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.
Carbondale pensions spiking penalties, 2005-present
Rank
District
City
Members
Amount Assessed
Payments Made
Waivers Granted
Written-off
Current Balance
1
Carterville Community Unit School District 5
Carterville
19
$181,178.92
$87,232.54
$93,946.38
2
Williamson Cnty Spec Educ
Marion
54
$154,435.27
$73,682.40
$80,726.62
$26.25
3
Carbondale Elementary SD 95
Carbondale
33
$121,133.32
$67,121.03
$53,996.94
$15.35
4
Unity Point School District 140
Carbondale
8
$87,011.32
$31,246.91
$55,764.41
5
Marion Community Unit School District 2
Marion
30
$191,613.89
$29,995.12
$161,608.76
$10.01
6
Trico Community Unit School District 176
Campbell Hill
13
$60,913.00
$22,424.90
$38,488.10
7
Carbondale Community High School District 165
Carbondale
11
$61,775.83
$21,813.34
$39,961.30
$1.19
8
Desoto CCSD 86
Desoto
3
$21,062.75
$21,062.75
9
Murphysboro Community Unit School District 186
Murphysboro
14
$50,717.23
$17,580.20
$33,136.55
$0.48
10
Tri-County Spec Educ Coop
Murphysboro
16
$19,151.61
$17,557.42
$1,593.38
$0.81
11
Giant City Community Consolidated School District 130
Carbondale
3
$26,387.28
$15,650.86
$10,736.29
$0.13
12
Herrin Community Unit School District 4
Herrin
25
$163,071.35
$14,347.02
$148,723.23
$1.10
13
Elverado Community Unit School District 196
Elkville
2
$4,990.45
$4,990.25
$0.20
14
Regional Office of Educ 21
Marion
2
$4,794.35
$4,794.35
15
Tri-County Special Education
Lexington
2
$517.22
$517.22
ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS STORY
Trico Community Unit School District 176• Tri-County Special Education• Tri-County Spec Educ Coop• Giant City Community Consolidated School District 130• Herrin Community Unit School District 4• Carbondale Elementary School District 95• Regional Office of Educ 21• Carterville Community Unit School District 5 Board• Marion Community Unit School District 2 Board• Williamson Cnty Spec Educ• Unity Point Community Consolidated School District 140• Carbondale Community High School District 165• Desoto Consolidated School District 86• Elverado Community Unit School District 196 Board• Murphysboro Community Unit School District 186 Board
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