New bill offers police and firefighters pension buyout option
New bill offers police and firefighters pension buyout option
Giving police and fire retirees a pension cash-out option would help reduce long-term pension debt.
REPORTS
4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap
Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective
3 problems with Lightfoot’s Chicago budget, starting with an unnecessary property tax hike
Pension apocalypse? COVID-19 exposes long-running fragility of Illinois public pensions
Illinois public services being cut to pay unsustainable pension cost
The good and bad in Pritzker pension proposals
The good and bad in Pritzker pension proposals
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced plans to handle Illinois’ pension crisis. Some build on proven reforms while others could delay real progress.
Three-peat: Illinois’ pension system last place for 3rd year in a row
Three-peat: Illinois’ pension system last place for 3rd year in a row
Illinois state pensions have less money to pay retirees than any state according to Equable Institute. It’s the third year in a row for Illinois coming in last.
Kifowit bill risks digging Illinois pension hole deeper
Kifowit bill risks digging Illinois pension hole deeper
Illinois lawmakers propose a Tier 2 pension expansion that adds costly sweeteners, despite struggling to keep up with current obligations.
Chicago delaying pension payment, running low on cash
Chicago delaying pension payment, running low on cash
Chicago is splitting its 2026 “advance” pension payment, blaming delayed Cook County property taxes but raising concerns about pension stability.
4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap
4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap
Causes, costs, how to set the state free
1-in-5 city tax dollars go to Illinois police, fire pensions
1-in-5 city tax dollars go to Illinois police, fire pensions
Outside of Chicago, municipal property taxes across Illinois are being consumed by police and fire pensions, leaving fewer resources for public safety.
Cook County property taxes funding pensions more than service
Cook County property taxes funding pensions more than service
Cook County homeowners face rising property taxes. Three-fourths of that money is going to police and fire pensions instead of services.
Illinois alone lets state pension debt top $100B
Illinois alone lets state pension debt top $100B
Illinois’ $143.5 billion state pension debt saw a tiny dip, but meaningful reform is needed to stop threats to taxpayers and protect state retirees.
$1 million a day X 600 years to fill Illinois pension hole
$1 million a day X 600 years to fill Illinois pension hole
Illinois has the highest pension debt per capita. Even if the state spent an extra $1 million a day, your distant descendants would still be paying in 2600.
Nearly 30,000 Chicago teachers are caught in pension trap
Nearly 30,000 Chicago teachers are caught in pension trap
Half of retired Chicago pensioners make more than average working Illinoisans, but nearly 30,000 teachers won’t be eligible for more than a contribution refund.
Illinois police pensions lock up local property taxes
Illinois police pensions lock up local property taxes
Across Illinois, police pensions are taking an ever-greater share of property tax dollars, leaving fewer resources for public safety.