(03-23-2020 05:10 PM)NIU75 Wrote:  

(03-23-2020 03:02 PM)HuskieJ Wrote:  

(03-23-2020 02:02 PM)NIU75 Wrote:  

(03-23-2020 07:02 AM)HuskieJ Wrote:  I hope everyone realizes that the catering of the market will exponentially expand the Pension crisis in Illinois. Progressive tax or not the state is headed for insolvency. You can not raise taxes high enough to cover the mounting pension debt. When people can contribute $200k towards their pension, retire at 50, then get $100k+ per year for life with a 3% cola each year, there is no hope. This situation will just bring the end sooner. We should really worry about more than losing a few directional schools.

Can you please tell us who is retiring at 50 and then start receiving $100k+ per year public pension?

You are not paying attention if you do not realize that Illinois public pensions are at a cola of 3% each year and they are out of control. I have limited access today, but here is one article to backup the unsustainability of this madness.

https://www.illinoispolicy.org/more-than...over-100k/

I am still waiting for you to find me someone that is retiring at 50 and then start receiving $100k+ per year public pension?
I have found several people at 55 to 60 age who have retired at 100k but none at 50 years. Most of these people in the 55 to 60 range are school district superintendents, fire and police chiefs and city managers.
The sad point is that we all vote for our school board and city council members who give out high salaries that contribute to high state and local pensions.

Not a solution or finger pointing on any side but the reality is public sector as well as union labor was seen as second class work for years. They have always got increases for wages and pension. In the 90's into early 2000's they were way behind. Since that time, private sector wages went stagnant. Avg wag is 2000 was like 50k, no about 60. Those at top in management and at bottom getting minimum wage skew it. I and many others made more before 2008 than I do now. People started over, new careers and get stuck at bottom when new and especially older. Meanwhile that 35k job in 1995 at 3.5% a year is 82k. While that private sector guy is starting over at 60k (or less, what I think police start at) or has 25 yrs in at 100k+. And the private sector guy has to pump his money into the market for return while public pays into a pool guaranteeing payment. Even retire early and move on to another job, paying less to collect another pension in 15 yrs.

(03-25-2020 11:57 AM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  

(03-23-2020 05:10 PM)NIU75 Wrote:  I am still waiting for you to find me someone that is retiring at 50 and then start receiving $100k+ per year public pension?
I have found several people at 55 to 60 age who have retired at 100k but none at 50 years. Most of these people in the 55 to 60 range are school district superintendents, fire and police chiefs and city managers.
The sad point is that we all vote for our school board and city council members who give out high salaries that contribute to high state and local pensions.

Not a solution or finger pointing on any side but the reality is public sector as well as union labor was seen as second class work for years. They have always got increases for wages and pension. In the 90's into early 2000's they were way behind. Since that time, private sector wages went stagnant. Avg wag is 2000 was like 50k, no about 60. Those at top in management and at bottom getting minimum wage skew it. I and many others made more before 2008 than I do now. People started over, new careers and get stuck at bottom when new and especially older. Meanwhile that 35k job in 1995 at 3.5% a year is 82k. While that private sector guy is starting over at 60k (or less, what I think police start at) or has 25 yrs in at 100k+. And the private sector guy has to pump his money into the market for return while public pays into a pool guaranteeing payment. Even retire early and move on to another job, paying less to collect another pension in 15 yrs.

I've worked in the public sector since 1998 and was in the private sector before that. In my organization, we received 0% raises for three straight years, starting in 2009. We don't get a COLA. We've had 2 - 3% raises since then. So, we never caught up. We are greatly behind what the salaries are on the private side. Greatly. We have open positions we can't fill due to salaries. We even had a headhunter tell us unless we increased salaries, there was little chance we'd find anyone.

My pension (which is over 95% funded, unlike other "state" pensions) after 30 years in will not be enough to live on. So, just like the private guy, I have an IRA, plus a 457 (public sector 401k without matching) where I'm saving.

I'm salaried, so I get no overtime, yet I work plenty over 40. I get no year end bonus or anything additional. The taxpayer is getting a hell of a deal off me.

(03-26-2020 12:26 PM)GeorgeBorkFan Wrote:  

(03-25-2020 11:57 AM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  

(03-23-2020 05:10 PM)NIU75 Wrote:  I am still waiting for you to find me someone that is retiring at 50 and then start receiving $100k+ per year public pension?
I have found several people at 55 to 60 age who have retired at 100k but none at 50 years. Most of these people in the 55 to 60 range are school district superintendents, fire and police chiefs and city managers.
The sad point is that we all vote for our school board and city council members who give out high salaries that contribute to high state and local pensions.

