A 2005 law put the penalties in place to discourage districts from giving costly raises - any above 6 percent - that result in costlier pensions. While salaries are paid by districts, the state foots the bill for educators' retirement benefits.
Illinois penalizes districts for "pension spiking" by passing on the extra pension costs associated with hiking salaries in the years leading up to retirement.
Since 2005, the state has assessed more than $161 million in penalties, according to TRS data.
SW Illinois pensions spiking penalties, 2005-present
Rank
District
City
Members
Amount Assessed
Payments Made
Waivers Granted
Written-off
Current Balance
1
Red Bud Community Unit School District 132
Red Bud
11
$164,400.04
$27,020.31
$137,379.73
2
Columbia Community Unit School District No. 4
Columbia
19
$26,522.58
$26,520.89
$1.69
3
Chester Community Unit School District 139
Chester
12
$43,172.56
$20,703.21
$22,466.87
$2.48
4
Waterloo Community Unit School District 5
Waterloo
14
$47,172.17
$16,911.30
$30,260.87
5
Sparta Community Unit School District 140
Sparta
14
$115,394.91
$13,934.90
$101,458.77
$1.24
6
Valmeyer Community Unit School District 3
Valmeyer
5
$17,441.67
$13,410.60
$4,031.20
$(0.13)
7
Monroe-Randolph Counties ROE
Waterloo
3
$7,542.18
$7,542.18
8
Coulterville Unit School District 1
Coulterville
4
$30,547.65
$4,958.41
$25,589.24
9
Community CSD 204
Pinckneyville
4
$3,952.84
$3,952.84
10
Tamaroa SD 5
Tamaroa
1
$3,305.07
$3,305.07
11
Steeleville Community Unit School District 138
Steeleville
6
$40,305.42
$1,657.21
$38,641.82
$6.39
12
Duquoin Community Unit School District 300
Du Quoin
3
$1,290.89
$1,290.89
13
Prairie Du Rocher Community Consolidated School District 134
Prairie Du Rocher
1
$296.01
$296.01
ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS STORY
Valmeyer Community Unit School District 3 Board• Prairie Du Rocher Community Consolidated School District 134• Duquoin Community Unit School District 300• Red Bud Community Unit School District 132• Coulterville Unit School District 1 Board• Steeleville Community Unit School District 138 Board• Chester Community Unit School District 139 Board• Monroe-Randolph Counties Roe• Waterloo Community Unit School District 5 Board• Sparta Community Unit School District 140• Columbia Community Unit School District 4 Board• Community Csd 204• Tamaroa School District 5
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