Illinois Counties Code

The Illinois Counties Code (55 ILCS 5/) serves as the comprehensive legal framework governing the organization, powers, and responsibilities of county governments within the state. It encompasses provisions related to county boundaries, governance structures, officer duties, financial management, and various county functions.

Key components include:

• General Provisions: Establishes foundational guidelines for county operations, including definitions, jurisdictional boundaries, and procedures for altering county lines or creating new counties.

• Governing Bodies: Details the structures and functions of county boards, including those operating under township organization, commission forms, or county executive forms of government.

• Officers and Employees: Outlines the roles, duties, and appointment processes for county officials such as auditors, clerks, coroners, public defenders, recorders, sheriffs, state’s attorneys, and treasurers.

• Fees and Salaries: Specifies the classification of counties for the purpose of determining compensation for county and township officers, including state’s attorneys, county clerks, sheriffs, and other officials.

• Powers and Duties of County Boards: Enumerates the authority and responsibilities of county boards in areas such as contracting, zoning, public health, infrastructure development, and the establishment of various departments and services.

• Finance: Addresses financial management practices, including budgeting, taxation, bond issuance, audits, and the establishment of working cash funds to ensure fiscal responsibility within county governments.

This code ensures that county governments operate within a standardized legal framework, promoting consistency and accountability across Illinois’s 102 counties.

For a detailed review, the full text is available on the Illinois General Assembly’s website.