The Murphysboro Firefighters Pension Fund placed 321st among the most underfunded police and fire pension funds in Illinois for 2024, Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) data show.
The pension fund, operating within Illinois’ city pension framework, listed total pension liabilities at $9,626,543 and an actuarial asset value of $6,460,566.
With a funding ratio of 67.1%, the fund was short 32.9% of the actuarial assets required to meet its retirement benefit obligations.
This gap left the system with an unfunded liability of about $3,165,977.
The Illinois Department of Insurance gathers and releases data on municipal police and fire pension funds, which are financed by taxpayers in each community.
As of 2024, Illinois managed 300 fire and 363 police pension funds. Certain municipalities cover both types, while some support only one.Some municipalities do not have outstanding pension liabilities. In 2024, 64 municipalities reported no police or fire pension debt and were left out of the rankings.
Police and fire pension commitments—often known as “pension benefits”—are a form of deferred compensation. Municipal officials pledge retirement benefits to public safety employees, but sometimes fall short in securing necessary contributions from employees or taxpayers. This shortfall results in growing municipal pension debt, passing costs to future residents. Municipalities support these pensions through annual contributions, which are primarily paid for with property taxes, as outlined in IDOI data.
In 2024, the average funding ratio for Illinois police and fire pension systems was 65.1%, underscoring widespread shortfalls in public safety retirement funding across the state.
Glencoe Firefighters Pension Fund recorded the lowest funding ratio statewide at only 0.9%.
By contrast, Savoy Firefighters Pension Fund was the best funded with a 797.7% funding ratio and actuarial assets totaling $149,803, well above its liabilities.
Illinois’ total state pension debt rose by $1.5 billion in 2024, reaching $143.7 billion, according to the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability. This marks the third year in a row of increases, bringing the debt close to its 20-year peak of $144.2 billion in 2020.
Data from the State Department of Insurance Public Pension Division show suburban and downstate pension funds in Illinois faced unfunded actuarial liabilities totaling $12.1 billion in 2024, with an overall funding ratio of 49.18%. This indicates more than half the assets needed for benefits are missing.
A 2024 study by the Equable Institute reported Illinois had the largest share of its GDP tied up in unfunded pension liabilities, approaching 20%.
According to the nonpartisan Illinois Policy Institute, this is increasing the tax burden on residents. The group noted that taxpayer payments toward state pension funding escalated from $614 million in fiscal year 1996 to $11.2 billion by fiscal year 2025.
| Rank | Pension Fund | City | Fund Type | Funding % | Unfunded Liability | Total Liabilities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glencoe Firefighters Pension Fund | Glencoe | Village or Township | 0.9% | $178,203 | $179,832 |
| 2 | South Chicago Heights Firefighters Pension Fund | South Chicago Heights | Village or Township | 2.8% | $491,701 | $505,700 |
| 3 | Bethany Firefighters Pension Fund | Bethany | Village or Township | 3.9% | $250,130 | $260,252 |
