School districts in St. Joseph, Danville and Morris paid the least 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' lowest pensions spiking penalties, 2005-present
Rank
District
City
Members
Amount Assessed
Payments Made
Waivers Granted
Written-off
Current Balance
1
St Joseph Ogden CHS 305
St Joseph
2
$11,290.65
$15.51
$11,275.14
2
Vermilion Assoc Spec Educ
Danville
1
$18.62
$18.62
3
Nettle Creek Community Consolidated School District 24C
Morris
2
$21.75
$21.50
$0.25
4
Stark County Community Unit School District 100
Wyoming
9
$10,045.54
$23.42
$10,017.13
$4.99
5
Hartsburg-Emden CUSD 21
Hartsburg
5
$27.37
$26.36
$1.01
6
Calumet City School District 155
Calumet City
11
$32.58
$29.40
$3.18
7
Kaskaskia Special Education
Centralia
4
$9,895.68
$30.91
$9,864.77
8
Franklin Community Unit School District 1
Franklin
1
$31.92
$31.92
9
Silvis School District 34
East Moline
7
$10,147.55
$32.38
$10,114.89
$0.28
10
St Rose SD 14
St Rose
3
$5,927.23
$35.06
$5,892.17
11
Nashville Community High School District 99
Nashville
8
$82,921.24
$39.64
$82,880.65
$0.95
12
TREES
Joliet
1
$42.63
$42.63
13
Wabash & Ohio Valley Spec Educ
Norris City
8
$97,255.36
$47.69
$97,207.14
$0.53
14
Warsaw Community Unit School District 316
Warsaw
6
$72.23
$68.12
$4.11
15
Henry - Stark Co Spec Ed Dist
Kewanee
7
$99.57
$81.16
$18.41
16
Pleasant Valley School District 62
Peoria
9
$21,448.09
$87.32
$21,357.82
$2.95
17
Iroquois-Kankakee Cntys ROE
Kankakee
9
$90.63
$90.63
18
Central School District 51
Washington
8
$38,853.49
$96.98
$38,755.93
$0.58
19
Bannockburn School District 106
Bannockburn
2
$99.29
$98.82
$0.47
20
Brussels Community Unit School District 42
Brussels
3
$8,693.37
$104.04
$8,409.92
$179.41
21
Warrensburg-Latham Community Unit School District 11
Warrensburg
2
$112.02
$111.88
$0.14
22
Amboy Community Unified School District 272
Amboy
6
$115.55
$115.17
$0.38
23
West Prairie Community Unit School District 103
Colchester
8
$56,545.54
$147.42
$56,397.85
$0.27
24
Central School District 104
OFallon
5
$64,967.84
$157.39
$64,810.45
25
Irvington Community Consolidated School District 11
Irvington
1
$164.62
$163.50
$1.12
26
Vienna TWP HSD 133
Vienna
4
$48,186.26
$164.21
$48,021.75
$0.30
27
Payson Community Unit School District 1
Payson
20
$4,471.21
$168.87
$4,294.49
$7.85
28
South Macoupin Asoc for Sp Ed
Staunton
1
$192.52
$192.52
29
Wilco Area Career Center
Romeoville
1
$200.13
$200.13
30
Marissa Community Unit School District 40
Marissa
7
$41,841.10
$204.95
$41,635.71
$0.44
31
Willow Grove School District 46
Centralia
3
$7,948.55
$205.18
$7,743.09
$0.28
32
Stockton Community Unit School District 206
Stockton
2
$2,752.44
$217.26
$2,535.18
33
Virginia Community Unit School District 64
Virginia
4
$4,372.42
$237.78
$4,132.78
$1.86
34
Paris Cooperative High School
Paris
4
$258.15
$253.52
$4.63
35
Burnham SD 154 5
Burnham
2
$258.91
$258.91
36
East Dubuque Unit School District 119
East Dubuque
5
$264.10
$263.17
$0.93
37
Central Stickney School District 110
Chicago
2
$265.32
$265.32
38
Creston Community Consolidated School District 161
Creston
1
$266.69
$266.59
$0.10
39
Galatia Community Unit School District 1
Galatia
3
$21,803.18
$266.71
$21,536.47
40
