Puerto Rico’s ‘bankruptcy’ a warning to Illinois

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

05/05/2017

Illinois needs to enact structural spending reforms to avoid following Puerto Rico down the path to insolvency.

TAGS: budget, credit rating, debt, municipal government, municipal pensions, pensions, Puerto Rico

Illinois’ pension funds invested in risky, alternative investments

By Greg Bishop

04/20/2017

Nearly 38 percent of Illinois Teachers Retirement System assets are in so-called alternative investments.

TAGS: GARS: General Assembly Retirement System, JRS: Judges’ Retirement System, pensions, SERS: State Employee Retirement System, SURS: State Universities Retirement System, TRS: Teachers’ Retirement System

Unpaid sick leave spikes Illinois teachers’ pension benefits

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

03/08/2017

While sick leave is necessary for working teachers, letting unpaid sick leave accumulate for the purpose of boosting pensions is an expensive perk that taxpayers cannot afford.

Moody’s issues another CPS credit downgrade

By John Klingner

09/28/2016

Another credit downgrade shows borrowing, taxes and bailouts can’t fix CPS’ financial crisis, but real structural reforms are needed.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, credit rating, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, municipal pensions, pensions

Taxpayers forced to pay $421 million more for teacher pensions

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

08/29/2016

The Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System’s actuarial changes will drive up taxpayer contributions by $421 million in 2017. These latest changes prove Illinois’ pension math doesn’t work.

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

Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System looks to lower its expected investment rate of return

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

08/25/2016

The Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System’s adoption of more realistic investment return assumptions would cause the system’s unfunded liabilities to grow by about $6 billion above their current $62 billion level.

TAGS: education, pensions, TRS: Teachers’ Retirement System

Corruption Watch

07/05/2016

Headlines in June show why Chicago is considered one of the most corrupt cities in the world.

TAGS: corruption, good government, transparency

5 reasons why Illinois politicians should reject a Chicago Public Schools bailout

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

06/28/2016

Until CPS passes necessary spending and pension reforms, giving any additional money to the system will only reward officials’ mismanagement and reckless behavior.

TAGS: budget, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, education, Mike Madigan, municipal pensions, pensions, Rahm Emanuel

Hastert will continue receiving $28K pension from Illinois lawmakers’ pension fund

By Amy Korte

04/29/2016

Despite being sentenced to 15 months in prison for a financial crime intended to cover up his sexual abuse of high school students, former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert will continue to receive $28,000 annual pension payments for his six years as an Illinois state representative.

TAGS: corruption, GARS: General Assembly Retirement System, pensions

What’s driving Illinois’ $111 billion pension crisis

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

04/07/2016

Retirement ages, COLAs and out-of-sync pension payouts

Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois

Puerto Rico’s ‘bankruptcy’ a warning to Illinois

Illinois’ pension funds invested in risky, alternative investments

Unpaid sick leave spikes Illinois teachers’ pension benefits

Moody’s issues another CPS credit downgrade

Taxpayers forced to pay $421 million more for teacher pensions

Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System looks to lower its expected investment rate of return

Corruption Watch

5 reasons why Illinois politicians should reject a Chicago Public Schools bailout

Hastert will continue receiving $28K pension from Illinois lawmakers’ pension fund

What’s driving Illinois’ $111 billion pension crisis

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