Illinois job creation lagged the national median in nearly every sector.
The 1%: Illinois’ pension millionaires
More than 129,000 Illinois public pensioners will see expected payouts of $1 million or more during retirement.
Illinois saw nation’s worst population loss during the decade
Illinois suffered its sixth consecutive year of population decline in 2019, driven entirely by residents leaving for other states.
56 Illinois state lawmakers have refused to take a pension
Illinois’ 101st General Assembly can be leaders in pension reform by passing a constitutional amendment that allows for changes to future, unearned benefits.
House passes pension boost bill for one Chicago alderman
Illinois House members voted to override Gov. Rauner’s veto of a bill that would allow a former firefighter serving as a Chicago aldermen to credit his political salary toward a more lucrative fire pension. While just one alderman now qualifies, the bill could extend the perk to more in the future.
Crowding out: Chicago pension fund demands intercept of state grant money
The Chicago firefighters pension fund has filed claims with the Illinois comptroller for $3.3 million in shorted pension contributions, an action that could worsen city finances and service delivery.
Schaumburg Park District pensions costing taxpayers millions
One former Schaumburg Park District employee alone has accumulated more than $1 million in pension benefits after retiring at age 55.
Play money: Former Park District of Highland Park employees taking home 6-figure pensions
More than a dozen city and park district retirees in Highland Park have received more than $1 million in pension benefits each.
20 municipal retirees in Peoria County are pension millionaires
The average lifetime pension benefit among the county’s 20 highest-earning municipal retirees is more than $1.2 million, while their average total retirement contribution is less than $75,000.
Nearly 100 Lake County municipal retirees are pension millionaires
Lake County residents pay some of the highest property taxes in the nation – a burden driven by the growth in pension costs over the last 20 years.