Taxpayers United of America’s recent data release of an updated list of lawmaker pensions in the General Assembly Retirement System was used by Reboot Illinois.
Which retired state lawmakers have the biggest Illinois pensions?
Taxpayers United of America, an organization that advocates for tax relief and “fighting government pensions,” has released an updated list of lawmaker pensions in the General Assembly Retirement System.
At the end of fiscal year 2015, the pension fund had a funded ratio of 16.4 percent — the lowest of the state’s five retirement systems — and $278.8 million in unfunded liabilities. Here are some more fast facts from the 2015 comprehensive annual financial report:
Average member salary: $89,241
Active members: 145
Active retirees: 309
Total active beneficiaries (including survivors): 424
Required employee contribution rate: 11.5 percent
Participant contributions: $1.49 million
Employer contributions: $15.87 million
Total participant contributions as percent of total contributions revenue: 8.6 percent
Average age at retirement: 60
Average pension: $58,644
Average length of service: 13.4 years
Following is a list of the Top 25 legislators who are receiving the biggest annual pension payouts as of Jan. 27, 2016.
*TUA’s calculation for estimated lifetime pension payout assumes a life expectancy of 85 (IRS Form 590) and the 3 percent compounded cost-of-living adjustment.
25. Rep. Ralph Capparelli (D-Chicago)
Annual Pension: $123,282
Member Contributions: $160,576
Age at Retirement: 80
Pension Collected to Date: $1.13 million
Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $1.13 million*
Percent Contributed to Lifetime Payout: 14.2%
24. Rep. Arthur L. Turner (D-Chicago)
Annual Pension: $123,420
Member Contributions: $189,941
Age at Retirement: 60
Pension Collected to Date: $563,976
Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $3.66 million*
Percent Contributed to Lifetime Payout: 5.2%
23. Rep. Chuck Hartke, director, Illinois Department of Agriculture (D-Teutopolis)
Annual Pension: $123,432
Member Contributions: $112,308
Age at Retirement: 63
Pension Collected to Date: $874,473
Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $2.98 million*
Percent Contributed to Lifetime Payout: 3.8%
22. Rep. William T. Ryder (R-Jerseyville)
Annual Pension: $123,930
Member Contributions: $138,330
Age at Retirement: 55
Pension Collected to Date: $1.25 million
Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $4.15 million*
Percent Contributed to Lifetime Payout: 3.3%
21. Rep. Kurt Granberg (D-Carlyle)
Annual Pension: $125,738
Member Contributions: $121,757
Age at Retirement: 55
Pension Collected to Date: $800,358
Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $4.88 million*
Percent Contributed to Lifetime Payout: 2.5%
20. Rep. Samuel McGrew (D-Galesburg)
Source: SlidePlayer
Annual Pension: $127,992
Member Contributions: $76,963
Age at Retirement: 55
Pension Collected to Date: $1.53 million
Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $3.92 million*
Percent Contributed to Lifetime Payout: 2.0%
19. Rep. Lee Daniels, former House Speaker from 1995-1997 (R-Elmhurst)
Annual Pension: $128,161
Member Contributions: $181,640
Age at Retirement: 64
Pension Collected to Date: $988,156
Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $2.81 million*
Percent Contributed to Lifetime Payout: 6.5%
18. Rep. Robert Molaro (D-Chicago)
Annual Pension: $129,924
Member Contributions: $109,860
Age at Retirement: 58
Pension Collected to Date: $818,708
Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $4.31 million*
Percent Contributed to Lifetime Payout: 2.5%
17. Sen. Timothy Degnan, former adviser to Richard M. Daley (D-Chicago)
Annual Pension: $130,014
Member Contributions: $85,291
Age at Retirement: 55
Pension Collected to Date: $2.0 million
Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $3.32 million*
Percent Contributed to Lifetime Payout: 2.6%
16. Sen. Richard M. Daley, former Cook County state’s attorney and mayor of Chicago (D-Chicago)
Annual Pension: $132,393
Member Contributions: $88,434
Age at Retirement: 69
Pension Collected to Date: $583,892
Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $2.28 million*
Percent Contributed to Lifetime Payout: 3.9%
15. Sen. Doris Karpiel (R-Carol Stream)
Annual Pension: $132,428
Member Contributions: $95,999
Age at Retirement: 68
Pension Collected to Date: $1.32 million
Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $2.02 million*
Percent Contributed to Lifetime Payout: 4.7%
14. Sen. Dan Rutherford, former state treasurer (R-Chenoa)
Annual Pension: $132,616
Member Contributions: $173,209
Age at Retirement: 59
Pension Collected to Date: $122,650
Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $4.96 million*
Percent Contributed to Lifetime Payout: 3.5%
13. Gov. Pat Quinn (D)
Annual Pension: $133,168
Member Contributions: $197,925
Age at Retirement: 66
Pension Collected to Date: $136,216
Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $3.25 million*
Percent Contributed to Lifetime Payout: 6.1%
12. Sen. Carl Hawkinson (R-Galesburg)
Annual Pension: $135,366
Member Contributions: $136,036
Age at Retirement: 58
Pension Collected to Date: $1.16 million
Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $4.11 million*
Percent Contributed to Lifetime Payout: 3.3%
11. Rep. Thomas Homer (D-Canton)
Annual Pension: $137,276
Member Contributions: $78,093
Age at Retirement: 55
Pension Collected to Date: $1.47 million
Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $4.24 million*
Percent Contributed to Lifetime Payout: 1.8%
10. Sen. Emil Jones, Jr. (D-Chicago)
Annual Pension: $146,073
Member Contributions: $206,924
Age at Retirement: 73
Pension Collected to Date: $884,497
Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $1.66 million*
Percent Contributed to Lifetime Payout: 12.5%
9. Sen. James “Pate” Philip (R-Addison)
Annual Pension: $146,782
Member Contributions: $330,125
Age at Retirement: 72
Pension Collected to Date: $1.52 million
Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $1.52 million*
Percent Contributed to Lifetime Payout: 21.7%
8. Gov. James Thompson (R)
Annual Pension: $147,477
Member Contributions: $84,996
Age at Retirement: 55
Pension Collected to Date: $2.59 million
Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $3.38 million*
Percent Contributed to Lifetime Payout: 2.5%
7. Roland Burris, former Illinois attorney general, comptroller and U.S. senator (D)
Annual Pension: $149,734
Member Contributions: $134,680
Age at Retirement: 57
Pension Collected to Date: $2.31 million
Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $3.46 million*
Percent Contributed to Lifetime Payout: 3.9%
6. Rep. Gary Hannig (D-Litchfield)
Annual Pension: $150,967
Member Contributions: $176,273
Age at Retirement: 58
Pension Collected to Date: $628,808
Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $5.24 million*
Percent Contributed to Lifetime Payout: 3.4%
5. Gov. Jim Edgar (R)
Annual Pension: $156,331
Member Contributions: $164,657
Age at Retirement: 55
Pension Collected to Date: $1.85 million
Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $4.75 million*
Percent Contributed to Lifetime Payout: 3.5%
4. Sen. John Friedland (R-South Elgin)
Annual Pension: $163,051
Member Contributions: $66,716
Age at Retirement: 55
Pension Collected to Date: $2.64 million
Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $3.89 million*
Percent Contributed to Lifetime Payout: 1.7%
3. Rep. Judy Erwin (D-Chicago)
Judy Erwin
Annual Pension: $164,010
Member Contributions: $238,038
Age at Retirement: 60
Pension Collected to Date: $818,027
Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $4.94 million*
Percent Contributed to Lifetime Payout: 4.8%
2. Sen. Edward Petka (R-Plainfield)
Annual Pension: $186,968
Member Contributions: $171,449
Age at Retirement: 66
Pension Collected to Date: $1.03 million
Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $3.68 million*
Percent Contributed to Lifetime Payout: 4.7%
1. Sen. Arthur L. Berman (D-Chicago)
Annual Pension: $235,829
Member Contributions: $109,293
Age at Retirement: 66
Pension Collected to Date: $2.68 million
Estimated Lifetime Pension Payout: $3.67 million*
Percent Contributed to Lifetime Payout: 3.0%
You can see Taxpayers United of America’s complete list and analysis here.
