Excerpt from Governor Quinn’s statement to the media yesterday

Quinn did hint at one possible component of a plan – shifting the costs of teacher pensions to school districts instead of the state, which pays nearly all of the employer share today.

“About 21 percent of what the state puts in … is for state employees,” Quinn said. “More than half of the money we contribute every year is for teachers who are outside of the city of Chicago – suburban and downstate teachers.”

Cross warned that shifting costs to school districts and universities alone won’t solve the problem.

“That’s not reform,” Cross said. “It’ll result in perhaps a local property tax increase. It’s a different way to pay for it,” Cross said.

Gov. Pat Quinn said Tuesday he will jump into the fight over how to reform Illinois’ pension system.

No prejudgments

“We’ll look at the whole subject together. I think it’s important not to say what we’re going to do until everybody has a chance to speak,” Quinn said.

Quinn did hint at one possible component of a plan – shifting the costs of teacher pensions to school districts instead of the state, which pays nearly all of the employer share today.

“About 21 percent of what the state puts in … is for state employees,” Quinn said. “More than half of the money we contribute every year is for teachers who are outside of the city of Chicago – suburban and downstate teachers.”

Cross warned that shifting costs to school districts and universities alone won’t solve the problem.

“That’s not reform,” Cross said. “It’ll result in perhaps a local property tax increase. It’s a different way to pay for it,” Cross said.