Pritzker’s proposed budget shorts pensions by $5.4 billion
Pritzker’s proposed budget shorts pensions by $5.4 billion
Actuaries say Illinois needs to put in $17 billion a year to fix the plans, but the 2027 plan calls for far less.
REPORTS
4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap
Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective
3 problems with Lightfoot’s Chicago budget, starting with an unnecessary property tax hike
Pension apocalypse? COVID-19 exposes long-running fragility of Illinois public pensions
Illinois public services being cut to pay unsustainable pension cost
More schools double-dipping taxpayers for teacher pension costs
More schools double-dipping taxpayers for teacher pension costs
Many school districts cover teachers’ required pension contribution of 9% of their salary — putting that burden on taxpayers.
Retired state employee backs pension buyouts for Chicago police, fire
Retired state employee backs pension buyouts for Chicago police, fire
75% of property taxes raised for public safety are going to pensions instead of services.
In Cook County, 75% of police, fire property taxes go to pensions
In Cook County, 75% of police, fire property taxes go to pensions
Outside Chicago, only a fourth of municipal property taxes collected this year for police and fire are going to services.
Record-high Illinois university workers opt out of pensions
Record-high Illinois university workers opt out of pensions
A record share of Illinois university employees opt out of pensions for a 401(k)-style plan, lawmakers should give other state employees the same flexibility.
New bill offers police and firefighters pension buyout option
New bill offers police and firefighters pension buyout option
Giving police and fire retirees a pension cash-out option would help reduce long-term pension debt.
The good and bad in Pritzker pension proposals
The good and bad in Pritzker pension proposals
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced plans to handle Illinois’ pension crisis. Some build on proven reforms while others could delay real progress.
Three-peat: Illinois’ pension system last place for 3rd year in a row
Three-peat: Illinois’ pension system last place for 3rd year in a row
Illinois state pensions have less money to pay retirees than any state according to Equable Institute. It’s the third year in a row for Illinois coming in last.
Kifowit bill risks digging Illinois pension hole deeper
Kifowit bill risks digging Illinois pension hole deeper
Illinois lawmakers propose a Tier 2 pension expansion that adds costly sweeteners, despite struggling to keep up with current obligations.
Chicago delaying pension payment, running low on cash
Chicago delaying pension payment, running low on cash
Chicago is splitting its 2026 “advance” pension payment, blaming delayed Cook County property taxes but raising concerns about pension stability.
4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap
4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap
Causes, costs, how to set the state free
1-in-5 city tax dollars go to Illinois police, fire pensions
1-in-5 city tax dollars go to Illinois police, fire pensions
Outside of Chicago, municipal property taxes across Illinois are being consumed by police and fire pensions, leaving fewer resources for public safety.