barryware Posted January 30, 2015 at 02:37 PM Share Posted January 30, 2015 at 02:37 PM And we're off.. Think Rauner can fix some of this or will I continue to be taxed out of my home? At OpenTheBooks.com, we have completed our annual “Big Dogs” salary report of municipal government. The results are the most stunning ever… http://www.forbes.com/sites/adamandrzejewski/2015/01/27/the-big-dogs-of-illinois-municipal-government/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRJ Posted January 30, 2015 at 02:43 PM Share Posted January 30, 2015 at 02:43 PM I wonder if we can get this in front of Rauner? Is there an email direct to him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevepk Posted January 30, 2015 at 02:59 PM Share Posted January 30, 2015 at 02:59 PM Needs to be reprinted in the local papers and radio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barryware Posted January 30, 2015 at 03:34 PM Author Share Posted January 30, 2015 at 03:34 PM Sent the link via the Governors website.. http://www2.illinois.gov/gov/Pages/ContacttheGovernor.aspx I really think that the shenanigans that is going on is criminal.. Not just What the hey!!!.. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Thank you for contacting the Office of Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner.Your correspondence has been received and will be reviewed. Depending on the nature of your correspondence, a representative from the Governor’s office may contact you.Again, thank you. Your thoughts and concerns are important to Governor Rauner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elmer Fudd Posted January 30, 2015 at 03:45 PM Share Posted January 30, 2015 at 03:45 PM And we're off.. Think Rauner can fix some of this or will I continue to be taxed out of my home? At OpenTheBooks.com, we have completed our annual “Big Dogs” salary report of municipal government. The results are the most stunning ever… http://www.forbes.com/sites/adamandrzejewski/2015/01/27/the-big-dogs-of-illinois-municipal-government/How about merely passing a law that immediately repeals double dip pensions retroactive to 1/1/1950 together with a full clawback without a statute of limitations...and digging up any retired officials that might have died to extract precious metals from their teeth to help with the repayment.....after all its go LARGE or go home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFC Stu Posted January 30, 2015 at 04:12 PM Share Posted January 30, 2015 at 04:12 PM Illinois, the land of greed and corruption. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barryware Posted January 30, 2015 at 04:14 PM Author Share Posted January 30, 2015 at 04:14 PM Fudd I can't tell if you are being sarcastic, trying to be funny, or if you think it is OK for these d-bags to double their salary near the end of their term / career in an effort to double their pension(s) that guys like me are paying for along with the salaries. Remember the big bust in the housing market?? My assessment went down by 30% or so.. Did my property tax go down?? Wait for it... Wait for it... NO.. They went up by 10.. that's right 10% and consistently go up every year. So when I read stuff like the article I linked.. It makes something slam shut. We do have a new real nice electronic billboard type of sign that welcomes everyone to the town though.. I'm glad I helped pay for that.. We really needed one.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elmer Fudd Posted January 30, 2015 at 04:24 PM Share Posted January 30, 2015 at 04:24 PM Fudd I can't tell if you are being sarcastic, trying to be funny, or if you think it is OK for these d-bags to double their salary near the end of their term / career in an effort to double their pension(s) that guys like me are paying for along with the salaries. http://www.openthebooks.com/search/?F_incbcd=1804_522539&sort=F_fiscalyear&isChart=y&perpage=100#chart Remember the big bust in the housing market?? My assessment went down by 30% or so.. Did my property tax go down?? Wait for it... Wait for it... NO.. They want up by 10.. that's right 10% and consistently go up every year. So when I read stuff like the article I linked.. It makes something slam shut. We do have a new real nice electronic billboard type of sign that welcomes everyone to the town though.. I'm glad I helped pay for that.. We really needed one..Actually I was being serious to a point....I wouldn't have a second thought about making double dip pensions illegal ON A FULLY RETROACTIVE BASIS, and clawing back every single dime that was "double dipped" the activity is criminal, and I would even be willing to make a one time exception to abrogate the Constitutional on ex post facto laws to "correct" any protection the statute of limitations on the conduct. Take it a step further, and if they can't repay in full....go so far as to bring back debtor's prison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango7 Posted January 30, 2015 at 04:27 PM Share Posted January 30, 2015 at 04:27 PM Please define "double dip". