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School districts in Springfield, Aurora and Decatur paid the most in penalties since 2005 for spiking employee salaries to boost outgoing teachers' retirement benefits, according to data obtained from the Teachers Retirement System of Illinois.
A 2005 law put the penalties in place to discourage districts from giving costly raises - any above 6 percent - that result in costlier pensions. While salaries are paid by districts, the state foots the bill for educators' retirement benefits.
Illinois penalizes districts for "pension spiking" by passing on the extra pension costs associated with hiking salaries in the years leading up to retirement.
Since 2005, the state has assessed more than $161 million in penalties, according to TRS data.
Illinois' highest pensions spiking penalties, 2005-present
Rank
District
City
Members
Amount Assessed
Payments Made
Waivers Granted
Written-off
Current Balance
1
Springfield School District 186
Springfield
192
$960,484.14
$612,381.81
$345,078.57
$28.25
$2,995.51
2
Aurora West Unified School District 129
Aurora
143
$758,310.08
$578,965.59
$178,626.75
$24.31
$693.43
3
Decatur School District 61
Decatur
203
$793,866.37
$542,707.60
$251,144.74
$14.03
4
Evanston-Skokie Community Consolidated School District 65
Evanston
78
$551,394.34
$513,425.70
$37,967.35
$1.29
5
Plainfield School District 202
Plainfield
117
$524,366.33
$491,910.52
$32,438.07
$17.74
6
Harlem USD 122
Machesney Park
126
$756,967.31
$466,493.41
$290,467.71
$6.19
7
Proviso Township High School District 209
Forest Park
60
$628,465.59
$446,563.83
$181,891.15
$10.61
8
North Chicago School District 187
North Chicago
95
$654,829.82
$411,687.62
$243,124.09
$18.11
9
Rich Township High School District 227
Matteson
74
$480,210.23
$394,064.16
$73,023.69
$15.12
$13,107.26
10
Round Lake Area SD 116
Round Lake
83
$548,958.91
$369,143.21
$176,700.05
$19.42
11
IL School for the Deaf
Jacksonville
26
$372,751.07
$361,432.58
$2,405.45
$2,318.35
$6,594.69
12
Dekalb Community Unit School District 428
DeKalb
89
$957,600.86
$351,921.25
$605,669.32
$10.29
13
Bellwood School District 88
Bellwood
41
$337,430.21
$337,426.51
$3.70
14
Champaign Community Unit School District 4
Champaign
183
$895,076.01
$331,513.27
$563,540.89
$21.85
15
Hawthorn Community Consolidated School District 73
Vernon Hills
50
$353,704.11
$331,437.63
$22,255.70
$10.78
16
Township High School District 214
Arlington Heights
92
$635,165.98
$323,283.03
$311,858.71
$24.24
17
West Harvey Dixmoor SD 147
Harvey
34
$318,495.24
$318,332.88
$6.87
18
Sauk Village CCSD 168
Sauk Village
28
$365,772.42
$314,188.89
$51,582.39
$1.14
19
Elementary SD 159
Matteson
34
$311,200.37
$311,200.37
20
Community Unit SD 200
Wheaton
108
$398,390.64
$309,137.01
$72,417.33
$26.82
$16,809.48
21
Indian Springs School District 109
Justice
23
$301,343.22
$301,338.83
$4.39
22
Indian Prairie Community Unit School District 204
Naperville
303
$910,104.94
$298,923.49
$610,721.04
$460.41
23
McLean County Unit School District 5
Normal
78
$867,356.97
$264,325.23
$603,027.97
$3.77
24
Homewood-Flossmoor CHSD 233
Flossmoor
9
$243,735.75
