CHICAGO (AP) — Hundreds of elected county officials throughout Illinois — including some who earn more than $100,000 despite working only part time for a portion of their careers — enjoy far more generous pension plan benefits than those offered to other government workers, according to a published report.
The Chicago Tribune reported Sunday that lawmakers tightened the rules in the late 1990s, but not before about 750 people joined a pension plan that allowed them to reap benefits otherwise reserved for elected county officials. More than 500 of the 750 people who joined the pension plan have since retired, according to the Tribune, 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 pay after just 20 years with the county. The amount is based on the elected official's last paycheck and not, as is the case with most government workers, the last four years of their employment. The plan also allows those enrolled to benefit far more from big pay hikes late in their careers.
Elected officials do have to pay more into their plans — 7.5 percent compared to the typical 4.5 percent — but the Tribune contends it's a small price to pay for much better benefits. It's also a far better deal than the one offered to county workers, who must work 40 years to qualify for 75 percent of their pay.
Former DuPage County board member Bill Maio is one official who benefited 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 post with 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 pension started 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 paid vacation or a paid holiday until I worked for Chris Kachiroubas." Maio told the Tribune, adding that he's a victim of mounting nationwide anger toward public employees.
"I know right now attacking people on public pensions is in vogue," he said. "But that doesn't mean that people who devoted their entire lives to public service don't deserve their pensions."
Kachiroubas also defended Maio's pay raises, including an 18 percent hike that came just eight months after he got a 3 percent raise.
"I would defy anyone to tell me this man didn't deserve everything I paid him," said Kachiroubas, noting that Maio was rewarded for collecting $10 million in overdue fines and for promotions in which he oversaw more employees.
Others, though, say what happened with Maio amounts to pension spiking.
"It only hurts DuPage County and its taxpayers," said Louis Kosiba, director of the Illinois Municipal Retirement fund.
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