Dear Friends and Supporters,

August has always felt like the month when summer starts tapping us on the shoulder, reminding us that the season is almost over, whether we are ready or not. 

For PAG, August was full of movement: legislator education, community meetings, CTPF investment and health insurance committee updates, retiree advocacy conversations, and continued questions about how we protect earned benefits for current and future retirees. 

In this issue, I’m sharing two updates: one on PAG’s August education and outreach work, and another on the questions I raised at the August CTPF meetings about the funded ratio, dedicated tax levy revenue, investment consultant decisions, health insurance, and Tier 2. 

Those questions all come from the same place: members deserve transparency, accountability, and decisions that put CTPF members first. 

As PAG continues to grow, I am also turning more of my focus toward grant writing so we can build the resources needed to sustain this work. 

The season may be changing, but PAG is still showing up.

With gratitude, determination, and just enough righteous impatience to keep going,

Tina

August was a full month for PAG, with legislator education efforts, a brief conversation with Mayor Brandon Johnson, CTPF investment consultant updates, health insurance developments, and retiree advocacy meetings. 

Find out where PAG showed up, what issues remain in focus, and why the work to repeal Tier 2 and protect earned benefits continues.

As part of PAG’s August Legislator Education month, we updated our 2026 Legislative Fact Sheet to help policymakers, members, and supporters better understand the pension issues affecting Chicago educators and retirees. 

The fact sheet provides a plain-language overview of Illinois pension protections, Tier 2 concerns, CTPF funding health, and why continued advocacy matters for current and future educators.

What should members know about CTPF’s funding, tax levy revenue, investment oversight, and retiree health insurance? 

PAG breaks down the questions raised at the August CTPF meetings and explains why each issue matters to the larger goal of protecting members, retirees, beneficiaries, and the earned benefits they depend on.

PAG continues to monitor issues that may affect members, retirees, beneficiaries, and newer educators, including:


• Tier 2 repeal efforts and benefit equity for newer educators
• CTPF funded ratio and long-term funding health
• Dedicated tax levy revenues and property tax timing
• Investment consultant decisions and investment oversight
• Retiree health insurance funding and subsidy levels
• CTPF governance, trustee voting transparency, and public accountability
• Public education funding, revenue proposals, and legislative advocacy opportunities


We will continue sharing updates as these issues develop.

PAG’s work grows when members, educators, and supporters help share reliable information and support pension education, transparency, and advocacy.


If this newsletter helped you better understand the work ahead, please consider supporting PAG or forwarding this update to someone who should be following these issues.

Thank you for staying informed, engaged, and connected. Feel free to forward this newsletter to a friend.