$242,192.77
$1,542.98
25
Johnsburg Community Unit School District 12
Johnsburg
51
$279,081.05
$233,036.57
$4.30
$44,743.60
26
Orland Park SD 135
Orland Park
63
$478,701.33
$232,724.28
$245,972.13
$4.92
27
West Chicago Elementary School District 33
West Chicago
40
$232,294.47
$232,292.96
$1.51
28
Deerfield School District 109
Deerfield
56
$273,859.26
$223,561.18
$50,258.23
$39.85
29
Mannheim School District 83
Franklin Park
38
$223,775.70
$223,546.18
$6.71
$222.81
30
Hinsdale Township High School District 86
Hinsdale
86
$629,496.26
$219,283.04
$410,206.38
$6.84
31
Belvidere Community Unit School District 100
Belvidere
142
$536,133.41
$218,512.80
$317,523.05
$97.56
32
Lincoln-Way CHSD 210
New Lenox
42
$293,545.73
$215,233.51
$78,310.32
$1.90
33
Granite City Community Unit School District 9
Granite City
50
$469,204.17
$189,697.92
$279,492.81
$13.44
34
Maywood SD 89
Melrose Park
32
$196,714.40
$188,693.12
$7,908.31
$112.97
35
Batavia Unified School District 101
Batavia
58
$185,498.42
$183,389.90
$2,098.59
$9.93
36
Thornton Township High School District 205
South Holland
70
$835,805.65
$181,294.00
$654,327.76
$0.36
$183.53
37
Teachers Retirement System
Springfield
9
$211,766.06
$176,633.58
$35,132.48
38
Oak Park-River Forest SD 200
Oak Park
60
$732,613.78
$175,632.59
$556,972.40
$8.79
39
Morton High School District 201
Cicero
50
$809,238.28
$167,754.50
$641,483.67
$0.11
40
IL Assoc of School Boards
Springfield
7
$164,523.07
$164,523.07
41
Maine TWP HSD 207
Park Ridge
44
$184,280.48
$161,507.42
$22,773.69
$(0.63)
42
Harvey School District 152
Harvey
58
$197,770.67
$160,802.59
$36,928.53
$39.55
43
Berwyn South School District 100
Berwyn
41
$265,309.59
$159,852.88
$105,453.83
$2.88
44
Moline USD 40
Moline
157
$526,482.43
$158,590.11
$367,799.23
$131.37
45
Burbank School District 111
Burbank
34
$184,754.41
$155,638.71
$29,108.13
$7.57
46
Matteson Elementary School District 162
Richton Park
30
$155,178.20
$155,164.79
$13.41
47
Ottawa Elementary SD 141
Ottawa
59
$789,099.43
$154,158.21
$634,935.81
$5.41
48
Crete Monee Community Unit School District 201U
Crete
55
$185,048.97
$152,154.99
$32,859.14
$34.84
49
East Maine School District 63
Des Plaines
50
$169,013.94
$150,631.88
$14,273.00
$9.23
50
IL School - Visually Impaired
Jacksonville
17
$151,095.87
$147,576.49
$433.03
$5.24
$3,081.11
51
Norridge School District 80
Norridge
12
$148,583.01
$145,924.45
$2,657.86
$0.70
52
Urbana School District 116
Urbana
67
$267,686.19
$144,481.60
$123,156.64
$47.95
53
Wilmette School District 39
Wilmette
29
$360,996.29
$141,915.44
$189,241.06
$0.38
54
Rockridge Community Unit School District 300
Taylor Ridge
32
$178,182.94
$141,490.97
$36,684.06
$7.91
55
Libertyville CHSD 128
Vernon Hills
27
$962,377.21
$141,232.62
$821,144.46
$0.13
56
Lansing School District 158
Lansing
21
$138,613.94
$138,611.04
$2.90
57
Thornton Fractional HSD 215
Lansing
32
$465,490.09
$135,718.43
$329,771.81
$(0.15)
58
Libertyville District 70
Libertyville
15
$217,410.24
$135,453.03
$81,956.67
$0.54
59
Lyons Township High School District 204
La Grange
27
$135,386.97
$135,386.83
$0.14
60
Chicago Heights School District 170
Chicago Heights
47
