County leaders must punch time clock
President Reagan once talked about “trust, but verify.” When it comes to local government leaders and their pensions, it tends to be “don’t ask, don’t tell.”
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner just signed Senate Bill 2701 that makes county officials prove they were working enough hours to be eligible for a pension, plus sign an affidavit making it clear that it is a felony if they lie to get a pension.
In the late 1990s we saw six Madison County elected officials gaming the government pension systems by accruing years of service through elected positions that paid little and then significantly boosting pension benefits by getting themselves high-paying government jobs for brief periods. Madison County Auditor Jack Frandsen increased his pension from $7,866 to $52,522 by quitting the County Board and getting appointed auditor for a few years.
The practice drastically increased what Madison County taxpayers needed to contribute to pensions, from $188,622 in 1999 to $448,000 in 2000.
State lawmakers responded by tightening eligibility rules. They tightened them again in 2011 by requiring 10 years of public service of at least 1,000 hours a year, which amounts to 20 hours a week, to participate in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund.
But still the elected county folks find loopholes. Nearly all 24 board members were on the pension plan in McHenry County, just east of Rockford on the Wisconsin border. A union dispute uncovered the issue, but not before it spawned the new law.
With the law signed, starting immediately elected county leaders wanting to eventually collect an IMRF pension must serve for 10 years and work that 20 hours a week, submit time sheets to payroll documenting the time and sign an affidavit that acknowledges the felony they are committing if they lie about their hours.
One problem is that the bill originally included all local government leaders, so those seven Belleville aldermen participating in IMRF who cost taxpayers $11,962.03 this past fiscal year would have had to prove they worked 1,000 hours. State lawmakers cut back so only county leaders are covered by the new law.
Still, it is a step in the right direction. Being elected to a position is not a job, it is public service. Publicly-funded pensions and health care should not be expected, sought or offered.
This story was originally published August 29, 2016 at 7:00 PM with the headline "County leaders must punch time clock."