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barryware Posted January 30, 2015 at 04:31 PM Author Share Posted January 30, 2015 at 04:31 PM Please define "double dip".Here is one of many.. http://qctimes.com/news/local/government-and-politics/double-dipping-pensioners-concern-illinois-lawmakers/article_6082659c-8a4d-5fad-b5e1-18aab4b0d5f7.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango7 Posted January 30, 2015 at 04:33 PM Share Posted January 30, 2015 at 04:33 PM Please define "double dip". Here is one of many.. http://qctimes.com/news/local/government-and-politics/double-dipping-pensioners-concern-illinois-lawmakers/article_6082659c-8a4d-5fad-b5e1-18aab4b0d5f7.htmlWell, avoiding the disparity between the salary of teachers and the salary of superintendents (but both calling themselves "educators" to appeal to the schoolmarm image), I'll address it in a second, as I hit submit instead of reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elmer Fudd Posted January 30, 2015 at 04:33 PM Share Posted January 30, 2015 at 04:33 PM Please define "double dip".Sure....a person that is covered by a public pension under the Illinois system should be able to enter into a second career with another state related agency, but ought not be able to obtain incremental retirement benefits beyond that which they would have received if the years of service with the second agency had merely accrued under the guidelines for the first agency. For example, if a retired fireman after 20 years went to work for the tollway for an additional 20 years.....cap on pension would be 40 years service as a fireman not a new pension with a second agency. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango7 Posted January 30, 2015 at 04:53 PM Share Posted January 30, 2015 at 04:53 PM Please define "double dip". Sure....a person that is covered by a public pension under the Illinois system should be able to enter into a second career with another state related agency, but ought not be able to obtain incremental retirement benefits beyond that which they would have received if the years of service with the second agency had merely accrued under the guidelines for the first agency. For example, if a retired fireman after 20 years went to work for the tollway for an additional 20 years.....cap on pension would be 40 years service as a fireman not a new pension with a second agency.Understood. Just a few issues. 1: the current pension system - at least for firefighters not in Chicago - maxes your benefits at 30 years of service at 75% of your last salary. There is no provision for a "40 year" pension. Limiting former government employees can severely restrict the pool of people with training and experience that can provide a higher degree of service to the public sooner than hiring someone with no experience whatsoever. Also, the employees are paying their full share into their new pensions from their first paycheck... the problem with the current situation is less the "gold plated pensions" the elected talking heads accuse us if having with the fact that those same elected officials have been criminality malfeasant with the allocation of funds for decades (almost a century if you know where to research). Now each of the pension systems have their own rules, which makes it difficult discussing the pension of firefighters and comparing them to local teachers compared to state college professors compared to legislators compared to elected officials. I know some pensions allow "stacking" of unused vacation & sick leave, "spiking" or a pay raise in the last year to artificially inflated the salary level, as well as inclusion of overtime worked in the last year. The pension funds I am familiar with do not allow this. As a certified pension trustee and a board member with fiduciary responsibility I do not and cannot endorse these policies as they impose a greater burden on the member funds than the system was designed to maintain. This includes the sweetheart deals rigged by many in the educational administration field. I'll revisit this in a bit. My meal is here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elmer Fudd Posted January 30, 2015 at 05:24 PM Share Posted January 30, 2015 at 05:24 PM Please define "double dip".Sure....a person that is covered by a public pension under the Illinois system should be able to enter into a second career with another state related agency, but ought not be able to obtain incremental retirement benefits beyond that which they would have received if the years of service with the second agency had merely accrued under the guidelines for the first agency. For example, if a retired fireman after 20 years went to work for the tollway for an additional 20 years.....cap on pension would be 40 years service as a fireman not a new pension with a second agency.Understood. Just a few issues. 