Wood Dale FPD Firefighters Pension Fund in FY 2024 stood as 26th lowest funded in Illinois, covering just 35.1% of obligations
In 2024, the Wood Dale FPD Firefighters Pension Fund placed 26th among the least funded police and fire pension systems in Illinois, as reported by the Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI).
Operating within Illinois' city-based pension framework, the fund listed $49,829,895 in total pension liabilities offset by an actuarial funding value of $17,479,483.
This produced a funding level of 35.1%, meaning only a little over a third of the required actuarial assets were available to support promised retirement payouts.
The gap between available assets and obligations left the fund with an estimated unfunded liability of $32,350,412.
The Illinois Department of Insurance maintains records and publishes information about municipal police and fire pensions, which are financially supported by local taxpayers.
As of 2024, Illinois was home to 300 fire and 363 police pension plans. Certain municipalities handle both pension types, while others fund only one.Some municipalities had no unfunded pension liabilities in 2024; specifically, 64 reported no outstanding police or fire pension debt and therefore were not included in these rankings.
Police and fire pension responsibilities, often labeled "pension benefits," act as forms of deferred compensation. Local officials guarantee retirement benefits to public safety workers, but sometimes without securing sufficient funds from employees or local taxpayers, resulting in a cumulative municipal pension debt. This debt is shifted to subsequent residents. Municipalities provide annual pension contributions, which are primarily sourced from property taxes, with data on these contributions compiled by the IDOI.
Pension funds for police and fire across Illinois averaged a funding percentage of 65.1% in 2024, underscoring a widespread gap between obligations and available assets among local government public safety plans.
The pension fund with the lowest funding rate in Illinois was the Glencoe Firefighters Pension Fund, holding only 0.9% of the assets needed.
Conversely, the Savoy Firefighters Pension Fund had the highest funding rate at 797.7%, with its actuarial assets totaling $149,803—well above its obligations.
Illinois as a whole saw its pension shortfall expand by $1.5 billion in 2024, reaching $143.7 billion, according to data from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability. This marked a third straight year of increases, placing total debt just below the 20-year peak of $144.2 billion set in 2020.
Data from the State Department of Insurance Public Pension Division shows that Illinois' suburban and downstate funds carried $12.1 billion in unfunded actuarial obligations in 2024, with a collective funding ratio of 49.18%. More than half the assets required for promised retirement benefits were missing among these plans.
According to a study by the Equable Institute, Illinois led all states in terms of share of GDP dedicated to unfunded pension commitments in 2024, nearing 20%.
The Illinois Policy Institute, a nonpartisan research group, contends that this has resulted in a growing taxpayer burden. The institute notes that contributions to state pension funds rose to $11.2 billion in fiscal year 2025, up from $614 million in fiscal year 1996.
| Rank | Pension Fund | City | Fund Type | Funding % | Unfunded Liability | Total Liabilities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glencoe Firefighters Pension Fund | Glencoe | Village or Township | 0.9% | $178,203 | $179,832 |
