South Central Reporter

Republican House candidate Blaine Wilhour believes stiffer penalties for school districts that hike teacher pay pre-retirement can end pension spiking.

Although laws are already in place to penalize districts awarding raises in excess of 6 percent, recently dropped to 3 percent four years before retirement, Wilhour — running against Democrat Dave Seiler for House District 107 — emphasized that additional penalties might be necessary to change retiree expectations.

“One thought might be to impose a fine similar to how the NFL imposes fines on teams that go over the spending caps,” Wilhour told the South Central Reporter. “NFL teams can spend more than the allotted spending caps but they pay a steep price for it. Schools could still spike pensions but they would be stuck with a hefty fine that would go to a special state fund to benefit financially disadvantaged schools.”

Dave Seiler, Democratic candidate for Illinois' 107th House District.

Despite the existing penalty, pension spiking is alive and well according to a July 23 report by the Illinois News Network. The study showed that some districts still issue raises and sick-time bonuses that carry over into retirement.

The practice was taking place when the state didn't have a budget and property taxes were being increased to some of the highest in the nation, according to an op-ed piece in the Daily Herald on July 27.

“Many school districts continued to spike salaries and stuck their own taxpayers with the bill,” Dan McCaleb, Herald guest columnist, said.

Wilhour said school districts are delaying having to pay the penalties for salaries in excess of the state threshold,

“School districts continue to operate this way because it is the only way they know,” he said. “In many cases, current members of the school board won’t even be around to have to deal with the consequences for spiking pensions (so they’re) really not looking at the long-term costs.”

The local districts may be viewing the problem with cynicism, Wilhour suggested, expecting a future bailout from the state or taxpayers.

“It is long past time to protect taxpayers by reducing government spending and making sure local governments do a better job of managing taxpayers' money,” he said. “We cannot continue to reward local governments for irresponsible spending.”

Wilhour backs a number of conservative issues, including a repeal of the 32 percent state income tax hike, a balanced budget and limits on gun control.

“We need to bring sunshine to the waste and abuse and show taxpayers how their hard-earned money is being wasted and mismanaged,” Wilhour said.