ratio and, beginning with the 2007 fiscal year, system generated ADA paratransit services revenue recovery ratio;(iv)  such budget and plan are based upon and employ     assumptions and projections which are reasonable and prudent;(v)  such budget and plan have been prepared in     accordance with sound financial practices as determined by the Board;(vi)  such budget and plan meet such other financial,     budgetary, or fiscal requirements that the Board may by rule or regulation establish; and(vii) such budget and plan are consistent with the     goals and objectives adopted by the Authority in the Strategic Plan.(3) (Blank).(4) Unless the Board by an affirmative vote of 12   of the then Directors  determines that the budget and financial plan of a Service Board meets the  criteria specified in clauses (i)   through (vii) of subparagraph (2) of  this paragraph (b), the Board shall withhold from that Service Board 25% of   the cash proceeds of taxes imposed by the Authority under Section 4.03  and Section 4.03.1 and received after February 1 and 25% of the amounts transferred to the Authority from the Public Transportation Fund under Section 4.09(a) (but not including Section 4.09(a)(3)(iv))  after February 1 that the Board has estimated to be available to that Service Board under Section 4.11(a).  Such funding shall be released to the Service Board only upon approval of a budget and financial plan under this Section or adoption of a budget and financial plan on behalf of the Service Board by the Authority.(5) If the Board has not found that the budget and financial plan of a  Service Board meets the criteria specified in clauses (i) through (vii)  of subparagraph (2) of this paragraph (b), the Board, by the affirmative vote of at least 12 of its then Directors, shall   adopt a budget and  financial plan meeting such criteria for that Service Board.(c)(1) If the Board shall at any time have received a  revised estimate, or revises any estimate the Board has made, pursuant to  this Section of the receipts to be collected by the Authority which, in  the judgment of the Board, requires a change in the estimates on which the  budget of any Service Board is based, the Board shall advise the affected  Service Board of such revised estimates, and such Service Board shall within  30 days after receipt of such advice submit a revised budget incorporating  such revised estimates.  If the revised estimates require, in the judgment  of the Board, that the system generated revenues recovery ratio of one or  more Service Boards be revised in order to allow the Authority to meet its  required ratio, the Board shall advise any such Service Board of its revised  ratio and such Service Board shall within 30 days after receipt of such  advice submit a revised budget incorporating such revised estimates or ratio.(2) Each Service Board shall, within such period after the end of each  fiscal quarter as shall be specified by the Board, report to the Authority  its financial condition and results of operations and the financial condition  and results of operations of the public transportation services subject  to its jurisdiction, as at the end of and for such quarter.  If in the judgment  of the Board such condition and results are not substantially in accordance  with such Service Board's budget for such period, the Board shall so advise  such Service Board and such Service Board shall within the period specified  by the Board submit a revised budget incorporating such results.(3) If the Board shall determine that a revised budget submitted by a  Service Board pursuant to subparagraph (1) or (2) of this paragraph (c)  does not meet the criteria specified in clauses (i)   through (vii) of  subparagraph  (2) of paragraph (b) of this Section, the Board shall withhold from that Service Board 25% of the cash proceeds of taxes imposed by the Authority  under Section 4.03 or 4.03.1 and received by the Authority after February 1 and 25% of the amounts transferred to the Authority from the Public Transportation Fund under Section 4.09(a) (but not including Section 4.09(a)(3)(iv)) after February 1 that the Board has estimated to be available to that Service Board under  Section 4.11(a).  If the Service Board submits a revised financial plan and  budget which plan and budget shows that the criteria will be met within  a four quarter period, the Board shall release any such withheld funds to the  Service Board.  The Board by the affirmative vote of at least 12   of its then Directors may  require a Service Board to submit a revised financial plan and budget which  shows that the criteria will be met in a time period less than four quarters.(d) All budgets and financial plans, financial statements, audits and  other information presented to the Authority pursuant to this Section or  which may be required by the Board to permit it to monitor compliance with  the provisions of this Section shall be prepared and presented in such  manner and frequency and in such detail as shall have been prescribed by  the Board, shall be prepared on both an accrual and cash flow basis as  specified by the Board, shall present such information as the Authority shall prescribe that fairly presents the condition of any pension plan or trust for health care benefits with respect to retirees established by the Service Board and describes the plans of the Service Board to meet the requirements of Sections 4.02a and 4.02b, and shall identify and describe the assumptions and  projections employed in the preparation  thereof to the extent required by the Board.  If the Executive Director certifies that a Service Board has not presented its budget and two-year financial plan in conformity with the rules adopted by the Authority under the provisions of Section 4.01(f) and this subsection (d), and such certification is accepted by the affirmative vote of at least 12 of the then Directors of the Authority, the Authority shall not distribute to that Service Board any funds for operating purposes in excess of the amounts distributed for such purposes to the Service Board in the previous fiscal year. Except when the Board adopts  a budget and a financial plan for a Service Board under paragraph (b)(5),  a Service Board shall provide for such levels of transportation services  and fares or charges therefor as it deems appropriate and necessary in the  preparation of a budget and financial plan meeting the criteria set forth  in clauses (i)   through (vii) of subparagraph (2) of paragraph (b) of this  Section.  The Authority   shall have access to and the right to examine and copy  all books, documents, papers, records, or other source data of a Service  Board relevant to any information submitted pursuant to this Section.(e) Whenever this Section requires the Board to make determinations with  respect to estimates, budgets or financial plans, or rules or regulations  with respect thereto such determinations shall be made upon the affirmative  vote of at least 12   of the then Directors and shall be incorporated in a  written report of the Board and such report shall be submitted within 10  days after such determinations are made to  the Governor, the Mayor of Chicago (if such determinations relate to the  Chicago Transit Authority), and the Auditor General of Illinois.  (Source: P.A. 97-399, eff. 8-16-11.)