In 2016, Sycamore's firefighters' pension fund paid out over $700K in benefits.
In 2016, Sycamore's firefighters' pension fund paid out over $700K in benefits.
DeKalb County's seven police and fire pension funds paid out $7.45 million in benefits to 151 retirees in 2016 while losing $770,396 on their investments, according to a DeKalb Times analysis of the funds' mandated financial filings with the Illinois Department of Insurance.
The Times analyzed financials reported by firefighter and police funds for DeKalb and Sycamore, police funds for Genoa and Sandwich, and the fire fund for Hinckley. Collectively, the funds hold approximately $83 million in assets and paid out $8,471,525 more in 2016 than they earned, including $249,853 in fees to investment advisers, according to the filings.
$5.25 million from DeKalb County property taxpayers
DeKalb County property taxpayers made up a large portion of the difference, subsidizing the funds last year to the tune of $5,245,862.
City of DeKalb property taxpayers paid the most to pension funds, at $3.8 million in 2016.
The city's two funds paid out nearly $5.7 million to retirees while losing $312,112 in investments and paying $86,769 to investment advisers.
Sycamore property taxpayers paid $485,399 to police and fire pension in funds in 2016, followed by Sandwich ($264,427) and Genoa ($221,541).
Three of the seven DeKalb County funds lost a combined $844,851 in 2016, when the S&P 500 returned 12 percent.
DeKalb's firefighters' fund lost $359,817 on $24.35 million in assets (-1.48 percent) and paid out $3 million in benefits.
Sycamore’s firefighters’ fund lost $330,376 on $12.59 million in assets (-2.62 percent) and paid out $754,893 in benefits.
Sycamore’s police officers’ fund lost $154,658 on $11.94 million in assets (-1.30 percent) and paid out $696,850 in benefits.
DeKalb County Pensions: Investments and Benefits Paid
| Pension Fund | Total Benefits Paid | Investment Income | Investment Expenses | Difference |
| Dekalb Firefighters Pension Fund | $3,072,413 | -$359,817 | $43,831 | -$3,476,061 |
| Dekalb Police Pension Fund | $2,579,348 | $47,706 | $42,938 | -$2,574,581 |
| Genoa Police Pension Fund | $73,462 | $24,864 | $73,462 | -$122,060 |
| Hinckley Community FPD Firefighters Pension Fund | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Sandwich Police Pension Fund | $274,310 | $1,886 | $19,768 | -$292,193 |
| Sycamore Firefighters Pension Fund | $754,893 | -$330,376 | $39,574 | -$1,124,842 |
| Sycamore Police Pension Fund | $696,850 | -$154,658 | $30,280 | -$881,788 |
| COUNTY TOTAL | $7,451,277 | -$770,396 | $249,853 | -$8,471,525 |
Analysis: DeKalb Times
DeKalb County Pensions: Recipients and Funding
| Pension Fund | Total Benefits Paid | Retirees/Inactive Recipients* | Active Employees | Taxpayer Subsidies | Member Contributiosn |
| Dekalb Firefighters' Pension Fund | $3,072,413 | 59 | 57 | $2,158,156 | $477,022 |
| Dekalb Police Pension Fund | $2,579,348 | 46 | 62 | $1,622,105 | $727,853 |
| Genoa Police Pension Fund | $73,462 | 3 | 6 | $221,541 | $41,473 |
| Hinckley Community FPD Firefighter's Pension Fund | $0 | 0 | 1 | $8,852 | $4,717 |
| Sandwich Police Pension Fund | $274,310 | 10 | 14 | $264,427 | $118,271 |
| Sycamore Firefighters' Pension Fund | $754,893 | 19 | 29 | $579,311 | $226,750 |
| Sycamore Police Pension Fund | $696,850 | 14 | 30 | $391,470 | $258,649 |
| COUNTY TOTAL | $7,451,277 | 151 | 199 | $5,245,862 | $1,854,735 |
Analysis: DeKalb Times
*Retirees/Inactive Recipients, Active Employees as of 2014.
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