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Lake County Gazette

Sunday, February 23, 2025

Analysis: Highland Park Firefighters Pension Fund would go broke in 16 years without taxpayer subsidy

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Without members and taxpayers subsidizing its revenue, Highland Park Firefighters Pension Fund lost $2,445,183 in 2016, according to a Lake County Gazette analysis of the latest data reported to the Illinois Department of Insurance Pension Division.

The fund has $36,922,095 in total assets. If the funds annual losses were the same, it would run out of money in 16 years without these subsidies.

The fund earned $1,223,023 in investment income and other revenue in 2016. At the same time, it paid out $3,668,206 in expenses, according to the 2017 biennial report detailing the health of each of the states pension funds and retirement systems. The difference between the two shows the funds annual loss without subsidies.

Taxpayers added $3,412,844 to the funds revenue last year – an amount that has increased from $1,508,267 five years ago. Members contributed an additional $456,800 – $4,768 more than five years ago.

In all, subsidies amounted to $3,869,644 in 2016.

Highland Park Firefighters Pension Fund non-subsidy revenue over five years
YearTotal non-subsidy revenueTotal expensesOutcome without subsidies
2016$1,223,023$3,668,206-$2,445,183
2015$737,552$3,469,581-$2,732,029
2014$1,875,768$3,329,964-$1,454,196
2013$4,197,866$3,088,725$1,109,141
2012$2,625,833$2,948,540-$322,707

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