Millburn Community Consolidated School District 24
Wadsworth
16
$294.43
$279.39
$15.04
41
Wesclin Community Unit School District 3
Trenton
3
$289.66
$286.91
$2.75
42
Prairie Du Rocher Community Consolidated School District 134
Prairie Du Rocher
1
$296.01
$296.01
43
Palestine Community Unit School District 3
Palestine
10
$316.72
$303.76
$12.96
44
Saunemin Community Consolidated School District 438
Saunemin
1
$308.93
$308.93
45
Itasca School District 10
Itasca
9
$18,832.34
$317.36
$18,513.20
$1.78
46
Liberty Community Unit School District 2
Liberty
1
$327.64
$327.64
47
Niles TWP Spec Educ
Morton Grove
3
$34,049.02
$342.19
$33,705.87
$0.96
48
Waltham Community Consolidated School District 185
Utica
1
$363.04
$363.04
49
Newark Community High School District 18
Newark
2
$366.68
$366.68
50
Madison Cnty Spec Educ
Troy
1
$384.31
$384.31
51
Braceville School District 75
Braceville
2
$418.21
$417.97
$0.24
52
Regional Office of Educ 47
Sterling
2
$423.32
$423.32
53
Harmony Emge School District 175
Belleville
7
$31,438.17
$430.40
$31,007.36
$0.41
54
Rome Community Consolidated School District 2
Dix
1
$459.17
$459.17
55
Farmington Central Community Unit School District 265
Farmington
8
$36,860.23
$488.11
$36,370.06
$2.06
56
Oak Grove East SD 68
Bartonville
7
$3,615.63
$495.89
$3,114.84
$4.90
57
Franklin-Jefferson Spec Educ
Benton
5
$512.96
$512.66
$0.30
58
Tri-County Special Education
Lexington
2
$517.22
$517.22
59
East Coloma-Nelson Cesd 20
Rock Falls
7
$17,784.34
$532.19
$17,250.88
$1.27
60
Robertson Charter School
Decatur
1
$551.77
$551.77
61
Mt Olive USD 5
Mt Olive
11
$10,779.95
$555.92
$10,221.54
$2.49
62
Dieterich Community Unit School District 30
Dieterich
2
$567.92
$567.79
$0.13
63
Grundy Co Spec Ed Coop
Morris
10
$589.12
$575.39
$13.73
64
Career Tec
Freeport
1
$584.12
$584.12
65
Windsor Community Unified School District 1
Windsor
5
$595.01
$594.00
$1.01
66
Odell Community Consolidated School District 435
Odell
3
$6,983.95
$631.73
$6,351.93
$0.29
67
Field Community Consolidated School District 3
Texico
5
$17,357.18
$641.72
$16,715.46
68
Oregon Community Unit School District 220
Oregon
29
$91,615.72
$642.35
$90,959.97
$13.40
69
Capital Area Career Center
Springfield
2
$24,169.26
$663.62
$23,505.64
70
Opdyke-Belle Rive CCSD 5
Opdyke
4
$4,217.16
$668.94
$3,548.22
71
Hampton School District 29
Hampton
2
$688.72
$686.73
$1.99
72
Kendall Cnty Special Educ
Yorkville
8
$179,358.00
$712.78
$178,641.19
$4.03
73
Oblong Community Unit School District 4
Oblong
9
$731.21
$727.78
$3.43
74
Regional Office of Educ 51
Springfield
2
$749.82
$749.82
75
North Clay Community Unit School District 25
Louisville
5
$753.27
$752.43
$0.84
76
Waverly Community Unit School District 6
Waverly
2
$778.00
$778.00
77
Grundy-Kendall Cntys ROE
Morris
1
$837.23
$837.23
78
Riverview Community Consolidated School District 2
East Peoria
2
$877.94
$877.94
79
Colona School District 190
Colona
4
$891.67
$891.26
$0.41
80
Wethersfield Community Unit School District 230
Kewanee
2
$926.30
$926.30
81
Sullivan Community Unit School District 300
Sullivan
9
$21,618.24
$962.51
$20,655.73
82
Scales Mound Community Unit School District 211
Scales Mound
3
$10,215.39
$965.01
$9,250.25
$0.13