Not a solution or finger pointing on any side but the reality is public sector as well as union labor was seen as second class work for years. They have always got increases for wages and pension. In the 90's into early 2000's they were way behind. Since that time, private sector wages went stagnant. Avg wag is 2000 was like 50k, no about 60. Those at top in management and at bottom getting minimum wage skew it. I and many others made more before 2008 than I do now. People started over, new careers and get stuck at bottom when new and especially older. Meanwhile that 35k job in 1995 at 3.5% a year is 82k. While that private sector guy is starting over at 60k (or less, what I think police start at) or has 25 yrs in at 100k+. And the private sector guy has to pump his money into the market for return while public pays into a pool guaranteeing payment. Even retire early and move on to another job, paying less to collect another pension in 15 yrs.

I've worked in the public sector since 1998 and was in the private sector before that. In my organization, we received 0% raises for three straight years, starting in 2009. We don't get a COLA. We've had 2 - 3% raises since then. So, we never caught up. We are greatly behind what the salaries are on the private side. Greatly. We have open positions we can't fill due to salaries. We even had a headhunter tell us unless we increased salaries, there was little chance we'd find anyone.

My pension (which is over 95% funded, unlike other "state" pensions) after 30 years in will not be enough to live on. So, just like the private guy, I have an IRA, plus a 457 (public sector 401k without matching) where I'm saving.

I'm salaried, so I get no overtime, yet I work plenty over 40. I get no year end bonus or anything additional. The taxpayer is getting a hell of a deal off me.

Sounds like it's time to do some job hunting.

(03-26-2020 07:25 PM)its the sauce Wrote:  

(03-26-2020 12:26 PM)GeorgeBorkFan Wrote:  

(03-25-2020 11:57 AM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  

(03-23-2020 05:10 PM)NIU75 Wrote:  I am still waiting for you to find me someone that is retiring at 50 and then start receiving $100k+ per year public pension?
I have found several people at 55 to 60 age who have retired at 100k but none at 50 years. Most of these people in the 55 to 60 range are school district superintendents, fire and police chiefs and city managers.
The sad point is that we all vote for our school board and city council members who give out high salaries that contribute to high state and local pensions.

Not a solution or finger pointing on any side but the reality is public sector as well as union labor was seen as second class work for years. They have always got increases for wages and pension. In the 90's into early 2000's they were way behind. Since that time, private sector wages went stagnant. Avg wag is 2000 was like 50k, no about 60. Those at top in management and at bottom getting minimum wage skew it. I and many others made more before 2008 than I do now. People started over, new careers and get stuck at bottom when new and especially older. Meanwhile that 35k job in 1995 at 3.5% a year is 82k. While that private sector guy is starting over at 60k (or less, what I think police start at) or has 25 yrs in at 100k+. And the private sector guy has to pump his money into the market for return while public pays into a pool guaranteeing payment. Even retire early and move on to another job, paying less to collect another pension in 15 yrs.

I've worked in the public sector since 1998 and was in the private sector before that. In my organization, we received 0% raises for three straight years, starting in 2009. We don't get a COLA. We've had 2 - 3% raises since then. So, we never caught up. We are greatly behind what the salaries are on the private side. Greatly. We have open positions we can't fill due to salaries. We even had a headhunter tell us unless we increased salaries, there was little chance we'd find anyone.

My pension (which is over 95% funded, unlike other "state" pensions) after 30 years in will not be enough to live on. So, just like the private guy, I have an IRA, plus a 457 (public sector 401k without matching) where I'm saving.

I'm salaried, so I get no overtime, yet I work plenty over 40. I get no year end bonus or anything additional. The taxpayer is getting a hell of a deal off me.

Sounds like it's time to do some job hunting.

If money was all that mattered, yes. Some of us do this to give something back.

(03-25-2020 09:50 AM)Prince Crossing Wrote:  As a career public sector employee, here is my 2 cents about the pension. My friends in the private sector all receive bonus, stock options and perks that public service employees (at least at my very large public sector employer) can’t dream of. All have BS degrees with no added certifications, my BS and MBA from NIU didn’t help me much salary wise. The 4 professional certifications I paid for with my money also didn’t help. My buds all receive a new company car each year, btw a couple of their wives usually drive them which is ok with the company bosses. These guys are upper management (same levels as I) and have been employed for over 30 years at their place of work. Also, their salary is significantly higher than mine. I am forced to put 4.5% of my salary into the state plan in addition to paying into social security. After 27.5 years in the pension plan, you get 50% of your salary (generally averaged over the last 4 years of employment).
For the past dozen or so years, my employer has doled out an annual COLA of 2%, regardless of whether the employee is a shining star or one who takes a potty/smoke break 20 minutes every hour. For most, the annual increase in the health insurance cost exceeded the raise amount.