1: the current pension system - at least for firefighters not in Chicago - maxes your benefits at 30 years of service at 75% of your last salary. There is no provision for a "40 year" pension. Limiting former government employees can severely restrict the pool of people with training and experience that can provide a higher degree of service to the public sooner than hiring someone with no experience whatsoever. Also, the employees are paying their full share into their new pensions from their first paycheck... the problem with the current situation is less the "gold plated pensions" the elected talking heads accuse us if having with the fact that those same elected officials have been criminality malfeasant with the allocation of funds for decades (almost a century if you know where to research). Now each of the pension systems have their own rules, which makes it difficult discussing the pension of firefighters and comparing them to local teachers compared to state college professors compared to legislators compared to elected officials. I know some pensions allow "stacking" of unused vacation & sick leave, "spiking" or a pay raise in the last year to artificially inflated the salary level, as well as inclusion of overtime worked in the last year. The pension funds I am familiar with do not allow this. As a certified pension trustee and a board member with fiduciary responsibility I do not and cannot endorse these policies as they impose a greater burden on the member funds than the system was designed to maintain. This includes the sweetheart deals rigged by many in the educational administration field. I'll revisit this in a bit. My meal is here. No problem..once again.....excellent points and an example of how we move the discussion forward....getting the right people to use their years of experience for the public good is a very valid point.....and it strongly suggests that getting the system to work the way it should ought be the goal not merely eliminating something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barryware Posted January 30, 2015 at 05:24 PM Author Share Posted January 30, 2015 at 05:24 PM Dear Barry,I appreciate you taking the time to reach out to my office about tax reform in Illinois. My staff is reviewing your message. Please know I value your opinion and thank you for sharing it with me. Hearing from people in Illinois gives me a better idea of what is impacting local communities across the state. Knowing those opinions helps me make decisions for you in Springfield.Please feel free to contact me in the future. My office phone numbers are (217) 782-0244 and (312) 814-2121.Sincerely,Governor Bruce Rauner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elmer Fudd Posted January 30, 2015 at 05:34 PM Share Posted January 30, 2015 at 05:34 PM Dear Barry, I appreciate you taking the time to reach out to my office about tax reform in Illinois. My staff is reviewing your message. Please know I value your opinion and thank you for sharing it with me. Hearing from people in Illinois gives me a better idea of what is impacting local communities across the state. Knowing those opinions helps me make decisions for you in Springfield. Please feel free to contact me in the future. My office phone numbers are (217) 782-0244 and (312) 814-2121. Sincerely,Governor Bruce RaunerGreat thought...I wonder if I could get the same response if I email him and ask for his views on sending Pat Quinn to the gallows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChicagoRonin70 Posted January 30, 2015 at 07:58 PM Share Posted January 30, 2015 at 07:58 PM Dear Barry, I appreciate you taking the time to reach out to my office about tax reform in Illinois. My staff is reviewing your message. Please know I value your opinion and thank you for sharing it with me. Hearing from people in Illinois gives me a better idea of what is impacting local communities across the state. Knowing those opinions helps me make decisions for you in Springfield. Please feel free to contact me in the future. My office phone numbers are (217) 782-0244 and (312) 814-2121. Sincerely,Governor Bruce RaunerGreat thought...I wonder if I could get the same response if I email him and ask for his views on sending Pat Quinn to the gallows. No, for that e-mail, you'd get a dinner invite to the Springfield Governor's mansion with a request for a functional proposal to implement your plan. It would come with a sweetener of a state employee pension giving you one year of service per year that you have lived in the state. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
