Public Pensions

New Details Emerge on Illinois' "Tier 3" Pension Plan

Release: September 27, 2017

Illinois' fiscal year 2018 budget introduced major changes to the state's public pension systems in an attempt to grapple with Illinois' roughly $130 billion in unfunded liabilities. One of the most important aspects of these changes was a new package of benefits. This new package, called "Tier 3," introduced a hybrid defined benefit-defined contribution plan in addition to the defined benefit plans of Tier 1 and Tier 2.

Taxing Retirement Income

Release: April 5, 2011

Illinois does not currently tax pensions or retirement funds such as 401(k) plans. This Fact Sheet provides an estimate how much revenue could be generated by taxing some retirement income.

HB 3798 of the 96th General Assembly

Release: July 15, 2009

Fact Shee on House Bill 1292 of the 96th General Assembly, which would have amended the General Assembly Retirement System (GARS) Article of the Illinois Pension Code to create a defined contribution plan for new members

The Illinois Pension Funding Problem: Why It Matters

Release: November 20, 2006

An analysis of the five Illinois retirement systems finds that the state's worst-in-the-nation unfunded pension liability has grown by more than $7 billion in just the last two years.