By: Diane Benjamin
Sometimes I think readers know what I mean when I say Accelerated Payments since I’ve been writing about them for years. Since 1 commentor asked what the numbers in this story mean, I will explain in detail: https://blnnews.com/2025/06/05/bloomington-is-still-spiking-pensions-2/
Bloomington employees are allowed to accumulate sick days (Sick Leave Buy Back). They collect payment when they retire, so sick days from 20 years ago or more get paid at their final pay rate which is much higher. Those payments then go into calculating their pensions. Obviously the pension is much higher with a huge spike in pay the final year of work.
Illinois law was changed in 2012 to allow the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) to charge cities an accelerated payment to cover the huge pensions spike. It took Bloomington 8 years to address the problem and that was only after the Chicago Tribune mentioned a former city employee who created the biggest ever penalty: $358,394.12. She retired as head of HR, she knew how to do it.
When I questioned where all the accelerated payments were approved by Council, it was determined NONE of them had been approved because they never made the Bills and Payroll list. The Council at the time voted to approve all the past payments.
The total penalty since 2012 is close to $4.5 million dollars. See the entire list here:
Bloomington told us the policy was changed. Many union contracts had to be changed which took years. I thought these ridiculous pensions spikes were over, obviously they aren’t. Does anyone in the private sector have this policy?
This payment was on Bills and Payroll, all of these were included in the June 5, 2025 story. https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/31432
Two other payments caught my attention. The Coliseum is the gift that keeps on taking:
When Bloomington signed up for License Plate readers the 1st year cost was $31,500, the 2nd year was $27,500. https://blnnews.com/2023/02/09/remember-when-bloomington-bought-license-plate-readers/
I think more cameras have been added. Now the cost is:
Surveillance City?
Abby Scott was not at the meeting. Cody Hendricks said she’s out of the country attending her child’s graduation. Sheila Montney attended remotely, she was out of town on business.
John Danenberger did not attend because of the death of his younger brother: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/bloomington-il/alex-danenberger-12404235
Condolences to the family.
Corporate bullying and geotracking employees and flagging/ stalking customers & taxpayers, using AWS role based access and private data is quite easier with ALPRs. Risk Mgt and efficiency & safety/security and predictive policing ya know!! $$$
Both parties in Illinois stripped 4th Amendment away. Don’t use social media or express concerns- targeting is protocol now.
Welcome to 1984 and the elite Surveillance Capitalist rule (China model) of security and social scoring with data and systems that lacks integrity.
My biggest fear is that the only way to fix the continuing tax increases which are occurring at a rate that is out of control is to have an outright revolution. Start with house taxes don’t pay them but organize huge mobs to stop any one from the government trying to seize a house!
Sound like a radical solution, well don’t give me this just be involved after 20 years it has shown that doesn’t work, clean house forcefully and start anew.
Now, understand that I am not suggesting that this should occur but does anyone honestly think that your taxes are ever going to decrease or slow down?
No we seniors will just continue to do without and hopefully when the time is right get the hell out of this God forsaken town and state!
It’s throughout Central Illinois for sure. Same playbook and marketing and never enough $$. While civil servants walk away sweet with raises and pensions – based on comp models and performance metrics that are wrong/explosive of citizens and taxpayers
System broken
Sounds like another tea party is called for.
This stuff will be the least of your worries in Illinois. JB and the Chicago Communists, including those in residence in BN, will start its revolution this weekend in Chicago and elsewhere with their “No Kings” rallies in cities large and small. They cannot defeat conservatives nationally so they will use the John Podesta model of burn it all down who learned his trade from radicals at Knox College. Prepare for Civil War 2 that could be coming to a location near you. Everyone had their chance to leave long ago and foolishly thought BN would get better. It hasn’t and it won’t. Good luck to everyone this summer. Defend yourselves at all costs. It’s about to get real interesting.
Thank you for your perfect clarification. Accelerated payments definitely need stopped!