View release as a PDF
CHICAGO–A report just published by Taxpayers United of America (TUA) on the “Top 100” pensions of the State Employee Retirement System (SERS) revealed that 84 of the Top 100 are state troopers or corrections officers, and that 28 state troopers retired at age 50 and have pensions over $100,000.
“If you want to pull in a lot of cash and retire early, being a state trooper or corrections officer is a lot more lucrative than being a criminal,” said Jim Tobin, TUA President.

Click here to download the Top 100 SERS pension amounts (PDF).
“Trooper John Lofton gets an annual pension of $134,026 and already has collected $1,077,048 in total pension paid out to date.”
“Trooper Gene Marlin gets an annual pension of $129,268 and already has collected a very hefty $1,402,163 in total pension paid out to date.”
“Leading the pack of the SERS Top 100 is Sadashiv Parwatikar of Human Services, with an annual pension of $184,470 and a total pension paid out to date of $1,464,787.”
“Second place on the Top 100 is Kamal Modir of Human Services, with an annual pension of $166,732 and an astounding total pension paid out to date of $1,981,427.”
“George Welborn of Corrections, who retired at age 55, gets an annual pension of $124,866 and already has collected $1,027,364 in total pension paid out to date.”
“These lavish, gold-plated SERS pensions are clearly unsustainable, and are the reason that SERS is so underfunded.”
“The way to fix the broken pension system is to replace pensions for all new government hires with social security and 401(k)s, and increase current employee contributions. This is the only way to eliminate the unfunded liabilities that plague taxpayers.”
“Finally, voters should kick all Springfield Democrats out of office in 2012. They are the ones who approved the temporary 67% state income tax surcharge, all of which is being pumped into the state pension programs.”
This release is the second in a series. To see the first, click here: Pension Millionaires Draining Lifeblood from TRS Pension Fund.

By on April 17, 2012   /   Commentary, Illinois, Latest, Pension Reform  
4 Comments
  1. Bill Dietz
    7:10 am on May 21, 2012

    Please keep us updated on pensions in IL. Bill Dietz

  2. Frank Smith
    2:13 am on June 4, 2012

    You know why we can retire at age 50, because after years of dealing with violent and assaultive persons, our bodies are screwed up. I have been kicked in the knees, punched in my back, involved in very physical and violent fights and other misc. injuries. All you guys want to do is complain about our pensions. But remember this, when most of us in the law enforcement and fire services retire at 50, we usually have a hard time working or finding work due to our injuries. Do you want us to be cops or firemen at age 67 or 70? Your house would burn down and there would be a lot more crime because I would have to get my rascal scooter out of my trunk before I could help anyone.

  3. Scott
    11:17 am on September 1, 2012

    Kick the Democrats Out??? What are you nuts? You think THIS is a party issue? It’s not… It’s a power issue, and replacing a DEMO with a REPU gets you the same result…….
    It’s got nothing to do with personalities, it’s the State Constitution that allows it….. and ultimately the LAZY Illinois voter who doesn’t really care about it other than to WHINE……. WAAAHHH

  4. Mark
    4:23 pm on September 11, 2012

    Soldiers whom have been in battle overseas don’t get this lavish a pension Frank. Soldiers whom have served on the front lines in World War II, the Korean War, the Viet Nam war, Iraq, and Afghanistan certainly have riskier job than a Chicago Police or Fire fighter. Police and Fire prior to the benefit increases over the last 40 years didn’t get these lavish pensions. Police and Fire in many other states don’t receive these lavish of pensions. We appreciate your work Frank we don’t appreciate getting blackmailed and manipulated. Those pension hikes were enacted into State law by politicians in exchange for union campaign contributions and votes. Police and Fire pensions in Illinois are governed by State Law and administered locally. Why does almost every single sizeable municipality in Illinois have TIF districts? Because taxes are too high. What is a major reason taxes are too high? Pay and benefits of government employees including pensions plus excessive borrowing for public works projects. The system is BROKE. The politicians ran it into the ground.