$136,245.73
$133,425.18
$2,806.91
$13.64
61
Geneva Community Unit School District 304
Geneva
53
$438,055.38
$130,855.22
$307,185.72
$14.44
62
Cahokia Unit School District 187
Cahokia
74
$407,885.42
$130,710.57
$277,161.21
$13.64
63
Park Ridge-Niles Community Consolidated School District 64
Park Ridge
48
$198,050.84
$130,672.43
$67,372.48
$5.93
64
Mundelein CHSD 120
Mundelein
37
$182,054.10
$125,999.63
$56,051.42
$3.05
65
Bethalto Community Unit School District 8
Bethalto
43
$310,636.08
$125,188.47
$183,214.26
$18.65
$2,214.70
66
Calumet Public School District 132
Calumet Park
17
$123,060.01
$123,059.88
$0.13
67
Fenton Community High School District 100
Bensenville
12
$215,985.90
$120,834.63
$95,150.82
$0.45
68
Country Club Hills School District 160
Country Club Hills
35
$322,677.18
$118,611.14
$141,712.00
$62,354.04
69
Lombard School District 44
Lombard
28
$149,974.09
$117,298.20
$32,674.50
$1.39
70
Kankakee School District 111
Kankakee
48
$136,124.74
$115,234.25
$20,882.47
$8.02
71
Quincy Public School District 172
Quincy
78
$663,186.06
$112,446.59
$550,730.31
$9.16
72
Downers Grove CHS 99
Downers Grove
29
$209,723.80
$111,716.35
$98,000.73
$6.72
73
Alton Community Unit School District No. 11
Alton
47
$271,798.20
$111,172.23
$160,620.06
$5.91
74
Jacksonville School District 117
Jacksonville
45
$280,570.41
$110,594.69
$169,975.19
$0.53
75
Bloom Township High School District 206
Chicago Heights
23
$340,172.40
$108,233.42
$231,938.30
$0.68
76
Mascoutah CUSD 19
Mascoutah
48
$108,231.85
$108,202.03
$29.82
77
Kenilworth School District 38
Kenilworth
15
$271,897.47
$107,551.23
$164,346.24
78
Downers Grove Grade School District 58
Downers Grove
62
$199,334.91
$107,242.34
$92,099.37
$(6.80)
79
Prairie Hills ESD 144
Markham
23
$140,887.39
$105,237.57
$35,641.40
$8.42
80
Dolton School District 148
Riverdale
45
$210,383.00
$103,766.95
$106,616.05
81
Gurnee School District 56
Gurnee
29
$128,324.54
$102,225.14
$26,088.88
$10.52
82
Bloomington School District 87
Bloomington
40
$216,330.23
$100,305.02
$116,016.42
$8.79
83
Warren Township High School District 121
Gurnee
28
$366,524.29
$96,351.97
$270,165.26
$7.06
84
Ball Chatham Community Unit School District 5
Chatham
55
$433,640.96
$95,753.88
$337,874.68
$12.40
85
Lockport Township High School District 205
Lockport
20
$169,387.90
$95,469.86
$73,904.21
$13.83
86
Oak Lawn Hometown SD 123
Oak Lawn
45
$666,298.94
$93,513.69
$572,784.33
$0.92
87
Prairie Central Community Unit School District 8
Fairbury
62
$118,399.53
$93,448.72
$24,888.88
$61.93
88
Sandoval Community Unit School District 501
Sandoval
9
$90,290.46
$90,282.22
$8.24
89
Collinsville Community Unit School District 10
Collinsville
40
$147,123.45
$89,718.86
$57,404.59
90
Hinsdale Community Consolidated School District 181
Burr Ridge
41
$441,765.19
$88,433.30
$353,328.89
$3.00
91
Rock Island Milan School District 41
Rock Island
38
$89,281.65
$88,179.04
$1,087.78
$14.83
92
Carterville Community Unit School District 5
Carterville
19
$181,178.92
$87,232.54
$93,946.38
93
Central Community Unit School District 301
Burlington
54
$343,228.55
$83,659.58
$259,563.10
$5.87
94
Hazel Crest SD 152 5
