Update: The public salary and pension databases are no longer being updated and has been taken offline as we focus our resources on new reporting and investigations.
The Better Government Association and Illinois Answers Project offer two easy-to-use databases of public information in Illinois. We do this to bring greater clarity to how tax dollars are used. Please note: Our Public Pensions Database is updated through 2022, while our Public Salaries Database is updated through 2020. These databases may receive further updates as resources allow.
Public Salaries Database
This database provides information to review, explore, and compare compensation for public employees throughout Illinois from 2017 to 2020. We do this because we believe detailing how tax dollars are spent serves the public interest.
Public Pensions Database
Funding public-employee pension systems is perhaps the most vexing emergency facing Illinois taxpayers. We collected data from the largest public pensions systems in the state and centralized it into our Illinois Public Pensions Database from 2012 to 2022.
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These databases are resource intensive, both in money and time. We request, compile, organize and check data we receive from hundreds of taxing bodies across Illinois and put it into an easy-to-use site for you.
