Because of the state’s inability to set proper priorities, manage resources, and solve the culture of corruption and collusion, Illinois state government is seeking to push more costs onto local taxpayers. This is with no guarantee that the state will meet its obligations to existing pension liabilities that have amassed due to the legislatures’ and governors’ failures over decades to make the necessary pension payments.
Fred Klonsky 
Pushing the funding for pensions on to local property taxes is regressive and inequitable. The value of property varies considerably. Areas with expensive property such as shopping centers can afford education without terrible burdens on homeowners while areas poor in commercial property place heavy burdens on homeowners while still serving an impoverished education. A graduated income tax is far more equitable, not regressive, and serves education as a societal good. Quinn &Co. are trying to ignore their responsibilities not just to funding teacher pensions as a contractual obligation but are also ignoring the equitable funding of education. The state should have the primary role in that principle.
Teachers ARE taxpayers,who paid into their pensions, so it it’s NOT a subsidy. If you as a citzen don’t like that arrangement so be it, but stop your misrepresentation of teachers as other than taxpayers.
filly–I’ve said that, too! I keep telling people who aren’t teachers that we ARE taxpayers, too! Therefore, we also pay our salaries! How many teachers outside of Chicago are in IL? I submit that we collect just $1 from every TRS teacher to run as many ads as we can afford w/that amount (it should buy us at least ONE full-page ad, hopefully more; a TV ad {?}; a radio ad–?) Whoever out in Fredland knowing this information (cost of aforementioned) write up a post as to how we can do this. (Surely someone reading this must have a spouse, significant other, son or daughter or other relative or friend who would help us in this endeavor.) Then we can explain–We are taxpayers, too. (w/supporting evidence). We paid into our pensions (w/supporting evidence). Contrary to popular belief, we DO PAY for health insurance., & we don’t receive other benefits. And–even though some of us worked enough quarters to earn it–we do NOT receive S.S. (So, in essence, WE paid for THEIR S.S.!!!) Also–state the REAL average IL teachers’ salary & the REAL average retired teachers’ pension. SOMEBODY out there–help us & help yourself!
P.S.–I read what Roger wrote in its entirety &, if you could, please print the rest (if not,
everyone read the rest in Glen Brown’s blog). He explains everything clearly & from experience. More people (precisely, Gov. Quinn & the G.A.) would do well to read him, listen to him (he went to Springfield!), & follow his sage advice.
In fact, Roger should run for office.
I linked to Glen’s blog. Readers of my blog should subscribe to Glen’s blog anyway. The entire piece is a click away. I also encourage everyone to read it.
What’s strange to me and some wonk would be able to answer, is that we get 2 versions of pension solvency. 1) the state pension system is not doing well due to the stock market 2) the probem is not with our contrributions or our ‘greediness,” but the state’s lack of funding which they will have to make up in 2013. The stock market has recovered greatly from where I sit, so that leaves the state. We do receive SS here in PA and except for group assistance through either PSERS or the PFT there is some help with health insurance after retirement.. They cannot say that reitrees here get health bennies as a part of our contract, no none of that” expensive retiree package” BS should be uttered here. IMHO though benefits after retirement in some districts are a cause for concern unless it’s part of a buyout.