Why do I pay for their pensions?

As I was writing my check for 2009 property tax I took note of several line items for pensions. The total of these "pension" items was $287. This is 6 percent of my total tax bill of $4,868.

I provided my own pension fund using IRAs and other investments, and when the market and economy went south a couple years ago I took quite a hit on my retirement fund.

Now I am expected to shore up those government bodies whose pension funds went the same way as mine, to the tune of $287. Why should I help pay Huntley's retired firemen $59, Huntley's School District 158 $102, Huntley's village pension fund $81, Kane County Forest Preserve $3, and Kane County pension fund $42?

Why don't these people have to take a reduction in pension payments like most of us in the private sector? I know people who have had to return to work because of dwindling retirement benefit payments.

Bob Dwiel

Huntley