SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A new Illinois law bars newly-elected members on the state’s county boards from signing up for pensions from the Illinois Municipal Retirement fund.
The law, signed last month by Gov. Bruce Rauner, is a result of a political battle in McHenry County, where a candidate in the November race for county board president found board members were — depending on the county — supposed to work 600 or 1,000 hours a year to receive pensions.
The retirement fund guidelines contended the 1,000-hour limit — equal to about 20 hours a week — would make it “highly unusual” for any county board members to qualify.
Under the law, current county board members must document their work hours — and reach a county-specific minimum — to qualify for a public pension.