| 2 | South Chicago Heights Firefighters Pension Fund | South Chicago Heights | Village or Township | 2.8% | $491,701 | $505,700 |
| 3 | Bethany Firefighters Pension Fund | Bethany | Village or Township | 3.9% | $250,130 | $260,252 |
| 4 | Posen Firefighters Pension Fund | Posen | Village or Township | 6.8% | $1,013,154 | $1,086,589 |
| 5 | Nunda Rural FPD Firefighters Pension Fund | Crystal Lake | Fire Protection District | 8% | $155,069 | $168,587 |
| 6 | East St. Louis Firefighters Pension Fund | East St. Louis | City | 9.5% | $60,376,247 | $66,732,525 |
| 7 | Cairo Firefighters Pension Fund | Cairo | City | 10.9% | $4,757,521 | $5,338,526 |
| 8 | Riverdale Police Pension Fund | Riverdale | Village or Township | 14.9% | $45,058,163 | $52,928,748 |
| 9 | Washington Park Police Pension Fund | Caseyville | Village or Township | 17.3% | $2,295,422 | $2,775,919 |
| 10 | Lynwood Police Pension Fund | Lynwood | Village or Township | 17.5% | $13,417,550 | $16,254,380 |
| 11 | Stone Park Police Pension Fund | Stone Park | City | 21.4% | $17,485,225 | $22,232,105 |
| 12 | Harvey Firefighters Pension Fund | Harvey | City | 22% | $43,143,298 | $55,313,475 |
| 13 | Cairo Police Pension Fund | Cairo | Village or Township | 23.8% | $3,594,155 | $4,716,195 |
| 14 | Lincoln Firefighters Pension Fund | Lincoln | City | 24.3% | $17,964,106 | $23,728,200 |
| 15 | Burnham Police Pension Fund | Burnham | Village or Township | 25.8% | $7,033,692 | $9,481,825 |
| 16 | East Alton Police Pension Fund | East Alton | Village or Township | 29% | $7,752,199 | $10,913,295 |
| 16 | Danville Firefighters Pension Fund | Danville | City | 29% | $56,012,714 | $78,905,481 |
| 18 | North Chicago Police Pension Fund | North Chicago | City | 29.2% | $48,425,528 | $68,354,735 |
| 19 | Lyons Police Pension Fund | Lyons | Village or Township | 30.6% | $23,697,686 | $34,165,503 |
| 20 | Braidwood FPD Firefighters Pension Fund | Braidwood | Fire Protection District | 32% | $316,114 | $464,595 |
| 21 | Summit Police Pension Fund | Summit | City | 32.6% | $29,528,504 | $43,781,677 |
| 22 | Evergreen Park Firefighters Pension Fund | Evergreen Park | Village or Township | 32.7% | $2,456,722 | $3,650,796 |
| 23 | Blue Island Firefighters Pension Fund | Blue Island | City | 33.1% | $18,491,894 | $27,630,414 |
| 24 | Sauk Village Police Pension Fund | Sauk Village | Village or Township | 34.9% | $12,186,385 | $18,729,752 |
| 25 | Rock Island Firefighters Pension Fund | Rock Island | City | 35% | $57,571,195 | $88,569,214 |
| 26 | Wood Dale FPD Firefighters Pension Fund | Wood Dale | City | 35.1% | $32,350,412 | $49,829,895 |
| 27 | East Alton Firefighters Pension Fund | East Alton | Village or Township | 35.5% | $4,448,576 | $6,899,172 |
| 28 | Island Lake Police Pension Fund | Island Lake | Village or Township | 36.8% | $6,468,832 | $10,231,984 |
| 29 | Danville Police Pension Fund | Danville | City | 36.9% | $50,909,230 | $80,729,515 |
| 30 | Madison Police Pension Fund | Madison | City | 37.1% | $7,796,590 | $12,403,202 |
| 31 | Lincoln Police Pension Fund | Lincoln | City | 37.3% | $18,839,226 | $30,062,677 |
| 32 | Fairfield Police Pension Fund | Fairfield | City | 38% | $5,894,772 | $9,500,767 |
| 33 | Lansing Police Pension Fund | Lansing | Village or Township | 38.8% | $69,901,857 | $114,240,820 |
| 34 | Roberts Park FPD Firefighters Pension Fund | Justice | Fire Protection District | 39% | $17,530,740 | $28,746,543 |
