It’s called good planning. Legalized corruption. Hmmm…let’s see: if the legislators and the judges are being bought off, where exactly will the solution come from? Ted Dabrowski of the Illinois Policy Institute doesn’t use those words — he merely fills in the details in two informative posts:
Illinois taxpayers shelling out more to pay for state lawmakers’ retirements
Legislators’ contributions to the General Assembly Retirement System, or GARS, have gone up by 33 percent since 1998.During the same time period, taxpayer contributions to legislators’ retirements increased by 237 percent.
In 2012 alone, Illinois taxpayers contributed nearly $9 million more to GARS than legislators did.
And the disparity between taxpayers and legislator contributions is projected to get worse. Between 2013 and 2045, taxpayers can expect their annual contribution to GARS to increase by 226 percent, to $46.3 million. Legislator contributions, on the other hand, will rise 237 percent, to only $5.4 million. The increase in taxpayer contributions occurs because taxpayers, and not the employees, are required to pay for any shortfalls in the pension system.
Growing pension costs for Illinois judges are burdening state taxpayers
Judges’ contributions to the Judges’ Retirement System, or JRS, have gone up by 52 percent since 1998.During the same time period, taxpayer contributions to judges’ retirements increased by 306 percent.
In 2012 alone, Illinois taxpayers contributed $47 million more to JRS than judges did.
And the disparity between taxpayers and employee contributions is projected to get worse. Between 2013 and 2045, taxpayers can expect their annual contribution to JRS to increase by 135 percent, to $208 million. Employee contributions, on the other hand, will rise only 84 percent, to $30 million. The increase in taxpayer contributions occurs because taxpayers, and not the employees, are required to pay for any shortfalls in the judges’ pension system.
