Public labor unions push for more power over municipal, teacher pension funds

By Dylan Sharkey

10/25/2021

Bills backed by Illinois public-sector unions would give them more power in administering pension funds despite evidence of worse outcomes.

TAGS: Amendment 1, Illinois, pensions, unions

Illinois’ rising property taxes driven by $75 billion local pension debt

By Adam Schuster

09/27/2021

Rapidly rising property taxes and growing pension costs leave homeowners asked to pay more to get less. Relief requires structural pension reform, starting with a constitutional amendment.

TAGS: Illinois, pensions, property taxes

Pensions in Quincy cost 126% of municipal property taxes

By Adam Schuster, Justin Carlson

09/24/2021

Quincy property taxes do not generate enough to fund the municipal pension costs. Even with that heavy burden, there is so much state and local pension debt that the average Quincy household owns more than $35,600.

TAGS: pensions, property taxes, Quincy

Nearly 40 cents of every education dollar in Illinois goes to pensions

By Adam Schuster

09/22/2021

Rapidly rising pension costs compete with classroom spending, reducing resources for teachers and students while driving up property taxes.

TAGS: education spending, K-12, pensions

Over 90% of Rock Island municipal property taxes taken by public pensions

By Adam Schuster, Robert Brutvan, Perry Zhao

09/22/2021

Despite so much of the property tax share going to public pensions, there is still a huge unmet pension debt. The average Rock Island household owes nearly $40,000 to state and local pensions.

TAGS: pensions, property taxes, Rock Island

Over 100% of Danville municipal property taxes consumed by pensions

By Adam Schuster, Perry Zhao

09/20/2021

The average Danville household owns nearly $40,000 in state and local pension debt.

TAGS: Danville, pensions, property taxes

Rockford sees public pensions eat nearly 40% of municipal property taxes

By Adam Schuster

09/16/2021

Public pensions are growing and taking a greater share of property taxes, hurting public services. Still, the average Rockford household owes over $35,000 in state and local pension debt.

TAGS: pensions, property taxes, Rockford

Nearly two-thirds of Peoria property taxes consumed by pensions

By Adam Schuster

09/15/2021

The average Peoria household owns nearly $38,000 in state and local pension debt.

TAGS: pensions, Peoria, property taxes

Chicago Park District ‘reform’ bill puts pension costs on taxpayers

By Aneesh Bafna

09/10/2021

House Bill 417 falls far short of the structural reforms Illinois pension systems require. A constitutional amendment is needed after courts blocked a real reform effort in 2018.

TAGS: Chicago Park District, pensions

5 things wrong with Illinois holding 30% of U.S. pension bond debt

By Adam Schuster, Aneesh Bafna

09/10/2021

Pension obligation bonds, like payday loans, are a sign of mismanaged finances. Illinois not only leads the nation for using that risky debt, it owes the bulk of it.

TAGS: credit rating, debt, Illinois, pension obligation bonds