Key Dates at a Glance
Core deadlines pegged to an April 30 fiscal year-end. Every date is computed from the governing statute, not estimated.
Comptroller Submits Annual Report
Annual report and estimate of expenses submitted to the council or board, before the appropriation ordinance is prepared.
65 ILCS 5/3.1-35-115(c)-(d)Library Board Annual Statement
Annual statement of trust submitted to the council or board of trustees and the Illinois State Library, within 60 days of fiscal year-end.
75 ILCS 5/4-10Appropriation Ordinance Available for Inspection
Proposed ordinance made available for public inspection with 10 days' notice of public hearing (for municipalities of 2,000–500,000).
65 ILCS 5/8-2-9Appropriation Ordinance Passed
Annual appropriation ordinance passed within the first quarter of the fiscal year, for municipalities under 500,000.
65 ILCS 5/8-2-9File With County Clerk
Appropriation ordinance or budget, plus estimate of revenues, filed with the county clerk within 30 days of adoption.
35 ILCS 200/18-50Audit Completed & Filed
Audit completed and report submitted within 180 days of fiscal year-end. One copy for public inspection, one to the Comptroller.
65 ILCS 5/8-8-3(b); 5/8-8-7Treasurer's Annual Report
Filed with municipal clerk and published in a newspaper (or posted in three prominent places if population under 500).
65 ILCS 5/3.1-35-65TIF Report Filed
Filed electronically with the Comptroller within 180 days of fiscal year-end, or as soon as the audit becomes available.
65 ILCS 5/8-8-3.5Appropriation Ordinance
For municipalities under 500,000, the annual appropriation ordinance must pass within the first quarter of the fiscal year — July 31 on the May 1 schedule. The process matters as much as the deadline.
Notice & Inspection
- Proposed ordinance available for public inspection at least 10 days before adoption
- Public hearing required for municipalities of 2,000–500,000
- Hearing notice published in newspaper at least 10 days before hearing
- Notice states time, place, and where ordinance copies are available
Hearing & Adoption
- Hearing may occur at the same meeting as final action
- After hearing, corporate authorities may revise, alter, increase, or decrease items
- Appropriation ordinance takes effect upon passage
- File with county clerk within 30 days of adoption
Disaster extension: A disaster, state of emergency, or national emergency impacting the municipality, declared within 60 days of fiscal year-end, extends the time to pass the budget for the duration plus 60 days. (65 ILCS 5/8-2-9.4)
The Annual Audit
Required for any municipality with a population of 800 or more, or any municipality carrying bonded debt or operating a public utility. Due within 180 days of fiscal year-end.
Who Files What
- Pop. 800+: Annual audit, within 180 days
- Pop. under 800, no utility/debt: Annual financial report on Comptroller forms
- Pop. under 200, debt ≤ $50K, utility: Audit every fourth fiscal year
- All audit filers: Also file a supplemental financial report
Post-Audit Actions
- Two signed copies of audit filed with the municipality
- One copy available for public inspection
- One copy filed with the Comptroller
- Auditor provides management letter & statements to corporate authorities within 60 days of audit close
- Auditor presents findings at a public meeting (in-person or live connection)
- If municipality has a website, materials posted there
Looking ahead to SFY 2027: Municipalities under 1,000 with no utility and no bonded debt will only need to file an annual financial report — no audit. Those with a utility or bonded debt file both an annual financial report and an audit every fourth fiscal year. Municipalities of 1,000+ continue annual filing of both. (65 ILCS 5/8-8-3(i), (j), (k))
Treasurer's Annual Report
Due within six months of fiscal year-end — October 27 for a May 1 municipality. Publication is not optional.
Preparation & Filing
- Account of moneys received and expenditures incurred in preceding fiscal year
- Filed by treasurer with the municipal clerk
- Compensation listed by exact amount per person OR by salary range category
Publication Requirement
- Clerk publishes account in a newspaper published in the municipality
- If none, a newspaper of general circulation
- Population under 500: post in three prominent places instead
- Copy + clerk's affidavit filed with town or county collector
Penalty for failure to file: Funds due to the municipality can be withheld, and the responsible public officer can be found guilty of a petty offense and fined $25–$100. (65 ILCS 5/3.1-35-75, 5/3.1-35-80)
Adjacent Duties in the Year-End Window
Obligations that aren't tied to fiscal year-end but land in the same May–October stretch.
| When | Obligation | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| May 1 | Statement of Economic Interests due from persons subject to the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act | 5 ILCS 420/4A-105 |
| 2nd Tues. May | Treasurer of the police pension fund files annual report with trustees and council (Article 3) | 40 ILCS 5/3-141 |
| May 2026 | Consider resolution authorizing attendance at the 113th IML Annual Conference, Sept. 17–19, Hyatt Regency Chicago | — |
| Before July 1 | Library trustees in cities appointed by mayor; directors of municipal coliseums appointed by mayor or president | 75 ILCS 5/4-1.1; 65 ILCS 5/11-66-5 |
| July 1 | Annual report of adverse sexual harassment or discrimination judgments/rulings to Illinois Dept. of Human Rights | 775 ILCS 5/2-108(B), (D) |
| Aug 1 | Racial profiling data from Jan.–June traffic stops submitted to IDOT | 625 ILCS 5/11-212(d) |
| Aug 1 – Sept 15 | Nominations made for the IMRF board of trustees (IMRF-participating municipalities) | 40 ILCS 5/7-175(a) |
Year-Round Duties That Hit Hard at Year-End
These aren't dated to fiscal year-end — but they intersect with the year-end workload in ways that make them easy to miss when the audit is active.
IMRF Compensation Posting
- Within 6 business days of budget approval: post total compensation for each employee over $75,000
- At least 6 days before approval: post packages equal to or exceeding $150,000
- No website? Physical copy at principal office
Audit Posting on Website
- Management letter posted on website
- Audited financial statements posted on website
- In addition to in-person presentation
Self-Insurance Certification
- Reserves certified annually by auditor, actuary, or underwriter
- Certification included in annual report
- List of expenditures from reserve or tort immunity tax levy included
Cybersecurity Training
- Every municipal employee completes annually
- Covers phishing, spyware, identity theft, data breaches
- DoIT training satisfies the requirement (available via IML)
FOIA / OMA Training
- FOIA officers and OMA designees complete AG training annually
- New designees complete initial training within 30 days of taking office
- IML offers an approved OMA training option
Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
- Municipalities either develop their own or use IDHR's model
- Must meet or exceed minimum standards in 2-109(B)
- Required for all employees annually
Monthly compliance guidance, delivered.
Practical guides on tax legislation, municipal compliance, and governmental accounting standards — written by our CPAs for the public sector organizations we serve.
Home Rule Is Not a Blanket Exemption
Non-home rule municipalities must always comply with these statutory requirements. Home rule municipalities must comply until such time as they may otherwise provide by ordinance — unless the power has been preempted by statute. Several obligations here apply regardless of home rule status, including IMRF posting, Truth in Taxation hearing procedures, and the 180-day compensation-fixing deadline. Confirm with your municipal attorney before assuming a local ordinance overrides a statutory duty.
This hub is not legal advice. Citations are drawn from the Illinois Municipal League's 2026 Calendar of Statutory Duties. Confirm specific deadlines and procedures with your retained municipal attorney or qualified legal counsel. Some obligations vary by population, fiscal year, home rule status, or form of government.