| 35 | Forest Park Firefighters Pension Fund | Forest Park | Village or Township | 39.2% | $27,473,776 | $45,186,356 |
| 36 | Chicago Heights Firefighters Pension Fund | Chicago Heights | City | 39.3% | $62,391,745 | $102,720,418 |
| 37 | Rock Island Police Pension Fund | Rock Island | City | 39.7% | $73,031,157 | $121,052,017 |
| 37 | Orland Hills Police Pension Fund | Orland Hills | Village or Township | 39.7% | $6,319,400 | $10,478,984 |
| 39 | Worth Police Pension Fund | Worth | Village or Township | 39.8% | $21,860,053 | $36,333,997 |
| 39 | Blue Island Police Pension Fund | Blue Island | City | 39.8% | $32,059,062 | $53,267,960 |
| 41 | North Chicago Firefighters Pension Fund | North Chicago | City | 40.4% | $20,483,690 | $34,370,261 |
| 42 | Cicero Firefighters' Pension Fund | Cicero | Village or Township | 40.8% | $79,226,461 | $133,790,594 |
| 43 | Forest Park Police Pension Fund | Forest Park | Village or Township | 41% | $37,697,488 | $63,937,177 |
| 44 | Melrose Park Firefighters Pension Fund | Melrose Park | City | 41.1% | $61,238,248 | $103,986,729 |
| 45 | Kewanee Firefighters Pension Fund | Kewanee | Fire Protection District | 41.3% | $11,229,196 | $19,115,798 |
| 46 | North Riverside Firefighters Pension Fund | North Riverside | Village or Township | 42.2% | $18,334,006 | $31,699,557 |
| 47 | Willow Springs Police Pension Fund | Willow Springs | City | 42.3% | $7,186,960 | $12,450,998 |
| 48 | East St. Louis Police Pension Fund | East St. Louis | City | 42.8% | $31,710,417 | $55,399,611 |
| 49 | Mattoon Firefighters Pension Fund | Mattoon | City | 43.3% | $28,949,965 | $51,067,176 |
| 50 | Streator Firefighters Pension Fund | Streator | City | 43.7% | $9,841,102 | $17,489,034 |
| 51 | Pekin Firefighters Pension Fund | Pekin | City | 44.2% | $44,972,438 | $80,603,425 |
| 52 | Antioch Police Pension Fund | Antioch | Village or Township | 44.3% | $22,507,263 | $40,430,804 |
| 53 | Murphysboro Police Pension Fund | Murphysboro | City | 44.8% | $7,400,477 | $13,406,403 |
| 54 | Rockford Firefighters Pension Fund | Rockford | City | 45% | $243,720,485 | $442,821,841 |
| 55 | West Frankfort Police Pension Fund | West Frankfort | City | 45.1% | $8,460,333 | $15,416,610 |
| 56 | Cahokia Heights Police Pension Fund | Centreville | City | 45.3% | $19,664,032 | $35,981,323 |
| 57 | Hillside Police Pension Fund | Hillside | Village or Township | 45.9% | $28,601,329 | $52,865,931 |
| 58 | Oakbrook Terrace Fire Protection District Pension Fund | Oakbrook Terrace | City | 46% | $2,639,694 | $4,889,901 |
| 58 | Melrose Park Police Pension Fund | Melrose Park | Village or Township | 46% | $56,186,523 | $104,105,647 |
| 58 | Charleston Police Pension Fund | Charleston | City | 46% | $22,275,326 | $41,224,924 |
| 61 | Dekalb Firefighters Pension Fund | De Kalb | City | 46.1% | $52,987,441 | $98,225,613 |
| 62 | Oak Lawn Police Pension Fund | Oak Lawn | City | 46.3% | $117,769,104 | $219,171,942 |
| 62 | Stickney Police Pension Fund | Stickney | Village or Township | 46.3% | $11,415,170 | $21,246,665 |
| 64 | Canton Firefighters Pension Fund | Canton | City | 46.4% | $11,552,418 | $21,564,491 |
| 65 | North Riverside Police Pension Fund | North Riverside | Village or Township | 46.6% | $26,723,002 | $50,002,140 |
| 65 | Riverside Police Pension Fund | Riverside | City | 46.6% | $17,923,424 | $33,563,776 |
| 67 | Manhattan Police Pension Fund | Manhattan | Village or Township | 46.7% | $5,224,436 | $9,810,452 |
| 68 | Hillside Firefighters Pension Fund | Hillside | Village or Township | 47% | $19,279,606 | $36,391,365 |
