State Rep. Karina Villa of West Chicago.
State Rep. Karina Villa of West Chicago.
Rep. Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) has reportedly opted into the legislator pension system.
Villa, whose 49th District includes western suburbs such as Bartlett, Geneva and Naperville, ran on a platform of supporting quality public education, building safer and stronger communities, creating and retaining jobs, and supporting a responsible budget that protects children, families and seniors, according to the Kane County Chronicle.
Critics last called for changes to Illinois pension programs in 2018, when they urged an end to state lawmaker pensions because of funding issues.
That has not changed.
In 2018, the General Assembly Retirement System (GARS) was only 15 percent funded – the worst of Illinois’ five state-run plans.
Critics have also called out legislators for their salary and pension benefits, which exceed those of teachers, state workers and private sector businesses.
In 2018 that annual taxpayer contributions made up to 200 percent of lawmakers’ payroll, while the other four funds require much lower taxpayer contributions. If the GARS was fully funded taxpayer contributions would be much lower, at only 26 percent, compared to the current required 203 percent.
In addition to base salaries of $67,836, lawmakers also award stipends for legislative roles, and deputy leaders get another stipend as well. Some receive an extra $10,000 a year for serving on committees that rarely meet.
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