| 4 | Posen Firefighters Pension Fund | Posen | Village or Township | 6.8% | $1,013,154 | $1,086,589 |
| 5 | Nunda Rural FPD Firefighters Pension Fund | Crystal Lake | Fire Protection District | 8% | $155,069 | $168,587 |
| 6 | East St. Louis Firefighters Pension Fund | East St. Louis | City | 9.5% | $60,376,247 | $66,732,525 |
| 7 | Cairo Firefighters Pension Fund | Cairo | City | 10.9% | $4,757,521 | $5,338,526 |
| 8 | Riverdale Police Pension Fund | Riverdale | Village or Township | 14.9% | $45,058,163 | $52,928,748 |
| 9 | Washington Park Police Pension Fund | Caseyville | Village or Township | 17.3% | $2,295,422 | $2,775,919 |
| 10 | Lynwood Police Pension Fund | Lynwood | Village or Township | 17.5% | $13,417,550 | $16,254,380 |
| 11 | Stone Park Police Pension Fund | Stone Park | City | 21.4% | $17,485,225 | $22,232,105 |
| 12 | Harvey Firefighters Pension Fund | Harvey | City | 22% | $43,143,298 | $55,313,475 |
| 13 | Cairo Police Pension Fund | Cairo | Village or Township | 23.8% | $3,594,155 | $4,716,195 |
| 14 | Lincoln Firefighters Pension Fund | Lincoln | City | 24.3% | $17,964,106 | $23,728,200 |
| 15 | Burnham Police Pension Fund | Burnham | Village or Township | 25.8% | $7,033,692 | $9,481,825 |
| 16 | East Alton Police Pension Fund | East Alton | Village or Township | 29% | $7,752,199 | $10,913,295 |
| 16 | Danville Firefighters Pension Fund | Danville | City | 29% | $56,012,714 | $78,905,481 |
| 18 | North Chicago Police Pension Fund | North Chicago | City | 29.2% | $48,425,528 | $68,354,735 |
| 19 | Lyons Police Pension Fund | Lyons | Village or Township | 30.6% | $23,697,686 | $34,165,503 |
| 20 | Braidwood FPD Firefighters Pension Fund | Braidwood | Fire Protection District | 32% | $316,114 | $464,595 |
| 21 | Summit Police Pension Fund | Summit | City | 32.6% | $29,528,504 | $43,781,677 |
| 22 | Evergreen Park Firefighters Pension Fund | Evergreen Park | Village or Township | 32.7% | $2,456,722 | $3,650,796 |
| 23 | Blue Island Firefighters Pension Fund | Blue Island | City | 33.1% | $18,491,894 | $27,630,414 |
| 24 | Sauk Village Police Pension Fund | Sauk Village | Village or Township | 34.9% | $12,186,385 | $18,729,752 |
| 25 | Rock Island Firefighters Pension Fund | Rock Island | City | 35% | $57,571,195 | $88,569,214 |
| 26 | Wood Dale FPD Firefighters Pension Fund | Wood Dale | City | 35.1% | $32,350,412 | $49,829,895 |
| 27 | East Alton Firefighters Pension Fund | East Alton | Village or Township | 35.5% | $4,448,576 | $6,899,172 |
| 28 | Island Lake Police Pension Fund | Island Lake | Village or Township | 36.8% | $6,468,832 | $10,231,984 |
| 29 | Danville Police Pension Fund | Danville | City | 36.9% | $50,909,230 | $80,729,515 |
| 30 | Madison Police Pension Fund | Madison | City | 37.1% | $7,796,590 | $12,403,202 |
| 31 | Lincoln Police Pension Fund | Lincoln | City | 37.3% | $18,839,226 | $30,062,677 |
| 32 | Fairfield Police Pension Fund | Fairfield | City | 38% | $5,894,772 | $9,500,767 |
| 33 | Lansing Police Pension Fund | Lansing | Village or Township | 38.8% | $69,901,857 | $114,240,820 |
| 34 | Roberts Park FPD Firefighters Pension Fund | Justice | Fire Protection District | 39% | $17,530,740 | $28,746,543 |
| 35 | Forest Park Firefighters Pension Fund | Forest Park | Village or Township | 39.2% | $27,473,776 | $45,186,356 |
| 36 | Chicago Heights Firefighters Pension Fund | Chicago Heights | City | 39.3% | $62,391,745 | $102,720,418 |