83
Dallas Elementary SD 327
Dallas City
4
$1,010.36
$1,008.32
$2.04
84
Newark Community Consolidated School District 66
Newark
4
$1,057.48
$1,055.85
$1.63
85
Whiteside School District 115
Belleville
6
$27,549.47
$1,068.96
$26,480.11
$0.40
86
Deland-Weldon Community Unit School District 57
DeLand
5
$1,072.25
$1,072.25
87
Shiloh Village School District 85
Shiloh
2
$1,091.28
$1,082.83
$8.45
88
Harrison School District 36
Wonder Lake
6
$21,389.62
$1,091.89
$20,297.29
$0.44
89
Taft School District 90
Lockport
1
$1,100.60
$1,100.60
90
Goreville CUSD 1
Goreville
3
$1,390.26
$1,128.11
$262.15
91
Pontiac Township HSD 90
Pontiac
6
$29,867.35
$1,144.21
$28,031.98
$0.28
$690.88
92
Durand Community Unit School District 322
Durand
2
$7,483.14
$1,153.01
$6,330.13
93
Illini Bluffs Community Unit School District 327
Glasford
8
$151,633.08
$1,166.79
$150,466.03
$0.26
94
Alwood Community Unit School District 225
Woodhull
14
$177,540.90
$1,179.55
$176,355.98
$5.37
95
South Central CUSD 401
Kinmundy
13
$89,245.31
$1,183.65
$88,051.67
$9.99
96
Meridian Community Unit School District 15
Macon
4
$1,197.15
$1,190.70
$6.45
97
Illini Central Community Unit School District 189
Mason City
11
$189,781.55
$1,202.33
$188,579.08
$0.14
98
South Eastern Special Educ
Sainte Marie
3
$1,212.06
$1,210.69
$1.37
99
Peoria Charter Sch Initiative
Peoria
1
$1,211.22
$1,211.22
100
Smithton Community Consolidated School District 130
Smithton
1
$1,219.95
$1,219.95
101
Polo Community Unit School District 222
Polo
7
$55,182.16
$1,225.88
$53,954.51
$1.77
102
Delavan Community Unit School District 703
Delavan
6
$1,247.19
$1,246.23
$0.96
103
Cass School District 63
Darien
11
$234,571.24
$1,258.46
$233,305.73
$7.05
104
Oakland Community Unit School District 5
Oakland
8
$1,276.74
$1,276.74
105
Rosemont Elementary School District 78
Rosemont
1
$2,793.31
$1,277.93
$1,515.38
106
Duquoin Community Unit School District 300
Du Quoin
3
$1,290.89
$1,290.89
107
Cissna Park Community Unit School District 6
Cissna Park
7
$1,310.73
$1,307.43
$3.30
108
Skokie SD 73 5
Skokie
5
$1,321.54
$1,320.81
$0.73
109
Special Education Coop
Pontiac
2
$1,325.09
$1,324.93
$0.16
110
Indian Valley Vocational Ctr
Sandwich
4
$1,336.65
$1,335.16
$1.49
111
Edgar County CUSD 6
Chrisman
3
$3,175.89
$1,351.42
$1,824.47
112
St. Anne Community High School District 302
St Anne
3
$23,500.19
$1,357.87
$22,140.80
$1.52
113
Limestone Community High School District 310
Bartonville
9
$37,518.59
$1,366.59
$36,151.87
$0.13
114
Chicago Ridge SD 127 5
Chicago Ridge
12
$141,720.82
$1,389.72
$140,329.92
$1.18
115
Lisbon Community Consolidated School District 90
Newark
1
$1,389.94
$1,389.94
116
Black Hawk Area Special Educ
East Moline
4
$1,396.62
$1,395.27
$1.35
117
Triopia Community Unit School District 27
Concord
4
$1,438.40
$1,438.40
118
Eisenhower Cooperative
Crestwood
5
$1,449.40
$1,442.03
$7.37
119
St Clair Co Reg Educ Programs
Belleville
1
$1,468.09
$1,468.09
120
Eldorado Community Unit School District 4
Eldorado
6
$139,210.86
$1,508.48
$137,702.25
$0.13
121
Worth School District 127
Worth
8
$31,933.46
$1,512.61
$30,418.49
$2.36
122
Rutland Community Consolidated School District 230
Ottawa
3
$1,550.10
$1,538.77
$11.33
