Chicago's four city pension funds owe $36.5 billion more than they have.
What that means, how we got here, and what it’ll take to get out.
Net Pension Liability
$36.5 billion
-$671.0 million YoY
What the four funds owe current and future retirees beyond the money set aside to pay for it.
Funded Ratio
25.6%
+2.1pp YoY
For every dollar the funds owe in liabilities, they hold about 26 cents of assets today.
Employer Contribution
$2.7 billion
+$138.2 million YoY
What the City of Chicago paid into the four funds in FY2024.
Benefits Paid
$2.7 billion
+$86.2 million YoY
What the four funds paid out to retirees and beneficiaries in FY2024.
Market assets vs. total liabilities
All four funds combined, 1997 - present
The maroon line shows what the four funds owe to current and future retirees - accrued liabilities. The green line shows what the funds actually hold in market-value assets today. The shaded area between them is the gap - money Chicago has promised but hasn't set aside. As of FY2024, that gap stands at $36.5 billion.
By fund
MEABF
Municipal Employees’ Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago
25.4%
funded (market basis)
Net unfunded: $15.15B
Assets: $5.06B
Liabilities: $19.92B
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LABF
Laborers’ & Retirement Board Employees’ Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago
40.8%
funded (market basis)
Net unfunded: $1.87B
Assets: $1.26B
Liabilities: $3.09B
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PABF
Policemen’s Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago
24.1%
funded (market basis)
Net unfunded: $13.80B
Assets: $4.33B
Liabilities: $17.95B
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FABF
Firemen’s Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago
23.7%
funded (market basis)
Net unfunded: $5.71B
Assets: $1.77B
Liabilities: $7.49B
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