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Lake County Gazette

Monday, May 27, 2024

Analysis: Highwood Firefighters Pension Fund would go bankrupt in 183 years without taxpayer subsidy

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Without members and taxpayers subsidizing its revenue, the Highwood Firefighters Pension Fund would have lost $20,710 in 2018, according to a Lake County Gazette analysis of the latest data reported to the Illinois Department of Insurance Pension Division.

The fund has $3,786,681 in total assets. If the fund’s annual losses stay the same, it would run out of money in 183 years without these subsidies.

The fund earned $170,236 in investment income and other revenue in 2018. At the same time, it paid out $190,946 in expenses, according to the 2019 biennial report detailing the health of each of the state’s pension funds and retirement systems. The difference between the two shows the fund’s annual loss without subsidies.

Taxpayers added $92,224 to the fund’s revenue last year – an amount that has decreased from $148,193 five years ago. Members made no contributions this year – $39,645 less than five years ago.

In all, subsidies amounted to $92,224 in 2018.

Highwood Firefighters Pension Fund non-subsidy revenue over five years
YearTotal non-subsidy revenueTotal expensesOutcome without subsidies
2018$170,236$190,946-$20,710
2017$249,072$154,665$94,407
2016$45,111$108,753-$63,642
2015$209,460$82,746$126,714
2014$126,868$46,555$80,313

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