Northwest Herald|From the Editor's Desk: SERS pensions take turn in spotlight

By on March 28, 2016   /   Illinois Press, Latest, Press  

Taxpayers United of America’s (TUA) recent TRS & SERS pension data analysis was mentioned by Northwest Herald.

In recent weeks, Taxpayers United of America has released it top 200 list of Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund and Illinois Teacher’s Retirement System pensioners.

 On Thursday, it released its top 200 Illinois State Employees’ Retirement System pensioners.
Some highlights, or lowlights rather, from the list:
• Every annual pension on the list exceeds $118,000;
• 880 people collect pensions in excess of $100,000;
• The average estimated lifetime pension payout is $1,038,456;
• In fiscal 2015, taxpayers paid $1,804,319,356 into the government pension fund;
• In contrast, in fiscal 2015, SERS government employees paid $266,139,156 into their own pension fund;

• Sadashiv D. Parwatikar, retired from Chester Mental Health Center, has the highest annual pension at $207,623. To date, Parwatikar has collected $2,207,725 in pension. He contributed only $121,041;
• Kamal Modir, retired from the Singer Mental Health Center, tops the list for the most pension collected to date: $2,652,929. He paid $101,605 into his pension.

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Alton Daily News|Cook County Population in Decline

By on March 28, 2016   /   Illinois Press, Latest, Press  

Taxpayers United of America’s (TUA) Director of Operations, Jared Labell was mentioned by Alton Daily News on Cook County’s population decline.

As Cook County taxes rise, taxpayers in the Chicago area are choosing to vote with their dollars and deciding to leave, according to Taxpayers United of America.
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau released Thursday indicates the state’s largest county is declining in population. Between 2014 and 2015, 10,500 residents left Cook County. That’s the largest population decline among counties nationwide, according to the Census Bureau, and the first population decline in the county since 2007.
Jared Labell, director of operations for Taxpayers United of America, says the county’s continual tax increases have left certain residents with no choice.
“Chicago, in an effort to raise revenue to pay for their financial misgivings over the years as well as the pensions, they’re taxing residents out of the city,” Labell said.
He adds that tax increases in Cook County, including property taxes, alcohol and tobacco taxes and even taxes on Internet streaming services like Netflix, have prompted some residents to pack their bags.
“Taxpayers are being hit hard and so they’re making that choice to vote with their feet and leave,” Labell said. “And we’re seeing that also throughout the state of Illinois, unfortunately.”
Census figures also show 6,300 residents left the Chicago metropolitan area, the first population decrease in the city since 1990. Labell says residents who are leaving the area are moving to surrounding suburbs, neighboring states like Wisconsin and Indiana, and even moving to more taxpayer-friendly states like Florida and Texas.

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WTAX News Radio|New Census Data Shows an Exodus out of Cook County

By on March 28, 2016   /   Illinois Press, Latest, Press  

Taxpayers United of America’s (TUA) Director of Operations, Jared Labell was mentioned by WTAX News Radio on Cook County’s population decline.

As Cook County taxes rise, taxpayers in the Chicago area are choosing to vote with their dollars and deciding to leave, according to Taxpayers United of America.
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau released Thursday indicates the state’s largest county is declining in population. Between 2014 and 2015, 10,500 residents left Cook County. That’s the largest population decline among counties nationwide, according to the Census Bureau, and the first population decline in the county since 2007.
Jared Labell, director of operations for Taxpayers United of America, says the county’s continual tax increases have left certain residents with no choice.
“Chicago, in an effort to raise revenue to pay for their financial misgivings over the years as well as the pensions, they’re taxing residents out of the city,” Labell said.
He adds that tax increases in Cook County, including property taxes, alcohol and tobacco taxes and even taxes on Internet streaming services like Netflix, have prompted some residents to pack their bags.
“Taxpayers are being hit hard and so they’re making that choice to vote with their feet and leave,” Labell said. “And we’re seeing that also throughout the state of Illinois, unfortunately.”
Census figures also show 6,300 residents left the Chicago metropolitan area, the first population decrease in the city since 1990. Labell says residents who are leaving the area are moving to surrounding suburbs, neighboring states like Wisconsin and Indiana, and even moving to more taxpayer-friendly states like Florida and Texas.

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