By: Mark Glennon* The Center for Tax and Budget Accountability today released a report titled, Public Pensions: Frequently Asked Questions. The “average” annual pension benefit for Illinois statewide pensions is just $45,832, says the report. Sounds pretty reasonable, which is why “averages” like that have been central to public unions’ messaging about pensions for years. It’s bunk. While it might be true in a very literal sense, it’s so misleading and incomplete that it can only be described as dishonest. Here’s why: “Average” pensions include those who work only part of their careers in the system providing the pension.