Increasing State Employee Retirement System costs fall on the backs of Illinois taxpayers
Increasing State Employee Retirement System costs fall on the backs of Illinois taxpayers
Employee contributions to the State Employees’ Retirement System, or SERS, have gone up by 66 percent since 1998. During the same time period, taxpayer contributions to state employee retirements increased by 593 percent. In 2012 alone, Illinois taxpayers contributed $1.1 billion more to SERS than state employees did. And the disparity between taxpayer and employee...
By John Klingner
AFSCME vs. Illinois Policy Institute: government pension transparency
AFSCME vs. Illinois Policy Institute: government pension transparency
In a recent Facebook post, a local chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME, called a government pension transparency initiative by the Illinois Policy Institute “offensive.” From AFSCME Local 427’s Facebook page: Bills Amended to Address AFSCME Concerns
Assault on State Retiree Privacy (HB 1040 – Rep. Tryon/Sen. Althoff) This bill establishes...
By Brian Costin
Illinois’ new normal: chronic unemployment
Illinois’ new normal: chronic unemployment
by Ted Dabrowski and Paul Schumacher Despite Illinois’ improved May unemployment numbers, the state continues to lag the nation in job creation. Illinois has the second-highest unemployment rate in the nation – a position it has held since March. Illinois’ jobless rate dropped to 9.1 percent from 9.3 percent in May, according to the Bureau...
The fight for school choice lives on
The fight for school choice lives on
In May of 2010, the Illinois House of Representatives voted down the 2010 voucher bill. My hopes had been high for this bill, because I knew what school choice would mean for Illinois families. Vouchers mean freedom from failing schools; the possibility of students and families choosing their own path instead of being stuck with...
Illinois cigarette tax hike falls $130M short of projected revenues
Illinois cigarette tax hike falls $130M short of projected revenues
Remember when the state of Illinois said its new $1 cigarette tax would bring in $350 million in additional revenue? Unless this tax garners an additional $138 million in the next 10 days, these lofty projections are about to crash and burn. The cigarette tax hike, which took effect a year ago this month, is...
By Hilary Gowins
Illinois’ Comprehensive Annual Financial Report issued 175 days late
Illinois’ Comprehensive Annual Financial Report issued 175 days late
If taxpayers don’t file their tax returns by April 15 each year they could face stiff penalties from state and federal government. But what about when government fails to file its financial report to the taxpayers on a timely basis? According to the Government Accounting Standards Board, or GASB, government agencies should release their financial...
By Brian Costin
Proposed bill makes state board exempt from OMA and FOIA laws
Proposed bill makes state board exempt from OMA and FOIA laws
by Brian Costin The Illinois Policy Institute has long been a supporter of strengthening the Open Meetings Act, or OMA, and Freedom Information Act, or FOIA. Unfortunately, OMA and FOIA often come under attack by the Illinois General Assembly. The most recent assault is in the concealed carry bill that recently passed the House and Senate, and awaits Gov....
Pension plan developed by universities fails to solve Illinois’ pension crisis
Pension plan developed by universities fails to solve Illinois’ pension crisis
A six-point pension plan created by the Institute of Government and Public Affairs, or IGPA, fails to solve Illinois’ pension problem. That’s because the plan, Senate Bill 2591, maintains the state’s unmanageable defined benefit plan for current employees. It requires all new employees to participate in a hybrid defined benefit and defined contribution pension plan, and...
By Benjamin VanMetre
Mount Prospect posts 96 years of meeting minutes online
Mount Prospect posts 96 years of meeting minutes online
by Andrew Wyatt In April 1917, Ella Fitzgerald was born, the United States joined World War I and the first board meeting of the newly organized village of Mount Prospect was held at William Wille’s Hall. And if you wanted to, you could pull up the minutes from this inaugural meeting online. That’s because the...
Capitol Updates: lawmakers push off pension reform in favor of ‘pension conference committee’ during special session
Capitol Updates: lawmakers push off pension reform in favor of ‘pension conference committee’ during special session
State lawmakers were in Springfield yesterday for a special session ordered by Gov. Pat Quinn. As expected, the General Assembly did not take formal votes on any pension reform legislation. Instead, Quinn called for the formation of a conference committee, with the intention of resolving the differences between the House and Senate on pension reform. As a means of breaking up...
By Jane McEnaney
Illinois unemployment rate drops to 9.1 percent in May
Illinois unemployment rate drops to 9.1 percent in May
by Paul Schumacher The Illinois Department of Employment Security, or IDES, announced today that the Illinois unemployment rate declined to 9.1 percent in May from 9.3 percent in April. Illinois’ unemployment rate is still one and a half percentage points above the national average, which rose to 7.6 percent in May. Source: Illinois Department of Employment Security There...
OfficeMax seeks Illinois tax break
OfficeMax seeks Illinois tax break
Tucked in during the Illinois General Assembly’s special session to discuss the state’s pension crisis was a proposal to give a corporate giant a special tax break. According to the State Journal-Register, OfficeMax Inc. is asking the state of Illinois for tax breaks to keep the company’s headquarters in-state after the office supply chain’s merger with...
By Hilary Gowins
Bill Daley acknowledges depth of union politics
Bill Daley acknowledges depth of union politics
by Paul Kersey Possible gubernatorial candidate Bill Daley said something interesting at his “pension plan” news conference Monday morning. It just wasn’t really what he wanted to emphasize. Though he summoned the media for the occasion, the former White House Chief of Staff had little to say about why pensions in Illinois are in the...
Chicago Public Schools looking for cash can start by ending teacher pickups
Chicago Public Schools looking for cash can start by ending teacher pickups
Chicago Public Schools pension payment will increase by roughly $400 million due to the expiration of a temporary “pension holiday.” Local lawmakers knew this was coming but did nothing to prepare for the increased payment. The good news is there is a simple, responsible way to cut more than 30 percent of the increased pension...
By Benjamin VanMetre