League of Women Voters of Glenview: Study of Illinois pension systems
Pension Study Underway
One of the most polarizing issues facing Illinois is the pension crisis. People on all sides of the issue are either scared they might get less, or scared they are going to have to pay more. There are many opinions, but what are the facts?
The League of Women Voters of Illinois, a non-partisan organization, has begun a “study of pension problems in Illinois and proposals for pension reforms.” The goal is to come up with a position of what types of pension systems are sustainable and appropriate for Illinois and what reforms the League would recommend consistent with the language and wording of the Illinois Constitution. Leagues all over the state, including the Glenview League, began studying the issue in July.
The study is limited to five Illinois state public pension systems that are estimated to carry an unfunded liability of $83 billion: General Assembly Retirement Plan, Judges Retirement System, State Employees Retirement System, State Universities Retirement System and Teachers' Retirement System.
Locally, the Glenview League has a core group of 15 Leaguers, with chairman Mary-Lou Aagaard, who began their study with an analysis of the overall issue. Currently they have broken into small study groups to evaluate the issue from the point of view of five special interest groups: the State of Illinois, the Taxpayers of Illinois, Retirees in Illinois, Retirees currently in the Five State Pension Systems, and Public School Districts, Public Community College Districts and Public Universities.
The Glenview League will continue studying the issue through October 20 when the Pension Study Committee will present its findings to all League members and the public. There is still time to join the committee, but interested persons must join the League of Women Voters of Glenview to participate.
Membership in the Glenview League is open to men and women and is open to Glenview and non-Glenview residents. For more information, please call Mary Hummel, 847-724-4701 or mhu3733@comcast.net.