domin8 Posted January 31, 2015 at 04:15 AM Share Posted January 31, 2015 at 04:15 AM Concerning that double-dip with the guy cited in the article that now works for District 112, I'd like to point out that Illinoisans are paying for that twice. District 112 is Highland Park High School. Highland Park High School receives federal funding for the military children that attend the school that live in the military community I'm in. Yep, you're federal taxes are paying for that. To make matters worse, Forest City, the for profit company managing this off base military housing community, got a sweet deal pushed through Springfield a 2 years ago where the amount of property tax they pay decreases every year over a 3 year period until it teaches $0. In 2016 Highland Park will receive $0 in property taxes for 209 homes in its city. Forest City also has 1,100 homes for military personnel in North Chicago. Taking that into consideration, the funding is lacking and bills are racking up. I hope ISRA, NRA, et al weren't planning on collecting attorneys fees after winning Friedman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2A4Cook Posted January 31, 2015 at 08:52 PM Share Posted January 31, 2015 at 08:52 PM You can't mess with government pensions retroactively. Thank the drafters of the Illinois Constitution for that. That's right ... the protection of PUBLIC pension members and their benefits against any negative amendment or reduction (read, "patronage armies") is a CONSTITUTIONAL right in our slimy state, yet they feel entitled to trample over our Second Amendment rights. (Art. XIII, Par. 5, public pensions shall not be "diminished" ...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobPistol Posted February 1, 2015 at 02:39 AM Share Posted February 1, 2015 at 02:39 AM Oh look. Cronies making money off of taxpayers. No surprise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango7 Posted February 1, 2015 at 06:55 AM Share Posted February 1, 2015 at 06:55 AM Concerning that double-dip with the guy cited in the article that now works for District 112, I'd like to point out that Illinoisans are paying for that twice. District 112 is Highland Park High School. Highland Park High School receives federal funding for the military children that attend the school that live in the military community I'm in. Yep, you're federal taxes are paying for that. To make matters worse, Forest City, the for profit company managing this off base military housing community, got a sweet deal pushed through Springfield a 2 years ago where the amount of property tax they pay decreases every year over a 3 year period until it teaches $0. In 2016 Highland Park will receive $0 in property taxes for 209 homes in its city. Forest City also has 1,100 homes for military personnel in North Chicago. Taking that into consideration, the funding is lacking and bills are racking up. I hope ISRA, NRA, et al weren't planning on collecting attorneys fees after winning Friedman. IIRC that was assisted by our stalwart conservative Mark Kirk, wasn't it? Or was that the $0.20/dollar rate of compensation the Navy paid local school districts when they ran housing - also in a deal negotiated by (then Congressman) Mark Kirk. I have to ask - which admirals (RET) sit on the Forest City BoD? Oh, did we forget to mention Mark Kirk's side job? Here's his going away party: http://www.kirk.senate.gov/images/retirementceremony04.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markthesignguy Posted February 1, 2015 at 12:55 PM Share Posted February 1, 2015 at 12:55 PM You can't mess with government pensions retroactively. Thank the drafters of the Illinois Constitution for that. That's right ... the protection of PUBLIC pension members and their benefits against any negative amendment or reduction (read, "patronage armies") is a CONSTITUTIONAL right in our slimy state, yet they feel entitled to trample over our Second Amendment rights. (Art. XIII, Par. 5, public pensions shall not be "diminished" ...)You can thank the Illinois voters, THEY voted in the Amendment to the Illinois Constitution that has the not diminished wordage in it. I remember the election, just can't point to the year. I remember opposing it, for all the good it did, recognizing the huge check that was due because the politicians spent that money on other thingsSure they paid into their pensions, AND they let the politicians off on their part of the deal, while still voting for the self same politicians election after election, counting on untenable and unfunded promises. The WE the voters guaranteed these promises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markthesignguy Posted February 1, 2015 at 12:57 PM Share Posted February 1, 2015 at 12:57 PM You can't mess with government pensions retroactively. Thank the drafters of the Illinois Constitution for that. That's right ... the protection of PUBLIC pension members and their benefits against any negative amendment or reduction (read, "patronage armies") is a CONSTITUTIONAL right in our slimy state, yet they feel entitled to trample over our Second Amendment rights. (Art. XIII, Par. 5, public pensions shall not be "diminished" ...)You can thank the Illinois voters, THEY voted in the Amendment to the Illinois Constitution that has the not diminished wordage in it. I remember the election, just can't point to the year. I remember opposing it, for all the good it did, recognizing the huge check that was due because the politicians spent that money on other things Sure the employees paid into their pensions, AND they let the politicians off when the politicians reneged on their part of the deal, while still voting for the self same politicians election after election, counting on untenable and unfunded promises. Then WE the voters were hoodwinked into fulfilling those promises for the politicians. