The Bond Buyer
This article discussed the challenges municipalities across Illinois face in dealing with their growing pension obligations. The article offered a number of examples where the burden of pensions has resulted in credit downgrades and recounts cases in which extraordinary measures have been taken to make pension payments. In exploring possible solutions, the article outlined an initiative from the Civic Federation and the Illinois Municipal League to consolidate the more than 650 downstate public safety pension funds into the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund and mentioned the Civic Federation’s support for a constitutional amendment to clarify the pension protection clause of the Illinois Constitution. More information on the Civic Federation’s recommendations for pension reform can be found in the 2019 Legislative Priorities.