Comptroller: Budget impasse alters pension payment schedule

CHICAGO (AP) - Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger says the state budget impasse is affecting the way her office doles out pension system payments.

Comptrollers have used different schedules over the years to meet the annual payment. Munger says she continued a monthly approach used by her predecessor, the late Judy Baar Topinka.

Munger announced at a news conference Wednesday in Chicago that she has to delay a scheduled $560 million November payment because of a cash shortage. She says retirees will still receive benefit checks as scheduled.

Legislative Democrats and Gov. Bruce Rauner are at a stalemate over a spending plan for the July 1 fiscal year.

However, money is still being allocated through state laws and consent decrees at last year's rates while less revenue is coming in.