Austin Bergs recent column used a new analysis from the Illinois Policy Institute to offer an obviously biased view of Illinois teacher pensions.
Berg claimed that nearly 75,000 teacher retirees will receive a lifetime payout of more than $1 million. He failed, however, to offer any information on the expected longevity of these retirees or how long they would have to live to claim their $1 million dollars.
Berg did admit that public-sector workers should not be ashamed for the great deal they are getting, noting that Those who choose a life of service deserve honor and praise.
I would add, but not money.
The Illinois Teachers Retirement System reported that in 2017, Illinois school districts paid an average salary of $71,773 to a total of 160,488 working teachers. In that same year, the average teacher retirees pension was $54,180. At that rate, a retiree would have to live at least 19 years after retirement to obtain Bergs predicted payout of $1 million.
As a working teacher for more than 30 years, I managed to live through the low salary times and paid a percentage of each paycheck into the pension system. Now my pension is criticized as too luxurious. Would Berg consider it as a blessing to taxpayers if I experienced less longevity?
MIKE WOODS
Champaign
The rest is here:
Letter to the Editor | Longevity key pension issue - Champaign/Urbana News-Gazette
Recommendation and review posted by G. Smith
