Your property taxes pay for government workers’ guaranteed salaries, benefits and pensions while you get no such guarantees – Wirepoints on with Jeff Daly of WZUS Decatur Radio
April 18, 2024
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Ted joined Jeff Daly to discuss why Illinois’ property taxes are such a national outlier, why Illinoisans are forced to pay the high, guaranteed salaries, benefits and pensions of the government class, why Illinoisans aren’t getting their money’s worth for what they pay, the teachers unions’ influence over elections, and more.
A set of state lawmakers want to extend CPS’ current school closing moratorium to February 1, 2027 – the same year CPS is set to transition to a fully-elected school board. That means schools like Manley High School, with capacity for more than 1,000 students but enrollment of just 78, can’t be closed for anther three years. The school spends $45,000 per student, but just 2.4% of students read at grade level.
Hopefully, all media will get the message, in Illinois, too.
Ted joined Tom Miller of WJPF to talk about Illinois’ highest-in-the-nation property taxes, why lawmakers don’t want to touch the tax’s cost drivers, just how much Illinoisans’ tax burden has grown over the decades, why Gov. Pritzker failed to meet his promise to reform property taxes, and more.
It seems more and more of the mainstream media are running more pieces about public pensions. Seems to signal that a widespread collapse is on the horizon. Another good article that sheds light on the problem. Now the next question will there be the political will to prosecute those responsible.
Most arrangements are structured so that public officials end up making the final decision. For example, the actuary suggests a range of assumptions and the governing body selects the assumption to be used. (Example, how much return will be realized on our pension fund?) The public officials generally have statutory immunity from prosecution or civil liability. The actuaries have something in their engagement contract relieving them or indemnifying them from responsibility. Furthermore, the damage caused to taxpayers by years of malfeasance and cronyism is beyond the ability of any culpable party to pay out of his or her own pocket.… Read more »
We must prosecute otherwise there is no end to the madness. I’m pretty sure the government can go after them (the administrators of these plans) under the directors and officers insurance policies. Also the honest service s fraud, RICO statutes, etc. The system is on the verge of collapsing and most of the retirees don’t even know it’s coming.
I have researched this extensively and invite you to do the same. As a starting point, have a look at Bay City Police and Fire Retirees v. Bay City Police and Fire Retirement System Board Michigan Court of Appeals – Decided: August 24, 2006 (2006 Mich. App. Lexis 2604). The Michigan Court of Appeals held that the Retirement Board is protected by governmental immunity against breach of fiduciary duty claims related to the Board’s investment of plan assets. This was a case involving civil liability for imprudent investment of 20% of plan assets in a security that proved to be… Read more »