Perry County is home to the DuQuoin State Fair, but the prize hog is a pension system eating money needed for public safety and other core services. County employees face layoffs.

Illinois is home to the nation’s worst pension problem. A bill aimed at double-dipping by local politicians could make it better as Illinois pursues a pension system overhaul.

More than 25% of state revenue already goes to pensions and retiree health care, but Illinois would need to double that to fully fund promised benefits at current levels.

Illinois borrows money to reduce pension obligations, with more borrowing planned. Claims $400 million in current budget savings, but admits to investors it cannot calculate any savings.

Illinois’ high court ruled a former union employee who worked a single day in the classroom is eligible to receive a decade’s worth of teacher pension benefits.