123
Wolf Branch School District 113
Swansea
3
$1,582.07
$1,581.91
$0.16
124
Crescent - Iroquois CUSD 249
Crescent City
4
$1,599.65
$1,599.53
$0.12
125
West Central IL Spec Educ Coop
Macomb
8
$22,957.97
$1,626.11
$21,327.88
$3.98
126
Steeleville Community Unit School District 138
Steeleville
6
$40,305.42
$1,657.21
$38,641.82
$6.39
127
Robinson Community Unit School District 2
Robinson
33
$213,523.50
$1,659.96
$211,834.51
$29.03
128
Mt Pulaski Community Unit School District 23
Mt Pulaski
6
$83,656.00
$1,667.83
$81,988.17
129
Northwest Special Education
Elizabeth
4
$1,710.06
$1,710.06
130
Steward Elementary SD 220
Steward
3
$11,417.51
$1,717.50
$9,700.01
131
Regional Office of Educ 17
Bloomington
2
$1,734.71
$1,734.31
$0.40
132
Auburn Community Unit School District 10
Auburn
10
$22,950.21
$1,739.86
$21,210.35
133
Montmorency Community Consolidated School District 145
Rock Falls
11
$288,810.50
$1,752.78
$287,057.59
$0.13
134
Zeigler Royalton CUSD 188
Zeigler
10
$136,838.76
$1,778.34
$135,060.42
135
Macon-Piatt ROE
Decatur
2
$1,780.58
$1,780.58
136
Fieldcrest Community Unit School District 6
Minonk
7
$36,273.04
$1,789.00
$34,480.57
$3.47
137
Sesser-Valier Community Unit School District 196
Sesser
3
$23,045.64
$1,804.84
$21,240.80
138
Chaney Monge School District 88
Crest Hill
3
$28,237.14
$1,813.19
$26,422.44
$1.51
139
North Greene USD 3
White Hall
18
$186,515.60
$1,839.22
$184,674.30
$2.08
140
Winfield School District 34
Winfield
10
$1,859.30
$1,839.36
$19.94
141
Brownstown Community Unit School District 201
Brownstown
3
$1,839.48
$1,839.48
142
Fox River Grove CSD 3
Fox River Grove
12
$1,906.45
$1,897.58
$8.87
143
Hoopeston Area Community Unit School District 11
Hoopeston
10
$8,812.90
$1,953.02
$0.65
$6,859.23
144
Madison Co ROE 41
Edwardsville
4
$1,955.42
$1,955.42
145
Richland School District 88A
Crest Hill
3
$1,980.29
$1,979.68
$0.61
146
Carlyle Community Unit School District 1
Carlyle
4
$2,009.12
$2,009.25
$(0.13)
147
Hardin County Community Unit School District 1
Elizabethtown
3
$9,172.34
$2,012.01
$7,160.33
148
Ludlow Community Consolidated School District 142
Ludlow
1
$2,013.05
$2,013.05
149
Altamont Community Unit School District 10
Altamont
16
$4,288.43
$2,017.76
$2,238.72
$31.95
150
North Wayne Community Unit School District 200
Cisne
6
$16,807.80
$2,042.57
$14,764.92
$0.31
151
New Hope Community Consolidated School District 6
Fairfield
3
$2,056.19
$2,056.19
152
Deer Park Community Consolidated School District 82
Ottawa
3
$2,075.14
$2,075.14
153
Lena Winslow Community Unit School District 202
Lena
6
$8,120.24
$2,089.37
$6,022.53
$8.34
154
Sherrard Community Unit School District 200
Sherrard
10
$75,316.23
$2,124.96
$73,189.90
$1.37
155
Patoka Community Unit School District 100
Patoka
5
$4,796.26
$2,127.85
$2,667.59
$0.82
156
Lexington Community Unit School District 7
Lexington
10
$164,294.29
$2,131.08
$162,161.30
$1.91
157
Bement Community Unit School District 5
Bement
6
$4,622.31
$2,136.13
$2,485.87
$0.31
158
Mazon-Verona-Kinsman Elementary School District 2C
Mazon
5
$2,159.76
$2,158.67
$1.09
159
ICRE At Roosevelt
Chicago
1
$2,249.99
$2,214.84
$35.15
160
Metamora TWP HSD 122
Metamora
5
$3,152.59
$2,229.78
$922.81
