In all cases where any county having a population of 500,000 or more inhabitants has incurred indebtedness prior to December 1, 1942 for proper county purposes, such indebtedness being evidenced by claims that shall have been audited and allowed by the county board, or evidenced by judgments rendered prior to December 1, 1942 against such county, such county may issue negotiable coupon bonds in the amount of such unpaid claims or judgments, or both, for the purpose of paying same, and may levy taxes upon all the taxable property in such county sufficient to pay the principal of such bonds at maturity and to pay the interest thereon, as it falls due, within the constitutional limitation of 75 cents per $100 of valuation, without submitting the question of issuing such bonds and levying such taxes to a vote of the people of such county. Such bonds shall bear interest at a rate of not to exceed five per centum per annum and the maturity thereof shall be determined by the county board within twenty years from their date and such bonds shall be authorized by resolution adopted by the county board prescribing all details of issue and determining the amount of unpaid indebtedness incurred for proper county purposes whether evidenced by judgments or claims, or both, which finding shall be conclusive as to the amount and validity thereof.
Such bonds shall be sold for not less than their par value upon sealed bids after such advertising as the county board may deem necessary, provided, however, that said county board may reserve the right to reject any and all bids therefor; or such bonds may be delivered by the county board to the owners of such indebtedness evidenced by claims, or to the holders of such judgments, on the basis of par for par, in full payment therefor, and in either case the claims representing such indebtedness shall be paid simultaneously upon the delivery of the bonds and the judgments shall be satisfied and released simultaneously upon the delivery of the bonds, and proper records shall be made showing such payment and satisfaction thereof. Such payments may be made without any prior appropriation therefor under any budget law.
Such bonds and coupons shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America at such place or places as may be fixed in the resolution authorizing same and shall be signed in the manner and by the officials directed by such resolution and such bonds may be issued in an amount, including existing indebtedness, not to exceed the constitutional limitation as to debt notwithstanding any statutory debt limitation to the contrary.
The validity of any bonds hereby authorized to be issued shall remain unimpaired although one or more of the officials executing such bonds shall cease to be such officer or officers before the date of delivery thereof.
55 ILCS 5/6-15001