Could I have chosen a different path, like my buddies? Of course, but I found a job I enjoyed and stayed with it. Here is my biggest issue, my employer made a contract with me - give me 4.5% of your salary every paycheck and we will pay you $x at the end of your career. This is backed by a law approved by the legislature.

Me and the other public workers in the plan lived up to our part of the contract, the state needs to honor their part.

Before anyone else criticizes those with a state pension, re-read the above where it says they lived up to their part of the contract. The fact is once again it is the politicians who borrowed from the pension fund and never replaced that money who created this mess.

I am takking about how people keep electing these people who promise the world. They have not delivered. It is a ponzu scheme. A shell game. The politicians have kicked the can down road for decades. The facts are there but people don't pay attention. I hope I am wrong but this virus is perfect storm for insolvency

(03-26-2020 09:45 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(03-25-2020 09:50 AM)Prince Crossing Wrote:  As a career public sector employee, here is my 2 cents about the pension. My friends in the private sector all receive bonus, stock options and perks that public service employees (at least at my very large public sector employer) can’t dream of. All have BS degrees with no added certifications, my BS and MBA from NIU didn’t help me much salary wise. The 4 professional certifications I paid for with my money also didn’t help. My buds all receive a new company car each year, btw a couple of their wives usually drive them which is ok with the company bosses. These guys are upper management (same levels as I) and have been employed for over 30 years at their place of work. Also, their salary is significantly higher than mine. I am forced to put 4.5% of my salary into the state plan in addition to paying into social security. After 27.5 years in the pension plan, you get 50% of your salary (generally averaged over the last 4 years of employment).
For the past dozen or so years, my employer has doled out an annual COLA of 2%, regardless of whether the employee is a shining star or one who takes a potty/smoke break 20 minutes every hour. For most, the annual increase in the health insurance cost exceeded the raise amount.

Could I have chosen a different path, like my buddies? Of course, but I found a job I enjoyed and stayed with it. Here is my biggest issue, my employer made a contract with me - give me 4.5% of your salary every paycheck and we will pay you $x at the end of your career. This is backed by a law approved by the legislature.

Me and the other public workers in the plan lived up to our part of the contract, the state needs to honor their part.

Before anyone else criticizes those with a state pension, re-read the above where it says they lived up to their part of the contract. The fact is once again it is the politicians who borrowed from the pension fund and never replaced that money who created this mess.

That is exactly what happened. But, you have to feel for the poor politicians like Madigan. I mean, they have pockets to fill, too! We got rid of crook Burke. Now, hopefully the Feds will put Madigan in a cell. The only bad thing is that there will soon be other crooks to take their place. Instead of Lincoln, all of their pictures should be plastered on the “Welcome to Illinois” signs.

The first one drops. MacMurray, a D3 Liberal Arts college near Springfield, just closed after 176 years.

(03-27-2020 07:20 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  The first one drops. MacMurray, a D3 Liberal Arts college near Springfield, just closed after 176 years.

Judy Collins spent some time there.. Will not be the last college to lock up. How do you run a college with 524 students? At least they had more undergrads than Chicago State.
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20200327/macmu...-174-years

(03-27-2020 08:26 AM)klake87 Wrote:  I am takking about how people keep electing these people who promise the world. They have not delivered. It is a ponzu scheme. A shell game. The politicians have kicked the can down road for decades. The facts are there but people don't pay attention. I hope I am wrong but this virus is perfect storm for insolvency

Exactly. While I agree the state needs money, Gov. Pritzker's proposed progressive income tax is nothing more than a new can to kick down the road, since the can they have has been kicked as far as it can go. Look at how he wants to spend the money ... it is not a plan to cover rising pension costs. It's a new can full of cash to spend on "gifts" to supporters.

One of the more power voices in college football, Kirk Herbstreit, has already called for an end to the NFL/NCAA football seasons.

(03-28-2020 01:54 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  One of the more power voices in college football, Kirk Herbstreit, has already called for an end to the NFL/NCAA football seasons.

Only a matter of time.

(03-28-2020 03:50 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  

(03-28-2020 01:54 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  One of the more power voices in college football, Kirk Herbstreit, has already called for an end to the NFL/NCAA football seasons.

Only a matter of time.

Would NIU save money or lose money by cancelling the fall sports?

Don't have a way to calculate that, or even guestimate, but this covid-19 crisis could have some lasting effects on NIU (and local high school sports) in any season.

