BERWYN–A new report by Taxpayers United of America (TUA) reveals that many Berwyn retired government employees receive lavish, gold-plated pensions that far exceed average annual wages of workers in the private sector.
“These outrageous government-employee pensions are bankrupting the state,” said Jim Tobin, TUA President. “Springfield House and Senate Democrats just temporarily raised the state personal income tax 67%, all $6.8 billion taxpayer dollars of which is being used to fund the state’s lavish retired government employee pension programs.” Read more →
CHICAGO – The recent pension reform bill being pushed in Springfield requires that government employees pay more towards their lavish, gold-plated pensions, but it isn’t asking them to pay enough. The legislation passed by the House Personnel and Pensions Committee only proposes teacher pension contributions be raised as high as 14.77%, with state employee contributions going from 4 to 9.29%. Taxpayers United of America (TUA) recommends a 19.4% contribution for teachers, alongside a 10-point increase in contributions for all other employees in the state pension fund.
If TUA’s proposal were to go into effect, it would save taxpayers $150 billion over 35 years, or roughly $4.3 billion per year. Healthcare is not a benefit that is guaranteed. Government employees and retirees should pay for half of their tax-subsidized healthcare premiums as well. Currently, they pay nothing towards this. Read more →
The property taxpayers in three school districts continue to battle the property tax increases resulting from the April 5th referenda. In Oak Park School District 97 and in Wilmette School District 39, the initiatives were adopted by the Voters. In Riverside Brookfield District 208, the voters overwhelmingly rejected it, but the lawsuit is seeking damages for the illegal electioneering engaged in by the Board.
In the Wilmette case, on May 23rd Judge Rita M. Novak put the case on an expedited briefing schedule on two main issues: whether to enter a temporary restraining order and whether to dismiss the case. The hearing is set for June 23rd at 11:15 a.m. Read more →
