We shouldn't cover pension fund losses

I believe there are several practices that contribute to the excessive pension benefits in the Illinois pension system.

1. The pension calculation is only based on the four highest compensation years rather than perhaps 10.

2. Employees are allowed to accumulate I believe unlimited sick days and vacation days and be paid for these days at their discretion in the final years of employment. Sick days should not be rolled over and there should be a limit on vacation days rolled over.

3. School boards are not independently educated in these matters. Of course school administrators will want to maximize their legal pension.

Speaking as a former school board member, I believed pensions were funded by the pension contributions made on behalf of district employees as part of their compensation. If the pension fund has investment losses it should be a pension fund issue, not a taxpayer issue.

Martin Johnson

Arlington Heights