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WtJen Posted February 1, 2015 at 01:07 PM Share Posted February 1, 2015 at 01:07 PM Change the Constitution to allow impairment of the pensions. Problem solved. But either way just because I promise you an impossible thing and even sign a contract to deliver it, doesn't mean I can deliver it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobPistol Posted February 1, 2015 at 03:59 PM Share Posted February 1, 2015 at 03:59 PM Change the Constitution to allow impairment of the pensions. Problem solved. But we need the same corrupt politicians that created this mess that benefits them to create the law to be voted in by the people. Won't happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WtJen Posted February 2, 2015 at 12:51 AM Share Posted February 2, 2015 at 12:51 AM Change the Constitution to allow impairment of the pensions. Problem solved. But we need the same corrupt politicians that created this mess that benefits them to create the law to be voted in by the people. Won't happen. Your are most likely correct. But math doesn't care about your corruption or your promises. It simply does its thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockdiver Posted February 2, 2015 at 04:39 AM Share Posted February 2, 2015 at 04:39 AM Oh look. Cronies making money off of taxpayers. No surprise. So everyone collecting a state pension is a crony of some sort? Got it. Maybe some of them work their ***** off for what they get, and are pretty freakin happy that the IL government has to trim elsewhereas those employees getting what was agreed upon when hired is now and will be protected by IL constitution...nothing more. All this whining when someone loses value in their home or gets downsized because IL hates having businesses here, but it's fine when someone else gets bent over after 20-30 years of service. heck, i got screwed by a county agency just two months before i vested. But thats ok because noone EARNS two pensions, right? Theres a word for that somewhere..... Cut out the obamaphones and ebt BS. The double dip BS stacking promotions in last year is hardly common outside of admins. That is criminal. I agree. I know plenty of cops/fireman/others who worked in a trade (non public sector) until vested, or that now work for the state...They paid in to those pensions. They have earned them. Rocco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockdiver Posted February 2, 2015 at 05:02 AM Share Posted February 2, 2015 at 05:02 AM 1 other point of interest, at least where I have experience. ... After 2010, new hires cannot recieve 2 state pensions, even in nonrelated fields. For instance...hypothetically....if I already worked for the state...but another state "department" was working out the details of hiring me to do something they feel I am extremely well qualified to do...during those talks I might be told there is no way to collect a second pension... But I would still have to fully contribute from the second check. It would be kinda fishy to collect two pensions for the same Entity, but why pay twice? Rocco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGDEESUL Posted February 2, 2015 at 07:34 PM Share Posted February 2, 2015 at 07:34 PM I have 2 pensions. One from our local union, and one from our international union. 14 years vested in each. We just pulled out of the local pension. It was performing very poorly, and the credits per vested year kept going down. I wanted to stay in and ride it out, but unfortunately majority rules and we voted to get rid of it in our last contract. Took the extra few bucks an hour and now we have it to invest as we see fit. Anyway, just because I already have 28 total years of pension credits and I'm 34 years old, doesn't mean I haven't paid into both of those pensions. I also have a 401k on my own, and have been meaning to start an IRA for a while. Just need to do it. Does this mean I triple dip? Or soon to be quadruple dip? Of course, my pensions are private, and not part of any public union, but if anyone tried to pass a law saying that I can't collect on a pension that I paid into, I'd be pretty upset. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGDEESUL Posted February 2, 2015 at 07:40 PM Share Posted February 2, 2015 at 07:40 PM The problem is the salaries, and the ability to double a salary so easily. That's what's criminal. Not the fact that state workers get a pension. It's these scumbags being overpaid that's the problem. Those are the cronies. Not the average teacher or state worker. There's absolutely no reason that a town manager should make $250k. Why do the people that live in these towns allow this to happen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.