Section 605 ILCS 10/23 - Legislative Declaration; Authority Budget(a) It is hereby declared, as a matter of legislative determination, that it is in the best interest of the State of Illinois, the public, and the holders of Authority bonds that Authority funds be expended only on goods and services that protect and enhance the efficiency, safety, and environmental quality of the toll highway system. (b) The Authority shall spend moneys received from the issuance of bonds and as tolls or otherwise in the operation of the toll highway system only on the following: (1) operations and maintenance expenditures that are reasonable and necessary to keep the toll highway system in a state of good repair in accordance with contemporary highway safety and maintenance standards; (2) principal and interest payments and payment of other obligations the Authority has incurred in connection with bonds issued under this Act; (3) renewal and replacement expenditures necessary and sufficient to protect and preserve the long-term structural integrity of the toll highway system; and (4) system improvement expenditures necessary and sufficient to improve and expand the toll highway system, subject to the requirements of this Act. (c) Any moneys remaining after the expenditures listed in subsection (b) may be spent only for reasonable and necessary Authority purposes that will enhance the safety, efficiency, and environmental quality of the toll highway system in a cost-effective manner. Authority funds may not be spent for purposes not reasonably related to toll highway operations and improvements or in a manner that is not cost-effective. (d) The Authority must at all times maintain a reserve for maintenance and operating expenses that is no more than 130% of the operating expenses it has budgeted for its current fiscal year, unless the requirements of any bond resolution or trust indenture then securing obligations of the Authority mandate a greater amount. (e) The Authority shall file with the Governor, the Clerk of the House of Representatives, the Secretary of the Senate, and the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, on or prior to March 15th of each year, a written statement and report covering its activities for the preceding calendar year. The Authority shall present, to the committees of the House of Representatives designated by the Speaker of the House and to the committees of the Senate designated by the President of the Senate, an annual report outlining its planned revenues and expenditures. The Authority shall prepare an annual capital plan which identifies capital projects by location and details the project costs in correct dollar amounts. The Authority shall also prepare and file a ten-year capital plan that includes a listing of all capital improvement projects contemplated during the ensuing ten-year period. The first ten-year capital plan shall be filed in 1991 and thereafter on the anniversary of each ten-year period. (f) It shall be the duty of the Auditor General of the State of Illinois, annually to audit or cause to be audited the books and records of the Authority and to file a certified copy of the report of such audit with the Governor and with the Legislative Audit Commission, which audit reports, when so filed, shall be open to the public for inspection. (g) The Authority shall hold a public hearing on its proposed annual budget, not less than 15 days before its directors meet to consider adoption of the annual budget, at which any person may appear, express opinions, suggestions, or objections, or direct inquiries relating to the proposed budget. The Authority must give notice of the hearing at least 15 days prior to the hearing stating the time, place, and purpose of the hearing in a daily newspaper of general circulation throughout the Authority's service area and by posting the meeting notice and a copy of the proposed budget on the Authority's website. The proceedings at the hearing shall be transcribed. The transcript shall be made available at reasonable hours for public inspection, and a copy of the transcript, together with a copy of all written statements submitted at the hearing, shall be submitted to the directors before the vote on adoption of the proposed annual budget. (h) The Authority shall post on its website copies of its annual report and its budget for the current year, along with any other financial information necessary to adequately inform the public of the Authority's financial condition and capital plan. (i) The requirements set forth in subsections (b) through (g) may not be construed or applied in a manner that impairs the rights of bondholders under any bond resolution or trust indenture entered into in accordance with a bond resolution authorized by the Authority's directors, nor may those requirements be construed as a limitation on the Authority's powers as set forth elsewhere in this Act.Amended by P.A. 094-0636, § 5, eff. 8/22/2005.Amended by P.A. 093-1067, § 130, eff. 1/15/2005. P.A. 91-256, eff. 1-1-00.