Evanston Council Approves Levy Increase to Fund Pensions

EVANSTON, Ill., Nov. 30, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Evanston aldermen last week adopted a 2011 budget, unanimously approving a 3 percent increase in the property tax levy to aid funding to the city's police and fire pension obligations.

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Teamsters Local 700 represents about 150 Evanston police officers, in addition to hundreds of police officers and firefighters in dozens of municipalities around greater Chicago.

"Protecting our members' pensions – our members' futures – is a top priority," said John T. Coli, Trustee of Local 700. "Our members will not be made to suffer because of their legislative leaders' failures and missteps."

According to the Chicago Tribune, of the 300-plus pension funds across the region, only about 20 are rated by the state as fully funded.

"As police officers and firefighters, the challenges our members face and the risks they take each and every day are incomprehensible to most people," Coli said. "They serve the public. They deserve to have a sense of security when it comes to their pensions."

SOURCE Teamsters Local 700