161
Mercer County SD 404
Aledo
20
$56,661.06
$2,272.80
$54,382.74
$5.52
162
Henry Senachwine Community Unit School District 5
Henry
9
$2,298.48
$2,297.50
$0.53
163
Medinah ESD 11
Roselle
6
$2,333.10
$2,332.82
$0.28
164
Miller Township Community Consolidated School District 210
Marseilles
2
$2,345.52
$2,345.52
165
Belleville Area Spec Ed
Belleville
4
$2,370.66
$2,369.92
$0.74
166
Odin Public School Dist 722
Odin
2
$2,373.21
$2,373.21
167
Regional Office of Educ 35
Ottawa
1
$2,386.12
$2,386.12
168
Pope County CUSD 1
Golconda
4
$2,397.93
$2,397.93
169
Lisle Community Unit School District 202
Lisle
8
$2,416.74
$2,414.51
$2.23
170
Westville Community Unit School District 2
Westville
2
$2,421.11
$2,420.97
$0.14
171
Akin Community Consolidated School District 91
Akin
1
$2,465.79
$2,465.79
172
Anna Community School District No. 37 Board of Education
Anna
11
$57,099.81
$2,522.87
$54,576.94
173
Damiansville School District 62
Damiansville
2
$2,586.77
$2,586.77
174
Grant Community Consolidated School District 110
Fairview Heights
8
$35,738.19
$2,637.42
$33,100.77
175
Fairfield Public SD 112
Fairfield
10
$2,666.19
$2,666.19
176
West Washington CUSD 10
Okawville
2
$2,688.69
$2,688.52
$0.17
177
Streator Woodland CUSD 5
Streator
6
$48,698.64
$2,690.20
$46,006.61
$1.83
178
South Fork School District 14
Kincaid
3
$2,728.37
$2,728.37
179
Philip J Rock Service Center
Glen Ellyn
4
$19,469.91
$2,775.36
$16,694.55
180
Kane County ROE
Geneva
7
$2,793.67
$2,786.18
$7.49
181
Allen Otter Creek Community Consolidated School District 65
Ransom
3
$14,140.01
$2,808.48
$(0.06)
$11,331.59
182
Addison School District 4
Addison
4
$4,232.75
$2,837.43
$1,395.19
$0.13
183
St. Elmo Community Unit School District 202
St Elmo
4
$2,840.61
$2,840.61
184
Centralia High School District 200
Centralia
4
$36,500.04
$2,889.37
$33,610.67
185
Milford Area Public Schools District 124
Milford
13
$46,996.23
$2,920.71
$44,073.16
$2.36
186
Dwight Township HSD 230
Dwight
11
$97,969.46
$2,936.11
$95,033.35
187
Le Roy CUSD 2
Le Roy
5
$35,915.93
$2,937.80
$32,978.13
188
Winnebago Cnty Spec Education
Rockton
4
$2,939.67
$2,939.67
189
Rockton School District 140
Rockton
11
$17,267.43
$2,962.73
$14,304.42
$0.28
190
Greenview Community Unit School District 200
Greenview
2
$2,977.73
$2,977.33
$0.40
191
Stewardson-Strasburg CUSD 5
Strasburg
10
$33,479.26
$3,009.04
$30,465.27
$4.95
192
Princeton Elementary School District 115
Princeton
25
$10,484.38
$3,024.18
$7,433.46
$26.74
193
Mundelein Elementary SD 75
Mundelein
6
$19,272.41
$3,027.06
$16,245.35
194
Winthrop Harbor School District 1
Winthrop Harbor
4
$7,632.12
$3,034.76
$4,597.36
195
Mt Zion Community Unit School District 3
Mt Zion
26
$4,448.98
$3,057.56
$1,378.48
$12.94
196
St. Joseph Community Consolidated School District 169
St Joseph
12
$65,303.58
$3,076.93
$62,223.63
$3.02
197
Riley Community Consolidated School District 18
Marengo
1
$3,080.57
$3,080.57
198
Farrington Community Consolidated School District 99
Bluford
1
$3,225.36
$3,225.36
199
Kings CSD 144
Kings
2
$3,231.55
$3,231.55
200
Forrestville Valley Community Unit School District 221
Forreston
5
$3,249.89
$3,249.89
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