Pensions, taxes are out of control

Pensions, taxes are out of control

Mr. Madigan:

I appreciate your leadership and guidance throughout the years, and I want to encourage you to promote legislation that will link teacher performance to student grades. In my opinion, the teachers unions should not be allowed to strike, especially during the school year. Teacher-supported unions, collectively, have too much influence over school boards and compensation.

Attending school board meetings, I’ve discovered that many of the school board members are either former teachers or have spouses who are teachers (or former teachers). Being a resident of Schaumburg, I have a difficult time understanding $160,000 salaries many teachers make, including driver ed and physical education teachers in District 211, yet the overall performance of these school districts that include District 54 do not justify the pay scales.

The current process needs to be fixed. Teachers should be compensated by performance and not be protected by tenure and unions. I understand that there is legislation in process relative to a state income tax increase. The citizens of Illinois are overburdened by taxes — that includes federal, state, local sales and property taxes. My wife had to pick up a full-time job (instead of part time at age 60) to help make ends meet and pay off college tuition loans and taxes. Many of my neighbors are moving, or considering moving, out of state.

The legislature needs to fix the pension funding issue first, not raise taxes. On pension funding, why not convert to a 401(k) plan, disburse the current pension monies into 401(k) accounts, and let the account holders manage the funds? This is what the private sector has done. The state needs to get out of the pension business. Please help the taxpayer. Fix the budget by cutting spending and redesign pension funding.

John Parker

Schaumburg