The long-term pension debt in Illinois rose to $111 billion. That’s $6 billion higher than last year.
The state will have to contribute roughly $375 million more next year toward the retirement systems. That's money that could otherwise go to schools or government services.
Dan Long heads the state economic forecasting agency which produces the calculations. He says much of the burden stems from lawmakers' past decisions to skip paying the employers' share of pensions.
"It's the pay, the bulk of the money, is to pay that unfunded liability, which has been built up over many, many years," Long said.
Efforts to rein in costs have largely stalled, following decisions that say it's unconstitutional to diminish current state employees' benefits.