Hazel Crest
13
$82,530.75
$82,530.75
95
Argo Community High School District 217
Summit
20
$82,491.70
$82,487.95
$3.75
96
Crystal Lake Community Consolidated School District 47
Crystal Lake
97
$114,389.16
$81,810.02
$32,564.03
$15.11
97
Wauconda Community Unit School District 118
Wauconda
41
$148,939.18
$80,588.28
$68,264.21
$86.69
98
Shelbyville Community Unit School District 4
Shelbyville
33
$288,374.59
$80,343.23
$208,021.96
$9.40
99
Cary Community Consolidated School District 26
Cary
73
$307,071.24
$79,677.21
$227,371.63
$22.40
100
Echo Joint Agreement
South Holland
45
$114,644.20
$78,727.58
$35,898.72
$17.90
101
Community CSD 93
Bloomingdale
69
$291,798.36
$78,594.90
$213,167.38
$36.08
102
Homewood School District 153
Homewood
32
$281,570.57
$78,233.45
$203,329.61
$7.51
103
Steger School District 194
Steger
13
$97,018.64
$77,954.76
$19,047.76
$16.12
104
Belleville THSD 201
Belleville
56
$249,035.24
$77,181.58
$171,829.51
$24.15
105
Clinton Community Unit School District 15
Clinton
38
$226,837.68
$76,061.41
$150,750.96
$25.31
106
Grayslake Community High School District 127
Grayslake
18
$75,835.96
$75,833.08
$2.88
107
Glen Ellyn School District 41
Glen Ellyn
38
$526,906.65
$74,605.64
$452,298.91
$2.10
108
North Boone Community Unit School District 200
Poplar Grove
20
$92,858.93
$74,524.11
$18,334.41
$0.41
109
Effingham Community Unit School District 40
Effingham
44
$88,226.91
$74,231.13
$13,989.02
$6.76
110
Williamson Cnty Spec Educ
Marion
54
$154,435.27
$73,682.40
$80,726.62
$26.25
111
Wabash Community Unit School District 348
Mt Carmel
37
$208,438.20
$71,860.39
$136,567.30
$10.51
112
Jersey Community Unit School District 100
Jerseyville
26
$150,426.79
$71,404.75
$79,021.50
$0.54
113
Glencoe School District 35
Glencoe
20
$72,115.95
$71,159.46
$953.62
$2.87
114
Morton Community Unit School District 709
Morton
27
$70,837.59
$70,827.73
$9.86
115
Prospect Heights School District 23
Prospect Heights
22
$88,670.19
$70,779.04
$17,889.25
$1.90
116
Burr Ridge Community Consolidated School District 180
Burr Ridge
12
$71,636.86
$70,180.28
$0.78
$1,455.80
117
SEJA 804 NSSED
Highland Park
32
$111,223.93
$69,963.14
$41,252.90
$7.89
118
Warren G Murray Dev Ctr
Centralia
3
$69,487.02
$68,290.04
$1,196.98
119
Mahomet Seymour CUSD 3
Mahomet
51
$621,356.82
$67,263.14
$554,090.73
$2.95
120
Carbondale Elementary SD 95
Carbondale
33
$121,133.32
$67,121.03
$53,996.94
$15.35
121
Maroa Forsyth Community Unit School District 2
Maroa
18
$80,590.52
$65,516.27
$15,072.29
$1.96
122
Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7
Edwardsville
37
$233,523.11
$65,282.64
$165,110.05
$0.26
$3,130.16
123
Lincolnwood School District 74
Lincolnwood
32
$419,778.28
$65,207.50
$339,961.10
$23.36
$14,586.32
124
Reavis Township High School District 220
Burbank
14
$83,055.05
$64,716.54
$18,331.51
$7.00
125
Grant Community High School District 124
Fox Lake
17
$249,367.62
$64,552.73
$184,814.58
$0.31
126
East Alton-Wood River CHS 14
Wood River
6
$83,555.46
$63,995.24
$19,560.22
127
OFallon CCSD 90
OFallon
27
$188,020.10
$63,383.80
$124,631.16
$5.14
128
Summit Hill School District 161
Frankfort
28
$78,816.43
$63,271.36
