Chicago Government-School Administrators Really, Really Rake in the Bucks!

By on September 10, 2012   /   Commentary, Illinois, Latest  

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CHICAGO–The news that well-paid Chicago government-school teachers have gone on strike because they didn’t get a 29% increase in salaries over 2 years draws attention from the even more outrageous salaries that Chicago government-school administrators are getting, according to Jim Tobin, President of Taxpayers United of America (TUA).
“Our recently-obtained list of the ‘Top 100’ Chicago government-school administrator salaries reveals that these are the guys who are pulling in the really big bucks — courtesy of Chicago taxpayers.”
Download the top 100 administrator salaries for Chicago Public Schools (CPS) here.

“At the top of our Top 100 list, Jean Claude Brizard, Chief Executive Officer, gets an annual salary of $250,000. Chief Administrative Officer, Timothy J. Cawley, receives $215,000.”
“Alicia Winckler, Chief Talent Officer — whatever that means — gets $205,000. David G. Watkins, Chief Financial Officer, pulls in $195,000.”
“Even at the bottom of our Top 100 list — number 100 — Principal Martha Alba gets a generous annual salary of $142,203. Not a bad salary for being number 100.”
“The greed of the Chicago government-school teachers and their well-to-do administrative counterparts is so obvious that I’m surprised Chicago taxpayers haven’t revolted and demanded that the striking teachers be fired and replaced with non-union personnel. Chicago is broke, and the government-school system also is broke. Cook County taxpayers, with average wages of $58,000 and a median home value of $269,000, have their backs to the wall. Chicago taxpayers need to say to the Mayor and to the Chicago Teachers Union: ENOUGH!”

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Chicago Teachers’ Strike Would Be Just Plain Stupid!

By on September 2, 2012   /   Commentary, Illinois, Latest  

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CHICAGO–Chicago teachers, who are the second-highest paid big-city teachers in the nation, are demanding an unconscionable pay hike while workers in the private sector struggle to keep their jobs, according to Jim Tobin, President of Taxpayers United of America (TUA).
“The average Chicago teacher makes $76,000 a year, according to Crain’s Chicago Business,” said Tobin, “and, in addition, Chicago picks up a 7% pension contribution for the teachers, which no other city does. The average Illinois statewide teacher salary is $63,000.”
“Depending on the source, they are demanding a 29% pay increase over 2 years (Chicago Sun-Times) or a 25% pay increase over 2 years (Crain’s), despite the fact that the CPS system is projected to have a $665 million budget deficit for the fiscal year ending next June 30. For fiscal year 2014, the deficit will soar to $1 billion.”
Download the top 100 teacher salaries for Chicago Public Schools (CPS) here.

“TUA just released the ‘Top 100’ Chicago Public Schools teacher salaries, and some truly egregious figures are revealed. The highest-paid teacher, Janet Jones, who teaches chemistry in grades 9-12 receives a salary of $183,777 for 9 months of employment.”
“Omar Fong-Bances, who teaches instrumental music, receives a salary of $123,929.”
“Robert Bush III, listed as an Auto/Automotive Mechanic/Technician, receives a salary of $113,958.”
“Between 2007 and 2012, according to Crain’s, while many Chicagoans endured pay cuts and layoffs, teachers enjoyed pay increases from 19 to 46 percent. The Chicago Teachers Union’s demand for a huge salary increase of up to 29% while threatening a strike if these demands are not met, is outrageous, unrealistic and just plain stupid.”

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Illinois Tollway Retirees Get Wealthy For Doing Nothing

By on August 15, 2012   /   Illinois, Latest, Pension Reform  

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CHICAGO—Some Illinois Tollway employees retire very early, and often become pension millionaires over their long retirement, according to the President of Taxpayers United of America (TUA).
“Our organization has obtained the names, annual pension figures and amounts-paid-to-date for former employees of the Illinois Tollway system,” said Jim Tobin, TUA President, “and the list of the Top 100 total pension payouts is very revealing. Twenty of the top 24 recipients have already received over $1 million in amounts-paid-to-date, and of these 24 former tollway employees, 22 are retired Illinois Tollway Police Officers.”
View the top 100 pensions (paid-to-date) in the Illinois Tollway System here.
“Number one on the list is former tollway policeman Edward Quedens, who retired at age 54 and already has received $1,299,996 in pension payments. For these benefits, Quedens total employee-contribution was only $65,384.”
“Number two, Victor Centanni, also a former tollway policeman, retired at age 56 and has received a total-to-date payout of $1,212,777. His total employee-contribution was only $49,067.”
“I wish my investments gave me that kind of return,” added Tobin.
“The top four on our list were former tollway policemen. Number five is Ralph Wehner, whose employment was listed as ‘General Office.’ He retired at age 64 with a salary of $118,368. Not bad for general office work. His total pension-to-date is $1,207,833, not a bad return on his total employee contribution into the system of $148,838.”
“These high-flying former tollway employees are getting rich by being paid for doing absolutely nothing,” said Tobin. “It must be nice to retire at age 54 and look forward to getting more than a million dollars over a normal lifetime for not working.”
“Although tollway salaries are funded by the system’s exorbitant tolls, Illinois taxpayers are on the hook for their lavish, gold-plated pensions. All of the recent, back-breaking 67% increase in the state personal income tax is going to fund the over-the-top pensions of government employees. This pension system is unsustainable.”
“Ending pensions for all new government and tollway hires will eventually eliminate unfunded government pensions,” said Tobin. “New hires should plan for their own retirements by being placed in Social Security and 401(k) plans.”
“Furthermore, if each government employee were required to contribute an additional 10% toward his or her pension, taxpayers would save $150 billion over the next 35 years.”
“Finally, requiring government employees and retirees to pay for one-half of their health care premiums would save an additional $230 billion over current projections.”

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