A sizeable chunk of Northern's most dedicated local fans are "gray hairs," who the virus seems to most easily target, and who are getting used to the idea of not crowding. Weigh health/safety against being at a game, and the latter doesn't count for much. "Social distancing," by fall, could become something of a norm. Even if a vaccine is developed, it will take some time for the public to trust it (even the annual flu vaccine is not a total defense against influenza).

Younger population segments seem to be less inclined to give up live attendance and gatherings, though how long that lasts is a guess as the covid-19 impact spreads. But ... how good is Northern's draw with that age group (e.g., students)?

As a result, I think it would be hard for a lot of schools at NIU's "level" to draw even 15,000 to a fall football game. So Northern now has a new factor to deal with that seriously affects football attendance. And for basketball, starting to hit the 1,000-plus attendance mark on a regular basis ... can you see a big crowd in an enclosed space like the Convocation Center?

Season ticket sales will tell a lot, if STF releases any numbers. But maybe Northern can jump on the "all-access-TV" bandwagon and get some fee structure in place. I do not know how that works, or if the ESPN-MAC contract will allow it, but now is the time to look at alternatives.

Taking this thread on abit of a left turn, but I was wondering how all sports seasons would play out in a few months and for the next year or more, along the theme of 'if the hospitals and medical staff are overwhelmed/exhausted/adjusting to a new world, how can we put athletes in a position where they could get hurt and need immediate hospital medical care?'. Not just big time college and pros, but even letting your kid play, say, football in high school. I had to take my kid (when in high school) to several doctors for activity related injuries, sometime they were in alot of pain. I can't imagine doing that with what I'm hearing now.

I'm not trying to be alarmist, but for now it sounds like the potential to need a hospital's attention for anything from a voluntary dangerous activity(football, hockey, etc...) is just a bad idea.

... I agree that unnecessary injury should be avoided, and no doubt that will free up some medical resources to deal with the covid-19 crisis/threat. The only official request I know of -- and I don't know who said it first -- was to stop/postpone elective surgeries and other such medical procedures.

Sports are considered part of "normal" human activity and have been since before the first Greek tossed a shot put in the original Olympic games. It's a question of when, not if.

The focus is first on dealing with the covid-19 crisis, then how soon and how much we can return to some semblance of "normal." In my previous post, I was looking at how the coronavirus situation will affect that norm in the longer term. Attendance is a major problem for NIU, even without this crisis/threat. That is not going to change, and could get worse.

But I can take the thread in a slightly different direction also ... is Northern prepared for the growing role of the virtual campus and online classes, and the impact on enrollment and physical attendance? This crisis/threat is giving that a big push.

May be too far off topic.

(03-29-2020 02:12 AM)pvk75 Wrote:  ... I agree that unnecessary injury should be avoided, and no doubt that will free up some medical resources to deal with the covid-19 crisis/threat. The only official request I know of -- and I don't know who said it first -- was to stop/postpone elective surgeries and other such medical procedures.

Sports are considered part of "normal" human activity and have been since before the first Greek tossed a shot put in the original Olympic games. It's a question of when, not if.

The focus is first on dealing with the covid-19 crisis, then how soon and how much we can return to some semblance of "normal." In my previous post, I was looking at how the coronavirus situation will affect that norm in the longer term. Attendance is a major problem for NIU, even without this crisis/threat. That is not going to change, and could get worse.

But I can take the thread in a slightly different direction also ... is Northern prepared for the growing role of the virtual campus and online classes, and the impact on enrollment and physical attendance? This crisis/threat is giving that a big push.

May be too far off topic.

You're not wrong. Expansion online is a big goal for the university. We are now forced to do it.

I bet season tickets will drop. People will wait and see how this shelter in place stays effects their employment status. Fyi, in great depression unemployment peaked at 25%

IMO, you're 2 for 2. Officially, the new FB ticket deadline moved from April 11 to May 15, but I don't think that will do it either. As far as revenues, the NCAA has cut its payout ... (one of many sources) ...

https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2020...ion-20200/

I suggested some type of pay-per-view but, again, don't know the details of the ESPN-MAC contract. I wonder if there's some kind of revenue stream in "virtual tickets sold" for a specific event, or is that the same thing? Also, I suspect ESPN might seek an adjustment (downward) in its payments to the MAC if there's no "new" content. No doubt Northern will scramble for revenue, moreso than usual.

Also, I suspect a drop in subscriptions to ESPN+, since imo ESPN will fill content slots on its other channels (or whatever they're called). This means a drop in online viewership opportunities for NIU.

Imo, that contract is going to bite Northern in the pooch's butt since the MAC et al gave away the store, it seems.

Even if there is part of a football season this year, which is looking increasingly more unlikely, they should not penalize season ticket holders for not renewing and losing their seats for 2021. Season ticket holders should be able to retain seats 2021