CHICAGO (AP) — Hundreds of elected county officials throughoutIllinois — including some who earn more than $100,000 despiteworking only part time for a portion of their careers — enjoy farmore generous pensionplan benefits than those offered to other government workers,according to a published report.

The Chicago Tribune reported Sunday that lawmakers tightened therules in the late 1990s, but not before about 750 people joined apension plan that allowed them to reap benefits otherwise reservedfor elected county officials. More than 500 of the 750 people whojoined the pension plan have since retired, according to theTribune, including 17 whose initial pensions were more than $100,000.

The paper reports that under the Elected County Officials plan,known as ECO, elected officials qualify for 80 percent of their payafter just 20 years with the county. The amount is based on theelected official's last paycheck and not, as is the case with mostgovernment workers, the last four years of their employment. Theplan also allows those enrolled to benefit far more from big payhikes late in their careers.

Elected officials do have to pay more into their plans — 7.5percent compared to the typical 4.5 percent — but the Tribunecontends it's a small price to pay for much better benefits. It'salso a far better deal than the one offered to county workers, whomust work 40 years to qualify for 75 percent of their pay.

Former DuPage County board member Bill Maio is one official whobenefited from the plan. Maio held a post that paid just under$49,000 a year in 2005 and later was hired for a newly-created postwith Circuit Clerk Chris Kachiroubas that paid $90,000 annually.Five years and five pay raises later, Maio's salary increased to$125,000, meaning that when he retired in August 2010 his pensionstarted at $100,000.

Maio said it was a reward for years of public service.

"I worked seven days a week my whole life. I never had a paidvacation or a paid holiday until I worked for Chris Kachiroubas."Maio told the Tribune, adding that he's a victim of mountingnationwide anger toward public employees.

"I know right now attacking people on public pensions is invogue," he said. "But that doesn't mean that people who devotedtheir entire lives to public service don't deserve theirpensions."

Kachiroubas also defended Maio's pay raises, including an 18percent hike that came just eight months after he got a 3 percentraise.

"I would defy anyone to tell me this man didn't deserveeverything I paid him," said Kachiroubas, noting that Maio wasrewarded for collecting $10 million in overdue fines and forpromotions in which he oversaw more employees.

Others, though, say what happened with Maio amounts to pensionspiking.

"It only hurts DuPage County and its taxpayers," said LouisKosiba, director of the Illinois Municipal Retirement fund.