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