Pension crisis forces firehouse closure, 9 firefighter layoffs in East St. Louis

By Brad Weisenstein

10/16/2019

East St. Louis is short $9.5 million between a budget deficit and back payments owed to its fire and police pensions. As a result, city leaders are closing a firehouse and laying off nine firefighters.

TAGS: East St. Louis, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, taxes

East St. Louis police pension fund calls for state intercept of $1.8M, following fire pension demands

By Brad Weisenstein

10/04/2019

East St. Louis already faces a $2.2 million state funding diversion for its firefighters pension fund. Now the police pension board is demanding $1.79 million the city owes that fund.

TAGS: East St. Louis, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, taxes

Local pension bailout would make Illinoisans’ income tax bills rise as fast as their property taxes

By Austin Berg

09/20/2019

Bailouts reward bad behavior. Reform rewards residents. Lawmakers should bend toward the latter.

TAGS: East St. Louis, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, taxes

East St. Louis faces interception of state funds for $2.2M pension debt

By Brad Weisenstein

09/19/2019

The southwestern Illinois city faces high crime and poverty rates, as well as a $5.5 million budget deficit. Now, $2.2 million owed to its firefighters pension threatens to halt the flow of state funds.

TAGS: East St. Louis, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes

Hog-tied: Illinois state law not equipped to address local governments’ pension problems

By Joe Tabor

07/23/2018

Avenues for state oversight for cities with financial difficulties have limited utility in the face of massive pension debt and have almost never been invoked since Springfield passed them into law in 1990.

TAGS: bankruptcy, East St. Louis, Financially Distressed City Law, local government, Local Government Financial Planning and Supervision Act, municipal pensions, pensions

East St. Louis police and fire pension fund crises risk state intervention

By Brendan Bakala

04/29/2018

East St. Louis’ police and fire pension funds experienced large funding shortfalls in 2016, putting the city at risk of revenue garnishment from the state comptroller’s office.

TAGS: East St. Louis, Illinois Department of Insurance, municipal government, municipal pensions, pensions

Former East St. Louis township officials diverted nearly $1M in youth program funds

By Vincent Caruso

03/30/2018

Two township administrators took state grant funds intended for a summer youth program to cover up for illegal credit card purchases.

TAGS: corruption, East St. Louis, St. Clair County, townships

East St. Louis Township hires politician to shovel inch of snow

By Joe Kaiser

02/02/2018

East St. Louis Township paid $550 to a politician, who had previously spent four years in federal prison for tax evasion, to clear an inch of snow from the township's parking lot - a task he didn't even complete.

TAGS: consolidation, corruption, East St. Louis, local government consolidation, townships

2016 Corruption Watch: Chicago, East St. Louis take top corruption spots

By Mindy Ruckman

12/29/2016

This year was full of corruption and mismanagement from public officials, but four instances in particular stand out.

TAGS: Chicago, corruption, East St. Louis, good government