Chicago park pension remains underfunded despite reforms

By LyLena Estabine

10/17/2025

Despite a 2021 law meant to improve the funding ratio of Chicago’s park pension, the amount of money the system has on hand to pay out benefits remains low.

Selling every NBA team wouldn’t be enough to fill Illinois’ pension hole

By LyLena Estabine

09/02/2025

The five pension systems run by the state of Illinois only have 46 cents on hand for every $1 of benefits they owe. Filling that $144 billion hole would require more money than the price of every NBA team combined.

Chicago alderman’s $120K pension shows why city fund is broken

By LyLena Estabine

08/14/2025

Chicago’s municipal pension is one of the worst-funded pension systems in the nation despite sky-high taxes dedicated to paying into it. Fat pensions such as former Ald. Walter Burnett’s show why.

TAGS: Chicago City Council

Pritzker further undermines Chicago police, fire pensions

By Jerry Barmore

08/07/2025

Gov. J.B. Pritzker had a chance to stop a bill putting taxpayers on the hook for $11.1 billion in inflated pension benefits for Chicago police and firefighters. He blew it. Taxpayers will be paying the price for decades.

TAGS: Chicago, JB Pritzker, municipal pensions

Chicago pension sweetener would add $11.1 billion in liabilities

By LyLena Estabine

07/25/2025

State lawmakers boosted benefits for Chicago police and firefighters in the final days of the legislative session. Gov. J.B. Pritzker should reject this bill, or else it will add billions in debt to an already struggling city.

Nearly 32,000 Illinois government pensioners paid $100k-plus

By Patrick Andriesen

07/03/2025

State data shows 31,937 members of Illinois’ five pension systems collected $100,000 a year or more in retirement benefits during 2024. Some got over $500,000. See the full list below.

TAGS: ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, pensions, taxes

Illinois pensioners earn nearly $25K more retired than those working to support them

By Patrick Andriesen

06/26/2025

The average retired career state employee in Illinois was paid $93,558 in pension benefits last year. That’s $24,538 more than the average Illinoisan working to pay for those retirees.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, pensions, taxes

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

By Josh Bandoch, Lauren Zuar

06/03/2025

Published June 3, 2025 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The best path to empowerment and success, especially for poor people, is work. Work allows us to prosper while providing dignity, upward mobility, the means to support ourselves and create value for others. It’s how we become thriving members of our community. Central to this process is our education...

Tier 2 pensions a better deal for long-term state workers than Social Security

By LyLena Estabine

03/18/2025

Career state workers receiving a Tier 2 pension stand to retire with significantly higher payouts than Social Security would deliver.

Figure out if there’s a problem before boosting Illinois pensions

By LyLena Estabine

03/11/2025

Without careful evaluation of whether Illinois’ pensions for newer employees are running afoul of federal rules or what the penalties would be, spending $78 million from the state’s budget is premature and wasteful.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, pensions, taxes

Social Security Administration

Chicago park pension remains underfunded despite reforms

Selling every NBA team wouldn’t be enough to fill Illinois’ pension hole

Chicago alderman’s $120K pension shows why city fund is broken

Pritzker further undermines Chicago police, fire pensions

Chicago pension sweetener would add $11.1 billion in liabilities

Nearly 32,000 Illinois government pensioners paid $100k-plus

Illinois pensioners earn nearly $25K more retired than those working to support them

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

Tier 2 pensions a better deal for long-term state workers than Social Security

Figure out if there’s a problem before boosting Illinois pensions

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students