Mayors' group pushes for Illinois pension reform

CHICAGO — Illinois mayors from Rockford to Peoria reiterated their call Monday for lawmakers to overhaul local police and fire pension systems to avoid strains on municipal budgets, but there were few signs the Legislature would take up the issue anytime soon.

No legislation has been drafted, talks are still in preliminary stages, and several mayors expressed skepticism they’d get a plan approved in an election year. The Legislature only recently approved a plan for two of Chicago’s systems after grappling for years with how to address the state’s nearly $100 billion in unfunded pension liability.