$15,542.90
$2.17
129
La Grange School District 102
La Grange Park
49
$62,569.87
$62,541.30
$28.57
130
OFallon THSD 203
OFallon
8
$69,410.15
$61,919.19
$7,490.82
$0.14
131
Pekin Public SD 108
Pekin
32
$448,066.33
$61,430.42
$386,634.73
$1.18
132
Grayslake Community Consolidated School District 46
Grayslake
21
$77,599.40
$61,069.78
$10,135.40
$11.84
$6,382.38
133
United Township High School District 30
East Moline
23
$203,509.52
$60,929.33
$142,569.31
$10.88
134
McHenry Community Consolidated School District 15
McHenry
34
$124,038.27
$60,751.91
$61,937.92
$29.54
135
IL Federation of Teachers
Westmont
13
$606,610.04
$60,673.23
$531,142.13
$14,794.68
136
Zion-Benton Township High School District 126
Zion
21
$182,733.37
$60,398.14
$122,334.19
$1.04
137
Lincolnshire-Prairie View 103
Lincolnshire
35
$113,476.59
$60,329.78
$53,126.72
$20.09
138
Lyons School District 103
Lyons
23
$284,808.12
$60,298.70
$224,509.28
$0.14
139
Mid-State Special Education
Morrisonville
27
$80,428.27
$60,043.44
$20,383.62
$1.21
140
Fox Lake Grade SD 114
Spring Grove
14
$137,675.26
$58,388.53
$79,285.89
$0.84
141
Villa Park School District 45
Villa Park
17
$58,347.80
$57,942.36
$405.44
142
Gallatin Community Unit School District 7
Junction
23
$87,483.01
$57,339.67
$30,138.43
$4.91
143
Freeport School District 145
Freeport
26
$56,972.00
$56,968.62
$3.38
144
East Moline School District 37
East Moline
48
$316,175.82
$56,810.51
$259,365.04
$0.27
145
Woodstock Community Unit School District 200
Woodstock
75
$131,239.81
$56,664.36
$74,479.50
$95.95
146
Joliet Township High School District 204
Joliet
24
$143,586.00
$56,333.02
$87,247.77
$5.21
147
Ford Heights School District 169
Ford Heights
14
$56,076.03
$56,075.62
$0.41
148
Bunker Hill Community Unit School District 8
Bunker Hill
14
$64,696.48
$55,021.17
$9,673.35
$1.96
149
Lemont-Bromberek CSD 113
Lemont
19
$160,808.25
$54,890.45
$105,910.36
$7.44
150
Tri-Valley CUSD 3
Downs
23
$54,625.16
$54,554.79
$65.19
$5.18
151
Belleville School District 118
Belleville
15
$63,832.32
$54,347.19
$9,485.13
152
Dolton School District 149
Calumet City
19
$54,291.29
$54,154.33
$0.13
$136.83
153
Lincoln-Way Area Spec Educ
Frankfort
20
$139,699.00
$54,139.84
$85,559.04
$0.12
154
ISBE - Regional Supt
Springfield
16
$55,657.91
$53,774.79
$1,828.03
$55.09
155
Special Ed Dist of Lake County
Gages Lake
61
$58,217.65
$52,804.71
$5,387.41
$25.53
156
Community HSD 155
Crystal Lake
17
$51,596.87
$51,578.59
$18.28
157
Bradley Bourbonnais Community High School District 307
Bradley
16
$137,546.78
$51,442.67
$86,103.70
$0.41
158
Beecher Community Unit School District 200U
Beecher
11
$50,510.71
$50,502.56
$8.15
159
Herscher Community Unit School District 2
Herscher
23
$113,736.27
$50,446.42
$63,289.13
$0.72
160
Yorkville Community Unit School District 115
Yorkville
39
$554,927.52
$50,384.08
$504,542.47
$0.97
161
Taylorville Community Unit School District 3
Taylorville
35
$149,416.77
$50,260.36
$99,156.41
162
Huntley Csd 158
Algonquin
22
$50,240.71
$50,240.54
$0.17
163
Lake Forest Community High School District 115
Lake Forest
21
$115,972.86
$50,153.48
$65,818.45
$0.93
164
New Trier TWP HSD 203
Northfield
