Analysis of the Mess Illinois Finds Itself – Fact 9

A continuation of the analysis of the current situation in Illinois by WirePoints: Fact 9 9. Downstate pension costs. By 2015, cities across the state were in deep pension crises of their own. Public safety pension promises (accrued liabilities) had grown 6.4 percent annually over … Continue reading

Cities and Villages Seek to Merge Local Police and Fire Pension Funds

From the Illinois News Network: As costs grow, cities push to consolidate hundreds of local public safety pension funds By Brett Rowland | Illinois News Network City leaders want to consolidate hundreds of local pension funds for police officers and … Continue reading

Daily Herald Puts Pressure on County Board Members Getting Health Insurance

In an editorial today, the Daily Herald calls for an end to health benefits for suburban county board members. Kane County Democratic Board member Mo Iqbal brought up the subject two years after Republican Chairman Chris Lauzen got no positive … Continue reading

Jack Franks Hypocrisy re Double-Dipping: Bad for Thee, OK for Me

It can be dangerous to put something on the internet. Why? Because it never disappears. Consider the email that then-State Representative Jack Franks sent to constituents on December 24, 2013. Here is how it begins: Fighting Against Sweetheart Deals ‘Double-dipping’ … Continue reading

Firefighter Pensions

A Friend of McHenry County Blog tallied the following pension information for firefighters from the Illinois State Comptroller’s web site: In 2007 there were 3,753 retired firefighters and 9,039 active firefighters. In 2016 there were 5,069 retired firefighters and 9,160 … Continue reading

Algonquin-LITH Fire Protection District Chief Makes Daily Herald List of Chiefs Drawing Pension While Earning Salary Running Different Department

It is not uncommon for police officers and firefighters to get jobs after retirement. In my Village of Lakewood, experienced police officers have been hired that the village otherwise could not have afforded. When the Village Board concluded that the … Continue reading

Pension Funding for McHenry County Townships

Looking at the financial shape of townships in McHenry County, a Friend of McHenry County Blog found the following Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund information filed with the State Comptroller for 2017 (for Algonquin, Chemung, Dorr, Grafton, McHenry, Nunda, Riley and … Continue reading

Focus on Public Pension Shortfall Overlooks Future Public Employee Health Insurance Costs

From Wirepoints: Wirepoints Report: The real cost of pension and public retiree health insurance equals half of Illinois’ budget Illinois owes $73 billion in retiree health insurance benefits for state workers, yet doesn’t have any money set aside to pay for … Continue reading

Illinois Police Institute Features Bob and Anna May Miller’s Pensions

From the Illinois Policy Institute: AMID CONTROVERSY, POLITICAL TOWNSHIP COUPLE BANKS NEARLY $100K IN PENSION BENEFITS Voted out of office in 2017 amid allegations of patronage and waste, Algonquin Township’s former highway commissioner has since found work at neighboring townships … Continue reading