Government Employees of Ford County Revel at Taxpayer Expense

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Click here to view Ford County Teachers Pensions.
Click here to view Ford County Teachers Salaries.
RANTOUL, ILLINOIS–A report released today by Taxpayers United of America (TUA) reveals that Ford County government teachers and government employees are not only receiving generous salaries but that their estimated pension payments in many cases are larger than some salaries in the private sector. Furthermore, over a normal lifetime, many of these government employees, when they retire, become pension millionaires.
“While Ford County stagnates economically with 10.5% unemployment, a paltry median home value of $91,000, and an average annual wage of $34,000, Ford County government teachers and government officials are pulling in generous taxpayer-funded salaries and enjoying lavish, gold-plated pensions that have made some of them pension millionaires,” said Jim Tobin, TUA President.
“Heading the list of Ford County government school Teachers is Charles Aubry, of Gibson City-Melvin-Sibly CUSD 5, pulling in an annual salary of $151,559. Next is Clifford McClure, of Paxton-Buckley-Loda CUD 10, with an annual salary of $133,948.”
“Ford County retired government school teachers are doing much better than the average Ford County taxpayer. John F. Perkins, of Paxton-Buckley-Loda 10, receives an annual pension of $112,038 — $9,337 a month (as of 3/4/11). Perkins already has collected $760,276 in pension payments-to-date.”
Charles Wood, of Paxton-Buckley-Loda 10, who receives an annual pension of $75, 348, already has collected an astronomical $1,026,406 in pension payments-to-date.”
Lee A. Anthony, formerly employed by Ford County, who retired making $128,013 a year, receives an annual pension of $109,615 — $9,135 a month. John A. Pickering, formerly employed by Ford-Iroquois Health Dept., who retired making $128,039 a year, receives an annual pension of $78,738 — $6,562 a month.”
“The way to fix the broken pension system is to end pensions for all new government hires, which would eventually eliminate unfunded government pensions; putting new government hires into social security and 401(k)s would achieve this.”
“If each government employee were required to contribute an additional 10% toward his or her pension taxpayers would save billions of dollars over the next 35 years.”
Click here to view this news release as a PDF.

TUA Calls for Government Pension Reform in Lake County

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Click here to view the Indiana’s State Employees Benefits
Merrillville–A report released today by Taxpayers United of America (TUA) reveals that local and state government employees are not only receiving generous salaries, but that over a normal lifetime, many of these government employees when they retire will become pension millionaires. Indiana bureaucrats refuse to release pension figures, so total pension payouts were estimated for this report. The bureaucrats of Gary Community Schools have refused to provide salary information, violating Indiana state law.
“While Lake County taxpayers struggle through this recession with an average wage of $38,800, a median home value of $129,000 and 10.7% unemployment, government employees really rake it in while they are employed and then when retired. Taxpayers not only foot the entire bill for the lush salaries, but 100% of these government employee pensions are funded by the taxpayer.  In many cases, even the lump sum Annuity Savings Account is also completely funded by the taxpayers who will have to work until they drop to fund their neighbors’ retirement,” said Christina Tobin, TUA Vice President. “
“Starting first with the top 25 Pensions and Lump-sum Distributions (2010) for the entire state, heading the list is T. A. Crean of Indiana University, whose salary is $600,000. When he retires, he will receive an estimated annual pension of $198,000. In addition to his pension, he will receive either a lump-sum of $510,000 or an annuity. Crean’s estimated total pension payout over a normal lifetime is $7,425,000.”*
“Lake County employee, Speros Batistatos rakes in an annual salary of $170,351 and is eligible for a $144,799 lump-sum payout on top of his 100% taxpayer funded lifetime pension payout of $2,304,854.  Another Lake County pension millionaire will be Rogelio Dominguez with a $113,957 lump-sum on top of his taxpayer funded $1,813,927 pension payout. Of today’s current Lake County employees, 34 are projected to be eligible for millionaire payouts when factoring the lump-sum payment and lifetime pension payout.”
“State employee Peggy Sue Stephens of Madison St. Hospital received an annual salary (2010) of $243,586. Her estimated lump-sum payment at retirement is $207,048, and her estimated total pension payout over a normal lifetime is $3,295,725.”
“Gary and Lake County pension systems are making millionaires out of public employees at taxpayer expense. Ending pensions for all new government hires would eventually eliminate unfunded government pensions; putting new government hires into social security and 401(k)s would achieve this. If each current government employee were required to contribute 10% toward his or her pension, taxpayers would save billions of dollars.”
“We need to knock all politicians out of office who make deals with bad government union bosses and bad corporate power brokers at the expense of the taxpayers.”
*Assumes retirement at age 55 after 30 years.
Click here to view this news release as a PDF.

TUA Calls for Government Pension Reform in St. Joseph & Elkhart Counties

Click here to view St. Joseph County’s To 100 Salaries
Click here to view Indiana’s Top 25 Pensions
Click here to view the City of Elkharts Salaries
Click here to view Elkhart Community Schools Top 25 Salaries and Pensions
Click here to view Mishawaka Schools Top 25 Salaries and Pensions
South Bend–A report released today by Taxpayers United of America (TUA) reveals that South Bend and Elkhart government employees are not only receiving generous salaries, but that over a normal lifetime, many of these government employees when they retire will become pension millionaires. Indiana bureaucrats refuse to release pension figures, so total pension payouts were estimated for this report. The bureaucrats of the city of South Bend and Elkhart County have refused to provide salary information, violating Indiana state law.
“While St. Joseph County taxpayers struggle through this recession with an average wage of $36,200, a median home value of $112,500 and 11.3% unemployment, government employees really rake it in while they are employed and then when retired. Taxpayers not only foot the entire bill for the lush salaries but 100% of these government employee pensions are funded by the taxpayer.  In many cases, even the lump sum Annuity Savings Account is also completely funded by the taxpayers who will have to work until they drop to fund their neighbors’ retirement,” said Christina Tobin, TUA Vice President. “
“Starting first with the top 25 Pensions and Lump-sum Distributions (2010) for the entire state, heading the list is T. A. Crean of Indiana University, whose salary is $600,000. When he retires, he will receive an estimated annual pension of $198,000. In addition to his pension, he can receive either a lump-sum of $510,000 or an annuity. Crean’s estimated total pension payout over a normal lifetime is $7,425,000.”*
“Elkhart City employee, Richard L. Moore is eligible for a $69,060 lump-sum payout on top of his taxpayer funded lifetime pension payout of $1,099,270 when the average wage in Elkhart County is $34,500, the median home price is $124,000, and the unemployment rate is 12.7.”
“St. Joseph County employee, John Botich, Jr. is on track to receive a $105,955 lump sum on top of a lifetime pension payout of $1,686,549.”
“Mishawaka government school employee, Melvin L. Lenig, is pulling in a generous wage of $96,858. When Lenig retires, he can receive a lump-sum payment of $82,330 as well as $1,198,624 in estimated total pension payments.  Elkhart Schools’ Kathy D. Byrd can receive a lump sum payout of $58,412 on top of her expected lifetime payout of $850,410 with a zero contribution of her own money.”
“South Bend and Elkhart pension systems are making millionaires out of public employees at taxpayer expense. Ending pensions for all new government hires would eventually eliminate unfunded government pensions; putting new government hires into social security and 401(k)s would achieve this. If each current government employee were required to contribute 10% toward his or her pension, taxpayers would save billions of dollars.”
“We need to knock all politicians out of office who make deals with bad government union bosses and bad corporate power brokers at the expense of the taxpayers.”
*Assumes retirement at age 55 after 30 years.
Click here to view this news release as a PDF.