Bloat expands as enrollment drops, tuition spikes in Illinois higher education

By Ted Dabrowski, Joe Tabor

10/17/2017

Growth in administrative bloat is sucking up money that would otherwise go toward the classroom and tuition grants for low-income students in Illinois’ higher education system.

TAGS: higher education, pensions, salaries

Wave of local tax and fee increases sweeping Illinois

By Brendan Bakala

10/16/2017

Cities and villages across the state are raising taxes or implementing new ones for a variety of functions, from attracting a fast-food restaurant to catching up on rising pension costs.

TAGS: Bloomington, consolidation, fees, local government, local government consolidation, municipal pensions, naperville, New Lenox, Oswego, pensions, peoria, property taxes, sales tax, taxes, TIF: Tax Increment Financing, Wheaton

Billions in unpaid health care bills shine a light on overly generous benefits

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

10/06/2017

State workers receive a platinum-level health care plan at a heavily subsidized cost, while Illinoisans in the private sector paying for those plans see their own premiums skyrocket.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, debt, health care, pensions

More than 2,200 Cook County workers receive salaries over $100,000

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

10/06/2017

More than 2,200 Cook County workers receive salaries over $100,000. For career county workers, that means pensions worth millions of dollars over the course of their retirements.

TAGS: 401(k), Cook County, municipal pensions, pensions

Illinois state budget already in deficit despite record $5 billion tax hike

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

09/25/2017

With the 2018 budget set to spend at least $1.3 billion more than it takes in, members of the General Assembly have hoodwinked Illinoisans once again.

TAGS: budget, COGFA, debt, LGDF: Local Government Distributive Fund, pensions, unpaid bills

Currie to receive 6-figure pension after first year of retirement

By Austin Berg

09/21/2017

The longtime House majority leader will benefit from a sweetener provision that grants massive pension spikes to career lawmakers after one year of retirement.

TAGS: Barbara Flynn Currie, pensions

Illinois universities’ problems are largely self-inflicted

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

09/15/2017

Illinois universities are blaming the recent budget impasse for their declining enrollment and financial problems. But the problems in higher education started long before the budget fight, and are largely self-inflicted.

TAGS: budget, higher education, Illinois Board of Higher Education, pensions, SURS: State Universities Retirement System

River Forest District 90 will pay 100 percent of teacher pension contributions

By Mailee Smith

09/15/2017

In the midst of Illinois’ pension crisis, River Forest District 90 has agreed to pay 100 percent of teacher contributions to the Teachers' Retirement System – and it did so secretly.

TAGS: pensions, teacher salaries, TRS: Teachers’ Retirement System

Kentucky governor pushes 401(k)s to help resolve Bluegrass pension crisis

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

09/14/2017

Despite the smaller relative size of its burden, Kentucky is considering making far more comprehensive changes to its public sector retirement systems than Illinois ever has.

TAGS: 401(k), Kentucky, pensions

More than 250 Peoria city employees receive over $150K in compensation

By Brendan Bakala

09/12/2017

Lucrative compensation for government workers stands in stark contrast to the city’s budgetary struggles and a flagging local economy.

TAGS: local government, municipal government, pensions, peoria, property taxes