| 68 | Lasalle Police Pension Fund | La Salle | Village or Township | 47% | $14,445,385 | $27,269,276 |
| 68 | River Grove Police Pension Fund | River Grove | Village or Township | 47% | $18,393,924 | $34,717,954 |
| 71 | Franklin Park Police Pension Fund | Franklin Park | Village or Township | 47.3% | $42,337,489 | $80,377,132 |
| 72 | Mattoon Police Pension Fund | Mattoon | City | 47.4% | $29,226,396 | $55,546,726 |
| 73 | West Frankfort Firefighters Pension Fund | West Frankfort | City | 47.6% | $5,931,509 | $11,320,574 |
| 74 | Park Forest Police Pension Fund | Park Forest | Village or Township | 47.7% | $33,109,771 | $63,259,495 |
| 75 | Jerseyville Police Pension Fund | Jerseyville | Village or Township | 47.8% | $8,021,268 | $15,361,077 |
| 76 | Marengo Police Pension Fund | Marengo | City | 47.9% | $8,865,811 | $17,022,277 |
| 76 | Maywood Police Pension Fund | Maywood | Village or Township | 47.9% | $40,650,996 | $78,048,329 |
| 78 | Charleston Firefighters Pension Fund | Charleston | City | 48.1% | $21,070,752 | $40,612,567 |
| 78 | Ottawa Firefighters Pension Fund | Ottawa | City | 48.1% | $21,080,148 | $40,601,081 |
| 78 | Matteson Firefighters Pension Fund | Matteson | Village or Township | 48.1% | $28,336,901 | $54,641,705 |
| 81 | Olympia Fields Police Pension Fund | Olympia Fields | Village or Township | 48.3% | $15,064,305 | $29,129,269 |
| 81 | Wayne Police Pension Fund | Wayne | Village or Township | 48.3% | $2,483,666 | $4,803,696 |
| 83 | Chicago Heights Police Pension Fund | Chicago Heights | Village or Township | 48.5% | $66,721,222 | $129,652,992 |
| 84 | Itasca Police Pension Fund | Itasca | Village or Township | 48.8% | $22,478,727 | $43,875,854 |
| 84 | Schiller Park Police Pension Fund | Schiller Park | Village or Township | 48.8% | $27,674,551 | $54,075,306 |
| 86 | Rockford Police Pension Fund | Rockford | City | 49.7% | $243,290,612 | $484,039,160 |
| 87 | Bridgeview Firefighters Pension Fund | Bridgeview | Village or Township | 49.8% | $31,729,816 | $63,208,657 |
| 88 | Carmi Police Pension Fund | Carmi | City | 49.9% | $5,017,333 | $10,004,863 |
| 89 | Savanna Firefighters Pension Fund | Savanna | City | 50% | $1,352,246 | $2,703,812 |
| 90 | Des Plaines Police Pension Fund | Des Plaines | Village or Township | 50.2% | $98,091,406 | $196,967,826 |
| 91 | South Chicago Heights Police Pension Fund | South Chicago Heights | City | 50.4% | $3,962,996 | $7,982,608 |
| 91 | Centralia Police Pension Fund | Centralia | City | 50.4% | $14,338,909 | $28,938,213 |
| 91 | Harrisburg Police Pension Fund | Harrisburg | City | 50.4% | $7,035,937 | $14,185,669 |
| 94 | Niles Police Pension Fund | Niles | City | 50.5% | $51,077,927 | $103,200,536 |
| 94 | Barrington Police Pension Fund | Barrington | Village or Township | 50.5% | $26,351,154 | $53,218,265 |
| 94 | Pontoon Beach Police Pension Fund | Pontoon Beach | Village or Township | 50.5% | $7,579,533 | $15,319,113 |
| 97 | Flossmoor Firefighters Pension Fund | Flossmoor | Village or Township | 50.6% | $3,521,600 | $7,132,460 |
| 98 | Caseyville Police Pension Fund | Caseyville | Village or Township | 50.7% | $3,440,097 | $6,979,835 |
| 98 | Zion Police Pension Fund | Zion | City | 50.7% | $37,726,460 | $76,487,262 |
| 100 | Springfield Firefighter's Pension Fund | Springfield | Village or Township | 50.8% | $173,150,294 | $352,156,867 |
Information in this article was sourced from the Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI), and the raw data is available here.