2-32-065 Treasurer's authority for financial education and outreach programs.

   The city treasurer shall have the authority to research, conduct educational programs, provide counseling and disseminate information regarding financial education, small business support and access to banking (for purposes of this section, collectively "financial programs") for residents of the city. The city treasurer is authorized to organize, administer and deliver financial programs either directly or through agents. In furtherance of organizing, administering and delivering financial programs, the city treasurer shall have the authority to: (1) award and apply for, and accept on behalf of the city, grants; and (2) enter into service agreements with public and private entities; and perform any and all acts, including the expenditure of funds subject to appropriation therefor, as shall be necessary or advisable in connection with such service agreements, including any renewals thereto.

   The city treasurer is authorized to enter into and execute sponsorship agreements, containing terms and conditions that she deems appropriate, in conjunction with the treasurer's Small Business Entrepreneur Expo Program (for purposes of this paragraph, "Expo"). For purposes of this paragraph, the term "sponsor(s)" means those persons providing money or other in-kind goods or services to the city in exchange for advertising or promotional rights at Expo. Sponsors may, in the discretion of the city treasurer, and upon such terms as the city treasurer determines, sell goods and services to the public at Expo.

(Added Coun. J. 11-19-08, p. 47220, Art. III, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 5-12-10, p. 89520, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 1-13-17, p. 44846, § 1)

2-32-070 Payments to the city – Records – Bad check fees.

   License fees, inspection fees, compensation for franchises and all other payments of money to the city not otherwise specifically provided for shall be paid directly to the city comptroller and such payments shall be transmitted daily by the city comptroller to the city treasurer. The city comptroller shall establish, maintain and preserve statistical records of revenue, taxes, license or permit measures and shall report to the mayor from time to time, or as often as the mayor deems necessary.

   A fee of $34.00 shall be imposed on any person, corporation, trustee, court-appointed representative, association or partnership who tenders a check or draft as payment of any tax, license fee, inspection fee, franchise fee or other payment to the city if the check or draft is returned unpaid for any reason. This fee shall be paid within 30 days after notice of return of the check or draft, and shall be in addition to any other fee or penalty imposed for late payment of the tax or fee involved.

(Prior code § 7-7; Amend Coun. J. 7-15-87, p. 1978; Amend Coun. J. 3-23-89, p. 25860)

2-32-075 Contracts for payment technology services.

   (a)   Definitions. The following definitions shall apply for the purposes of this section:

   “Application” means any software installed or available for download on a computer, tablet, smart phone, kiosk, or other electronic device, or any website, mobile application or platform, internet-enabled application or platform or digital platform.

   “Payment technology” means any software, hardware, or other innovation owned, operated, or authorized for use by the City for its benefit or the benefit of the public that enables any person to engage in financial transactions.

   “Third party” means any provider of an application, including, but not limited to, a provider of any payment technology application.

   “Utility company” means any enterprise that provides utility services, including, but not limited to, gas, electricity, water, sewage, or telecommunications.

   (b)   Authority. The Comptroller is authorized to enter into and execute one or more agreements with a third party, permitting the third party to install an application on payment technology in order to enable persons to pay utility company bills. Third parties may generate revenue from the application installed on the payment technology. However, third parties shall not collect payment, in any form, from the persons who use the application to pay utility company bills.

(Added Coun. J. 11-15-23, p. 6700, Art. III, § 1)

2-32-080 Comptroller – Tax and revenue powers.

   In addition to the other powers conferred on him, the city comptroller shall have the powers enumerated in paragraphs A through F hereof:

   A.   To administer and enforce all the responsibilities, powers and duties delegated to him in every tax ordinance presently contained in or to be included in the Municipal Code of Chicago; provided, however, that where said tax revenues are now and are continued to be collected by the State of Illinois for and in behalf of the City of Chicago and remitted to the City of Chicago, the department of finance shall act solely in an advisory capacity with respect to such collections;

   B.   To correct errors of tax designation on department records and to notify the city treasurer so that necessary adjustments and corresponding changes may be made;

   C.   To investigate, analyze and propose new revenue programs for the City of Chicago toward the end that revenue, tax, license and permit fee financial burdens may be equitably distributed among the citizens of the City of Chicago;

   D.   To require the production and examination of books, papers, records and documents pertinent to any tax liability, or license and permit fee, or revenue question as well as to institute investigations, inquiries or hearings consistent with the requirements of due process of law and to take testimony and proof under oath at such hearings;

   E.   To take such steps, actions, and to request prosecutions by the corporation counsel's office, for the purpose of enforcing ordinances relating to revenue, tax, license and permit fees receivable by the City of Chicago;

   F.   To receive, hear and decide all protests and challenges to the determinations of tax liability of any taxpayer and to issue, tentative and final determinations of such claims;

   G.   To accept payments, including by credit card, in categories of receivables designated by the comptroller, and to impose a surcharge on such payments. Such surcharges, if any, shall reasonably relate to the average cost incurred by the city to process such payments. The comptroller shall post a notice setting forth the amount of applicable surcharges at all places where payments are accepted, including electronically for payments made on-line.

(Prior code § 7-8; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-11, p. 13798, Art. I, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61858, Art. I, § 1)

2-32-082 Comptroller – Debt collection contracts employing ex-offenders.

   (a)   The city comptroller is authorized, subject to the availability of duly appropriated funds, to negotiate and enter into contracts from time to time with one or more collection agencies which employ ex-offenders to perform debt collection services on the City's behalf (for purposes of this section, "Services").

