Mike Tryon didn’t get a chance to take my call. It did not go through.
A group calling itself “Patriotic Veterans” just called to tell me that there is an attempt to place the unfunded liability of teacher pensions on real estate taxpayers’ backs.
It said the politicians should retire at 65. (That would have been find with me, but I was forced into retirement when I lost the 2000 GOP primary election.)
More to the point the call ended with
“Press one to reach Mike Tryon.”
So, I did.
There were two rings, then nothing.
Guess the call didn’t fully accomplish its purpose.
Cal, did you try 1-800-IMA-RINO?
The message says “press one to reach Mike Tryon”, and you got nothing…..
That is what Mike Tryon is “NOTHING” …..but a fool.
Salary increases handed out by suburban school districts are only one reason for unaffordable teacher and administrator pensions.
The benefit increase legislation passed by state legislators and signed by Governors are the bigger culprit.
First the pension protection clause was added to the State Constitution and the 1970 Constitutional Convention stating pensions cannot be diminished or impaired.
hen from 1971 – 2011 over 100 benefit increases were added to state law.
Every year for 40 years except 1976 and 1992 according to Bill Zettler. First pensions protected then they were increased.
Ingenious.
The benefit increases were funded disproportionately by asking the State of IL to make larger contributions.
The teacher and administrator contributions did not increase nearly as much as the State’s contributions.
Which made no sense because the State is notorious for paying late.
eems everything that went into calculating a pension was changed to benefit the teachers and administrators at the expense of taxpayers.
Looking at the TRS pensions.
COLA increased from 1.5% not compounded to 3% compounded.
Accumulated sick leave increased from .5 years to 2 years (allowing teachers and administrators to retire 2 years early).
Annual accrual rate increased from 1.5% to 2.2%.
Here’s how that works.
nnual accrual rate x years of service x pensionable salary (pensionable salary typically annual average of last 4 years salary and stipends) = starting pension.
Age to receive maximum allowable starting pension decreased from 66 to 54.5 years.
Number of years worked to receive maximum allowable starting pension decreased from 45 to 33 years.
The maximum allowable rate (which is multiplied by the annual average of last 4 years salary and stipends, to calculate pensionable salary) increased from 70 to 75%.
l because public sector unions have what politicians want: campaign contributions and votes.
And politicians have what public sector unions want: the power to change state law to increase teacher benefits.
A match made in heaven.