HB3317 Summary

• Creates the McHenry County Equitable Standards and Governmental Efficiency Law establishing new powers and governance structures for McHenry County government.

• Grants the county board chairperson line-item veto power over appropriations, authority to set meeting agendas, power to eliminate advisory committees, and ability to reduce or divert county funds exceeding 150% of previous year expenditures with pro-rata distribution to taxpayers.

• Eliminates the office of county auditor at the end of the current auditor's term and requires the county board to hire a nationally recognized public accounting firm to assume those duties.

• Terminates the office of county recorder and transfers all duties, personnel, and collective bargaining agreements to the county clerk effective immediately.

• Allows the county board to impose up to a 2-year moratorium on capital programs, building projects, and land acquisitions for units of local government proposed for consolidation, with exceptions for disaster or emergency infrastructure.