For the purpose of acquiring machinery and equipment or for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, or reconstructing buildings for housing machinery and equipment used in the construction, repair, and maintenance of township or district roads, or for both those purposes, the township board of trustees or highway board of trustees, as the case may be, or the highway commissioner in a county not under township organization, after a favorable vote as provided in this Section, may levy an annual tax of not to exceed .035% of the value of all the taxable property in the road district, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue. The tax shall be in addition to and in excess of all other taxes and tax rates that may be levied or extended for road purposes in a road district under any other Section of this Code. Any tax levy authorized under this Section shall be certified to and extended by the county clerk as a separate tax to be known as the “equipment and building tax” of the road district but shall not be extended at a rate in excess of .035% of the value of the taxable property of the district, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue. The maximum rate for these purposes may be increased to .10% of the value of the taxable property of the district, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, however, when authorized by a referendum held in accordance with the general election law.
     In any county not under township organization, however, the amount of the levy must first be approved by the county board before the certification and extension.
     The tax, when collected, shall constitute and be held by the treasurer of the district as a separate fund to be known as the “equipment and building fund” and shall be expended only for the purpose or purposes for which it was levied.
     The road district shall cause the ordinance or resolution levying the tax to be published in one or more newspapers published in the district within 10 days after the levy is made. If no newspaper is published in the district, the ordinance or resolution shall be published in a newspaper having general circulation within the district. The publication of the ordinance or resolution shall include a notice of (i) the specific number of voters required to sign a petition requesting that the question of the adoption of the tax levy be submitted to the voters of the district; (ii) the time within which the petition must be filed; and (iii) the date of the prospective referendum. The district clerk or secretary shall provide a petition form to any individual requesting one. On the petition of 25 or more legal voters of the road district to the district clerk, the clerk shall order a referendum on the question of authorizing the levy and extension of an annual tax under this Section at the next annual town meeting or at an election in accordance with the general election law. If the referendum is ordered to be held at the town meeting, the district clerk shall give notice that at the next annual town meeting the proposition shall be voted upon. The notice shall set forth the proposition and shall be given by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the township and by posting notices in at least 10 of the most public places in the town at least 10 days before the annual meeting. If the referendum is ordered to be held at an election, the district clerk shall certify that proposition to the proper election officials, who shall submit the proposition in accordance with the general election law. If a majority of the vote cast on the question is in favor of the tax, then the township board of trustees or highway board of trustees, as the case may be, or the highway commissioner in a county not under township organization, may levy an annual tax under this Section.