Government Employees of Ford County Revel at Taxpayer Expense

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RANTOUL, ILLINOIS–A report released today by Taxpayers United of America (TUA) reveals that Ford County government teachers and government employees are not only receiving generous salaries but that their estimated pension payments in many cases are larger than some salaries in the private sector. Furthermore, over a normal lifetime, many of these government employees, when they retire, become pension millionaires.
“While Ford County stagnates economically with 10.5% unemployment, a paltry median home value of $91,000, and an average annual wage of $34,000, Ford County government teachers and government officials are pulling in generous taxpayer-funded salaries and enjoying lavish, gold-plated pensions that have made some of them pension millionaires,” said Jim Tobin, TUA President.
“Heading the list of Ford County government school Teachers is Charles Aubry, of Gibson City-Melvin-Sibly CUSD 5, pulling in an annual salary of $151,559. Next is Clifford McClure, of Paxton-Buckley-Loda CUD 10, with an annual salary of $133,948.”
“Ford County retired government school teachers are doing much better than the average Ford County taxpayer. John F. Perkins, of Paxton-Buckley-Loda 10, receives an annual pension of $112,038 — $9,337 a month (as of 3/4/11). Perkins already has collected $760,276 in pension payments-to-date.”
“Charles Wood, of Paxton-Buckley-Loda 10, who receives an annual pension of $75, 348, already has collected an astronomical $1,026,406 in pension payments-to-date.”
“Lee A. Anthony, formerly employed by Ford County, who retired making $128,013 a year, receives an annual pension of $109,615 — $9,135 a month. John A. Pickering, formerly employed by Ford-Iroquois Health Dept., who retired making $128,039 a year, receives an annual pension of $78,738 — $6,562 a month.”
“The way to fix the broken pension system is to end pensions for all new government hires, which would eventually eliminate unfunded government pensions; putting new government hires into social security and 401(k)s would achieve this.”
“If each government employee were required to contribute an additional 10% toward his or her pension taxpayers would save billions of dollars over the next 35 years.”
Click here to view this news release as a PDF.