Report: Absent reform, retirement benefits will eat over half of Illinois’ taxes

By Adam Schuster

04/24/2019

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.

TAGS: COLA: cost of living adjustment, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, taxes

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

Michigan introduces 401(k)-style plan for teachers

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

06/16/2017

With the successful passage of 401(k)-style pension reform in Michigan’s state legislature, Illinois lawmakers should examine their own growing pension crisis and pursue bolder reforms to stabilize the state’s finances.

TAGS: 401(k), Michigan, pensions

Illinois AFSCME workers receive, on average, nearly $110,000 in total compensation

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

04/04/2017

The highest state worker salaries in the nation, overtime pay, generous state pensions, taxpayer-subsidized health care coverage and free retiree health insurance for career workers combine to give the average Illinois AFSCME worker six-figure annual compensation.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, health insurance, state worker pay

Injured Illinois workers take 50 percent more time off than peers in surrounding states

By Michael Lucci

09/23/2016

Illinois law gives financial incentives to many injured workers to stay off the job and to doctors to prescribe more medications to workers’ compensation patients.

TAGS: jobs, unemployment, workers compensation

More than 60,000 Illinois state workers participate in Social Security

By John Klingner

05/18/2016

Recently retired career state workers receive an average annual pension of $63,000. On top of this, more than 60,000 workers in Illinois’ State Employees’ Retirement System participate in Social Security.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, SERS: State Employee Retirement System

Illinois state workers highest paid in nation

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

05/13/2016

Illinois state workers receive the highest wages of any state workers in the country, when adjusted for cost of living.

11 things you need to know about Chicago teacher pensions

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

03/01/2016

Pension holidays, steep increases in teachers' salaries, and lopsided ratios of teacher contributions to pension payouts have caused the Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund’s unfunded liabilities to shoot up to $9 billion in 2015.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, pensions

Special Service Areas: Chicago’s little-known taxing bodies

By Chris Lentino

02/04/2016

Special Service Areas levy taxes on Chicagoans over and above the already steep taxes and fees imposed by the city.

TAGS: Chicago, Special Service Areas, taxes

Illinois Corruption Watch: November 2015

12/14/2015

November saw Chicago’s City Council let the term of the legislative inspector general, who is tasked with overseeing City Council, expire without hiring a replacement, as well as several other instances of breach of public trust and influence peddling around the state.

TAGS: corruption

Social Security Administration

Report: Absent reform, retirement benefits will eat over half of Illinois’ taxes

Wave of local tax and fee increases sweeping Illinois

Michigan introduces 401(k)-style plan for teachers

Illinois AFSCME workers receive, on average, nearly $110,000 in total compensation

Injured Illinois workers take 50 percent more time off than peers in surrounding states

More than 60,000 Illinois state workers participate in Social Security

Illinois state workers highest paid in nation

11 things you need to know about Chicago teacher pensions

Special Service Areas: Chicago’s little-known taxing bodies

Illinois Corruption Watch: November 2015

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