Daley's Pension Plan Renews Calls For Reform
CHICAGO (WBBM) -- There are renewed calls for changes in the way government pensions are funded in Illinois, following a report on the kind of pensions Mayor Richard M. Daley is in line for.
As WBBM Newsradio 780's Bernie Tafoya reports, two weeks from Tuesday, Mayor Daley will begin collecting government pensions totaling nearly $184,000 a year.
LISTEN: Newsradio 780's Bernie Tafoya reports
Podcast
The mayor has chosen to obtain his government pension under the Illinois Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act.
In other words, all his government service is being combined into one lump—nearly 40 years, instead of getting separate pensions from every government body he worked for.
In 1991, Daley transferred his nearly 7.5 years of service credit as Cook County state's attorney and more than $98,000 in contributions to the General Assembly Retirement System.
The mayor is also taking advantage of a rule that was in effect for legislators in office before 1994 which allows him to base his state pension on his last government salary. In this case, it's based on his $216,000 salary as mayor of Chicago.
Jim Tobin, president of National Taxpayers United Illinois, says it's unfair to put the burden of paying for Daley's and other government workers' pensions on state income tax payers and Chicago property tax payers.
Tobin said it appeared that Mayor Daley will celebrate his retirement by "retiring in luxury as he enjoys his double-dipping pension."
