(105 ILCS 5/17-5) (from Ch. 122, par. 17-5)

Sec. 17-5. Increase tax rates for operations and maintenance purposes-Maximum.

(a) The school board in any district having a population of less than
500,000 inhabitants may, by proper resolution, cause a proposition to
increase the annual tax rate for operations and maintenance purposes to be
submitted to the voters of the district at a regular scheduled election.
The board shall certify the proposition to the proper election authority
for submission to the elector in accordance with the general election law.
In districts maintaining grades 1 through 8,
or grades 9 through 12, the maximum rate for operations and
maintenance purposes shall not exceed .55%; and in districts maintaining
grades 1 through 12, the maximum rates for operations and
maintenance purposes shall not exceed .75%, except that if a single elementary
district and a secondary district having boundaries that are coterminous
on the effective date of this amendatory Act form a community unit district
as authorized under Section 11-6, the maximum rate for operation
and maintenance purposes for such district shall not exceed 1.10% of the
value as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue; and in such
district maintaining grades 1 through 12, funds may, subject to the
provisions of Section 17-5.1 accumulate to not more than 5% of the
equalized assessed valuation of the district. No such accumulation shall
ever be transferred or used for any other purpose. If a majority of the
votes cast on the proposition is in favor thereof, the school board may
thereafter, until such authority is revoked in like manner, levy annually a
tax as authorized.

(b)  Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, if a unit  district is being established from an elementary district or districts and a high school district, pursuant to Article 11E of this Code, and the combined rate of the elementary district or districts and the high school district prior to the formation of the unit district is greater than 0.75% for operations and maintenance purposes, then the maximum rate for operations and maintenance purposes for the unit district shall be the following:

(1) For the first year following formation of the new unit district, the maximum rate