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.
East St. Louis police pension fund calls for state intercept of $1.8M, following fire pension demands
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.
Local pension bailout would make Illinoisans’ income tax bills rise as fast as their property taxes
Bailouts reward bad behavior. Reform rewards residents. Lawmakers should bend toward the latter.
East St. Louis faces interception of state funds for $2.2M pension debt
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.
Hog-tied: Illinois state law not equipped to address local governments’ pension problems
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.
East St. Louis police and fire pension fund crises risk state intervention
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.
Former East St. Louis township officials diverted nearly $1M in youth program funds
Two township administrators took state grant funds intended for a summer youth program to cover up for illegal credit card purchases.
East St. Louis Township hires politician to shovel inch of snow
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.
2016 Corruption Watch: Chicago, East St. Louis take top corruption spots
This year was full of corruption and mismanagement from public officials, but four instances in particular stand out.