   (b)   A collection agency shall not be eligible to contract with the City pursuant to this section unless all ex-offenders it employs to perform Services have been trained and screened for employment by one or more not-for-profit corporations that provide appropriate ex- offender training and screening services.

   (c)   As a prerequisite to entering into contracts pursuant to this section, the comptroller shall establish and apply standards of conduct and performance that the applicable not-for-profit corporation and collection agency must meet.

   (d)   The contracts authorized by this section may contain terms that the comptroller determines to be reasonable and appropriate, including terms governing reasonable compensation. Compensation for Services may, in the discretion of the comptroller, include payment based upon a percentage of debts collected that are attributable to Services performed.

(Added Coun. J. 2-13-13, p. 46724, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 11-13-13, p. 65198, § 1)

2-32-085 Voluntary charitable payroll deductions.

   (a)   The Chief Financial Officer shall administer a program under this section through which employees of the City may make contributions to charitable organizations by authorizing voluntary payroll deductions. The program shall supersede the voluntary payroll deduction program administered by the Department of Human Resources prior to May 9, 2007 (the effective date of this section).

   (b)   Pursuant to the program administered under this section, an employee may authorize the withholding of a portion of his or her salary or wages for contribution to a maximum number of 10 organizations designated as qualified to participate in the program administered under this section.

   (c)   In addition to the organizations specified in subsection (i), the Chief Financial Officer may from time to time recommend that the City Council designate by ordinance other not-for-profit organizations as eligible for participation in the program established under this section, provided that the total number of organizations having such designation at any time may not exceed 50. The Chief Financial Officer may from time to time recommend that the City Council by ordinance remove the designation of an organization that no longer meets the requirements of this section. No organization shall be designated as qualified to participate in such program unless it is a voluntary, charitable, health or welfare organization that provides or supports direct health or welfare services to individuals or their families, and is in compliance with the requirements in, and certifications made pursuant to, subsection (d).

   (d)   An organization desiring to be designated as qualified to participate in the program established under this section shall:

      (1)   Submit to the Chief Financial Officer an application in a form prescribed by the Chief Financial Officer;

      (2)   Certify that the organization (or all agencies benefitting from such organization) is tax exempt under the Internal Revenue Code; and

      (3)   Certify that the organization (or all agencies benefitting from such organization) conducts health or welfare programs and provides services to individuals directed at one or more of the following common human needs within a community: service, research, and education in the health fields; family and child care services; protective services for children and adults; services for children and adults in foster care; services related to the management and maintenance of the home; day care services for adults; transportation services; information, referral and counseling services; services to eliminate illiteracy; the preparation and delivery of meals; adoption services; emergency shelter care and relief services; disaster relief services; safety services; neighborhood and community organization services; recreation services; social adjustment and rehabilitation services; health support services; or a combination of such services designed to meet the special needs of specific groups, such as children and youth, the ill and infirm, and the physically or mentally handicapped; and that the organization and any such benefitting agencies provide the above-described services to individuals and their families in Chicago, or that the organization or benefitting agencies provide relief to victims of natural disasters and other emergencies on a where- and as-needed basis;

      (4)   Certify that it will pay its share of the program costs;

      (5)   Submit to the Chief Financial Officer a copy of the organization's annual report and, if the organization has an annual budget over $100,000, a copy of the most recently completed audit of the organization; and

      (6)   Provide such other information to the Chief Financial Officer as the Chief Financial Officer may reasonably require.

   (e)   Chief Financial Officer may require an organization designated as qualified to participate in the program administered under this section to provide, on a periodic or one-time basis, information reasonably necessary to determine whether the organization continues to be qualified to participate in the program.

   (f)   The designation of any organization that receives fewer than 250 contributions in any calendar year shall be subject to removal under subsection (c) for the subsequent calendar year.

   (g)   The Chief Financial Officer is hereby authorized to perform any acts as shall be necessary to implement this section, including negotiating, executing and entering into any advisable agreements and instruments.

   (h)   The Chief Financial Officer shall promulgate reasonable rules relating to the administration of the program.

   (i)   The following entities are eligible to participate in the program because they have been found to meet the qualifications of this section:

      100 Club of Chicago
      After School Matters
      American Cancer Society
      American Heart Association
      The Anti-Cruelty Society
      Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago
      Black Fire Brigade
      Black United Fund of Illinois, Inc.
      The three firefighter support organizations currently constituting CFDC Charities, Inc.
      Chicago Humanities Festival
      Chicago Children's Advocacy Center
      Community Health Charities of Illinois
      Community Shares of Illinois
      EarthShare Illinois
      Easterseals serving Chicagoland & Rockford
      Ende, Menzer, Walsh & Quinn Retirees', Widows' and Children's Assistance Fund
      Ginger Rugai Y-Me Softball Tournament
      Global Impact
      Hispanic Scholarship Fund
      Kids In Danger
      Little City
      March of Dimes
      Misericordia Heart of Mercy
      Muscular Dystrophy Association
      Prevent Child Abuse America
      Rainbows for All Children
      Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois
      Special Children's Charities – Special Olympics Chicago
      Special Olympics Illinois
      United Way
      United Negro College Fund, Inc.

   (j)   As used in this Section, "Chief Financial Officer" means the Chief Financial Officer of the City appointed by the Mayor or, if there is no such officer then holding that office, the City Comptroller.

(Added Coun. J. 4-11-07, p. 101755, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-5-08, p. 42731, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-23-20, p. 22956, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 3-24-21, p. 28492, § 1)