| 37 | Rock Island Police Pension Fund | Rock Island | City | 39.7% | $73,031,157 | $121,052,017 |
| 37 | Orland Hills Police Pension Fund | Orland Hills | Village or Township | 39.7% | $6,319,400 | $10,478,984 |
| 39 | Worth Police Pension Fund | Worth | Village or Township | 39.8% | $21,860,053 | $36,333,997 |
| 39 | Blue Island Police Pension Fund | Blue Island | City | 39.8% | $32,059,062 | $53,267,960 |
| 41 | North Chicago Firefighters Pension Fund | North Chicago | City | 40.4% | $20,483,690 | $34,370,261 |
| 42 | Cicero Firefighters’ Pension Fund | Cicero | Village or Township | 40.8% | $79,226,461 | $133,790,594 |
| 43 | Forest Park Police Pension Fund | Forest Park | Village or Township | 41% | $37,697,488 | $63,937,177 |
| 44 | Melrose Park Firefighters Pension Fund | Melrose Park | City | 41.1% | $61,238,248 | $103,986,729 |
| 45 | Kewanee Firefighters Pension Fund | Kewanee | Fire Protection District | 41.3% | $11,229,196 | $19,115,798 |
| 46 | North Riverside Firefighters Pension Fund | North Riverside | Village or Township | 42.2% | $18,334,006 | $31,699,557 |
| 47 | Willow Springs Police Pension Fund | Willow Springs | City | 42.3% | $7,186,960 | $12,450,998 |
| 48 | East St. Louis Police Pension Fund | East St. Louis | City | 42.8% | $31,710,417 | $55,399,611 |
| 49 | Mattoon Firefighters Pension Fund | Mattoon | City | 43.3% | $28,949,965 | $51,067,176 |
| 50 | Streator Firefighters Pension Fund | Streator | City | 43.7% | $9,841,102 | $17,489,034 |
| 51 | Pekin Firefighters Pension Fund | Pekin | City | 44.2% | $44,972,438 | $80,603,425 |
| 52 | Antioch Police Pension Fund | Antioch | Village or Township | 44.3% | $22,507,263 | $40,430,804 |
| 53 | Murphysboro Police Pension Fund | Murphysboro | City | 44.8% | $7,400,477 | $13,406,403 |
| 54 | Rockford Firefighters Pension Fund | Rockford | City | 45% | $243,720,485 | $442,821,841 |
| 55 | West Frankfort Police Pension Fund | West Frankfort | City | 45.1% | $8,460,333 | $15,416,610 |
| 56 | Cahokia Heights Police Pension Fund | Centreville | City | 45.3% | $19,664,032 | $35,981,323 |
| 57 | Hillside Police Pension Fund | Hillside | Village or Township | 45.9% | $28,601,329 | $52,865,931 |
| 58 | Oakbrook Terrace Fire Protection District Pension Fund | Oakbrook Terrace | City | 46% | $2,639,694 | $4,889,901 |
| 58 | Melrose Park Police Pension Fund | Melrose Park | Village or Township | 46% | $56,186,523 | $104,105,647 |
| 58 | Charleston Police Pension Fund | Charleston | City | 46% | $22,275,326 | $41,224,924 |
| 61 | Dekalb Firefighters Pension Fund | De Kalb | City | 46.1% | $52,987,441 | $98,225,613 |
| 62 | Oak Lawn Police Pension Fund | Oak Lawn | City | 46.3% | $117,769,104 | $219,171,942 |
| 62 | Stickney Police Pension Fund | Stickney | Village or Township | 46.3% | $11,415,170 | $21,246,665 |
| 64 | Canton Firefighters Pension Fund | Canton | City | 46.4% | $11,552,418 | $21,564,491 |
| 65 | North Riverside Police Pension Fund | North Riverside | Village or Township | 46.6% | $26,723,002 | $50,002,140 |
| 65 | Riverside Police Pension Fund | Riverside | City | 46.6% | $17,923,424 | $33,563,776 |
| 67 | Manhattan Police Pension Fund | Manhattan | Village or Township | 46.7% | $5,224,436 | $9,810,452 |
| 68 | Hillside Firefighters Pension Fund | Hillside | Village or Township | 47% | $19,279,606 | $36,391,365 |
| 68 | Lasalle Police Pension Fund | La Salle | Village or Township | 47% | $14,445,385 | $27,269,276 |
