The Herald-News | Taxpayers United focuses on Will County pensions

By on April 16, 2015   /   Illinois, Illinois Press, Latest, Pension Reform, Press  

Taxpayers United of America’s operations director, Jared Labell, was quoted by The Herald-News in an article about Taxpayers United of America’s recent pension release for Will County and Joliet.

Taxpayers United of America on Wednesday put a spotlight on pensions in Will County and Joliet.heraldnewsart

 The Chicago-based organization said 266 public school retirees are collecting pensions in six-figures, while listing pensions for hundreds of individual retirees from area schools, Will County, Joliet and Joliet Junior College.
Public school retirees had the highest pensions, with many of those listed going to former school superintendents, the highest being $303,000 a year.
Taxpayers United has created the same lists for other counties and the state of Illinois in pushing for changes in government pension systems.
Specifically, the organization wants new hires switched to 401(k)-styled retirement accounts and current employees to contribute more money to their pensions.
Individual pensions are listed to draw attention to the state’s pension problems, said Jared Labell, operations director for Taxpayers United.
“I think people’s eyes still glaze over when you’re talking about $111 billion in unfunded liabilities,” Labell said. “We think it’s very helpful to be able to individualize it and put a name to it. Not so people can take up torches and go after their neighbors, but so they can look at it and say, ‘Wow, that’s the teacher who was teaching my son a few years ago and she’s making how much?'”
Some of the most recognized names on the lists are former school superintendents, police chiefs and other administrators whose positions made them public figures.
Taxpayers United drew attention to the pension of former Plainfield School District 202 Superintendent John Harper, whose salary at times was an issue before he retired in 2014.
Harper’s pension, according to Taxpayers United, is $239,019 a year.
Harper, 54, retired last year and took a job as principal at Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox. According to Taxpayers United, Harper can expect to collect $11 million in pension payments in his lifetime while contributing a personal investment of 3.2 percent.
Harper could not immediately be reached Wednesday for comment.
Plainfield School District 202 spokesman Tom Hernandez issued a statement saying Harper’s contract was based on his “success guiding what was the fourth largest school district in Illinois through almost 10 years of unprecedented growth, significant curriculum change, tremendous socioeconomic changes and many other challenges unique” to the school district.
Harper had the second highest pension in Will County, according to the list.
The highest is former Lincoln-Way School District 210 Superintendent Lawrence Wyllie, at $302,991. Wyllie’s contributions were calculated at 13.2 percent. The school district could not be immediately reached for comment.
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Pensions Listed at taxpayersunitedofamerica.org

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Killer Taxes Choke the Life Out of Will County

By on April 15, 2015   /   Illinois, Illinois Press, Latest, News Releases, Pension Reform, Press, Taxpayer Alert  

View as PDF Chicago, IL – Taxpayers United of America (TUA) has released its most recent government pension study exposing individual pensions for Joliet municipal, Will County, Will County government schools, and Joliet Junior College retirees.
“Across the 5 state pension funds, there are more than 12,154 government pensioners collecting six-figure pensions and over 85,893 pensioners collecting more than $50,000 where the local per-capita income is about $30,377 and the state debt per capita is $24,959,” said Jared Labell, TUA’s director of operations.
“266 Will County government teachers are drawing more than $100,000 in annual pension payments and 2,092 are getting more than $50,000! On average, these government pensioners contribute only about 5.5% to their own retirement payout.”
“Until 2011, Joliet was the fastest growing city in the region but that growth has slowed to just .85% in 2014. Government is the problem – government is the largest employer in Joliet and government payroll and pensions come from taxation. Government jobs don’t create wealth or growth – they simply siphon more money away from individual taxpayers.”
“The Joliet police and fire pension funds are in abysmal shape, each funded only about 50%.  Worse yet, Joliet’s IMRF liabilities are only about 35% funded. This is putting services in jeopardy, as pensions for services rendered in the past are competing for tax dollars needed for current services.”
“Taxpayers already are contributing four times as much to the pension funds than the government employees themselves, so for every dollar an employee puts into the fund, you and I put in 4.  Forcing taxpayers to pay such a heavy portion of someone else’s retirement is criminal.”
“It is time to protect the future of taxpayers who have been scammed by politicians and union thugs into going along with a system that creates and constitutionally protects a special class of government elite.”
“It’s also time for union leadership to have a frank discussion with the rank and file, educating them on the inevitable collapse of an unsustainable crony system designed to siphon money from taxpayers for the benefit of the few. The unions should use those dues forced from members to bail out the pension system rather than use those funds to elect political cronies who keep them in power.”
“Take a look at John R. Harper who retired from Plainfield SD 202. He gets $239,019 in annual pension payments. Retiring at only 54, his taxpayer funded pension payout will accumulate to more than $11 million! And his personal investment in that payout? A mere 3.2%.”
 
“Then there is Daniel T. Tapper, retired from Will County government. He gets $122,126 in annual pension payments and because he retired at only 50, those payments with compounded annual cost of living adjustments will accumulate to $6.4 million! His personal investment was only about 2.6% or $166,905.”
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“The average Social Security ‘pension’ is only about $15,000 a year and taxpayers pay 15% of every penny they earn for that modest payout.”
“This government pension system is the single cause of Illinois’ critical financial situation and it is mathematically impossible to tax our way out of this situation. 80% of local taxes go to fund government employee pay, pensions, and benefits.”
“The Illinois government has failed us; local governments have failed us. It is in everyone’s best interest to solve the pension problem before the system completely collapses. It is no longer a matter of ‘if’ it will collapse, but when.”
“Immediately place all new hires into 401(k) style retirement savings accounts, increase member contributions to their retirement fund, increase retirement age for full benefits, and increase member contributions to 50% of health care premiums. Anything short of these reforms will do nothing to permanently solve the problem. If it takes a Constitutional Amendment, then we need to get that on the ballot as soon as possible!”

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Taxpayers Overwhelmingly Vote for Taxpayers!

By on April 8, 2015   /   Illinois, Latest, Taxpayer Alert  

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Chicago – Taxpayers United of America (TUA) helped local activists defeat Home Rule in 3 more communities. TUA, founded 39 years ago, has helped taxpayers defeat a total of 209 Home Rule referenda. Also defeated were 3 out of 3 property tax increase referenda bringing the 39-year total victories to 208. Overall, TUA has helped taxpayers defeat a total of 417 referenda.
“Taxpayers sent a loud and clear message at the polls yesterday. They’re not going to quietly stand by and let government bureaucrats steal more of their hard-earned money,” stated Jim Tobin, TUA president.
Taxpayers in Wilmette Park District defeated bond issues for Gilson and Langdon parts by 64% and 78%, respectively.
Westmont CUSD 201 taxpayers crushed a property tax increase referenda with a 66% no vote.
Home Rule was overwhelmingly defeated in Shiloh (73%), New Baden (65%), and Broadview (85%).
“Home Rule is one of the worst things to happen to Illinois taxpayers,” said Tobin. “It gives government bureaucrats a blank check signed by taxpayers. It strips the right of taxpayers to vote on property tax increases and every other kind of tax the greedy politicians can dream up.”
“With our help, taxpayers have learned that 80% of local taxes go to fund salaries and pensions of the over-staffed government. No matter how loudly they yell it, we know ‘it’s not for the children.’”
“It’s pretty clear that Illinois’ taxpayers are fed up,” Tobin concluded. “We need to continue this trend of defeating and repealing taxes and taxing authorities. We need to return prosperity and financial security to the taxpayers, who have sacrificed their own well-being for the sake of the lavish and excessive pay and pensions of ‘civil servants.’”

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