51
$590,707.98
$50,094.81
$540,608.08
$5.09
165
River Grove SD 85 5
River Grove
5
$49,530.75
$49,530.61
$0.14
166
Special Educ of Peoria Cnty
Bartonville
25
$142,574.62
$49,016.66
$93,512.33
$30.09
$15.54
167
Morris School District 54
Morris
28
$66,936.70
$48,799.46
$18,128.45
$8.79
168
Sandwich Community Unit School District 430
Sandwich
25
$80,492.48
$48,566.46
$31,918.35
$7.67
169
Queen Bee School District 16
Glendale Heights
19
$47,558.98
$47,557.50
$1.48
170
Cornell Community Consolidated School District 426
Cornell
6
$47,519.06
$47,517.25
$1.81
171
Dunlap Community Unit School District 323
Peoria
20
$165,518.93
$47,244.24
$118,274.56
$0.13
172
Lake Forest School District 67
Lake Forest
17
$303,162.35
$46,784.91
$256,376.88
$0.56
173
Massac USD 1
Metropolis
46
$183,794.89
$46,640.33
$137,135.87
$18.69
174
Choate Mental Health Center
Anna
2
$111,431.13
$46,311.67
$65,119.46
175
Laraway CCSD 70
Joliet
7
$46,198.15
$46,198.42
$(0.27)
176
Serena Community Unit School District 2
Serena
13
$45,434.99
$45,432.31
$2.68
177
River Forest Public Schools District 90
River Forest
16
$47,862.40
$45,089.64
$2,770.97
$1.79
178
Elmwood Park Community Unit School District 401
Elmwood Park
15
$131,887.82
$44,977.02
$86,909.34
$1.46
179
Woodridge School District 68
Woodridge
34
$474,819.33
$44,676.13
$424,195.44
$8.16
$5,939.60
180
Winnetka School District 36
Winnetka
30
$141,204.96
$44,530.86
$96,668.47
$5.63
181
Cook County School District 130
Blue Island
61
$44,463.64
$44,489.63
$(50.65)
$24.66
182
Hillsboro Community Unit School District 3
Hillsboro
20
$176,767.79
$44,290.35
$132,476.10
$1.34
183
Washington Community High School District 308
Washington
17
$179,175.28
$43,478.25
$135,693.09
$3.94
184
Kirby School District 140
Tinley Park
16
$43,413.29
$43,410.73
$2.56
185
Forest Park School District 91
Forest Park
15
$42,837.85
$42,830.51
$7.34
186
Community High School Dist 117
Lake Villa
22
$166,941.01
$42,443.57
$124,495.43
$2.01
187
Jasper County CUSD 1
Newton
16
$42,174.95
$42,174.68
$0.27
188
Pontiac Community Consolidated School District 429
Pontiac
16
$152,454.93
$41,900.63
$110,552.71
$1.59
189
Iroquois West Community Unit School District 10
Gilman
18
$41,587.50
$41,584.72
$2.78
190
IL Education Association
Springfield
1
$41,547.44
$41,547.44
191
Dixon Unit School District 170
Dixon
44
$251,725.51
$41,487.94
$210,214.05
$23.52
192
Riverside-Brookfield SD 208
Riverside
10
$41,398.10
$41,396.77
$1.33
193
Woodland Community Consolidated School District 50
Gurnee
58
$342,091.76
$41,345.71
$300,725.51
$20.54
194
Glen Ellyn CCSD 89
Glen Ellyn
38
$292,142.33
$40,925.67
$251,182.47
$34.19
195
Lake County ROE
Grayslake
4
$40,735.58
$40,735.58
196
Marquardt School District 15
Glendale Heights
18
$225,751.95
$40,440.38
$185,311.57
197
Riverside School District 96
Riverside
29
$153,362.85
$40,312.46
$113,034.78
$15.61
198
Elwood Community Consolidated School District 203
Elwood
4
$39,726.60
$39,726.60
199
Oak Lawn Community High School District 229
Oak Lawn
7
$65,876.49
$39,551.51
$26,324.98
200
Brooklyn USD 188
Lovejoy
8
$39,165.73
$39,165.73
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