Ill. law bans pensions for future county board members
(401(K) 2012/Flickr)
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.