| 68 | River Grove Police Pension Fund | River Grove | Village or Township | 47% | $18,393,924 | $34,717,954 |
| 71 | Franklin Park Police Pension Fund | Franklin Park | Village or Township | 47.3% | $42,337,489 | $80,377,132 |
| 72 | Mattoon Police Pension Fund | Mattoon | City | 47.4% | $29,226,396 | $55,546,726 |
| 73 | West Frankfort Firefighters Pension Fund | West Frankfort | City | 47.6% | $5,931,509 | $11,320,574 |
| 74 | Park Forest Police Pension Fund | Park Forest | Village or Township | 47.7% | $33,109,771 | $63,259,495 |
| 75 | Jerseyville Police Pension Fund | Jerseyville | Village or Township | 47.8% | $8,021,268 | $15,361,077 |
| 76 | Marengo Police Pension Fund | Marengo | City | 47.9% | $8,865,811 | $17,022,277 |
| 76 | Maywood Police Pension Fund | Maywood | Village or Township | 47.9% | $40,650,996 | $78,048,329 |
| 78 | Charleston Firefighters Pension Fund | Charleston | City | 48.1% | $21,070,752 | $40,612,567 |
| 78 | Ottawa Firefighters Pension Fund | Ottawa | City | 48.1% | $21,080,148 | $40,601,081 |
| 78 | Matteson Firefighters Pension Fund | Matteson | Village or Township | 48.1% | $28,336,901 | $54,641,705 |
| 81 | Olympia Fields Police Pension Fund | Olympia Fields | Village or Township | 48.3% | $15,064,305 | $29,129,269 |
| 81 | Wayne Police Pension Fund | Wayne | Village or Township | 48.3% | $2,483,666 | $4,803,696 |
| 83 | Chicago Heights Police Pension Fund | Chicago Heights | Village or Township | 48.5% | $66,721,222 | $129,652,992 |
| 84 | Itasca Police Pension Fund | Itasca | Village or Township | 48.8% | $22,478,727 | $43,875,854 |
| 84 | Schiller Park Police Pension Fund | Schiller Park | Village or Township | 48.8% | $27,674,551 | $54,075,306 |
| 86 | Rockford Police Pension Fund | Rockford | City | 49.7% | $243,290,612 | $484,039,160 |
| 87 | Bridgeview Firefighters Pension Fund | Bridgeview | Village or Township | 49.8% | $31,729,816 | $63,208,657 |
| 88 | Carmi Police Pension Fund | Carmi | City | 49.9% | $5,017,333 | $10,004,863 |
| 89 | Savanna Firefighters Pension Fund | Savanna | City | 50% | $1,352,246 | $2,703,812 |
| 90 | Des Plaines Police Pension Fund | Des Plaines | Village or Township | 50.2% | $98,091,406 | $196,967,826 |
| 91 | South Chicago Heights Police Pension Fund | South Chicago Heights | City | 50.4% | $3,962,996 | $7,982,608 |
| 91 | Centralia Police Pension Fund | Centralia | City | 50.4% | $14,338,909 | $28,938,213 |
| 91 | Harrisburg Police Pension Fund | Harrisburg | City | 50.4% | $7,035,937 | $14,185,669 |
| 94 | Niles Police Pension Fund | Niles | City | 50.5% | $51,077,927 | $103,200,536 |
| 94 | Barrington Police Pension Fund | Barrington | Village or Township | 50.5% | $26,351,154 | $53,218,265 |
| 94 | Pontoon Beach Police Pension Fund | Pontoon Beach | Village or Township | 50.5% | $7,579,533 | $15,319,113 |
| 97 | Flossmoor Firefighters Pension Fund | Flossmoor | Village or Township | 50.6% | $3,521,600 | $7,132,460 |
| 98 | Caseyville Police Pension Fund | Caseyville | Village or Township | 50.7% | $3,440,097 | $6,979,835 |
| 98 | Zion Police Pension Fund | Zion | City | 50.7% | $37,726,460 | $76,487,262 |
| 100 | Springfield Firefighter’s Pension Fund | Springfield | Village or Township | 50.8% | $173,150,294 | $352,156,867 |
Details in this article were sourced from the Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI). The original data can be accessed here.
