Over 45 years on the Algonquin Township payroll, Highway Commissioner Robert Miller contributed just more than $100,000 into his pension.
In 25 years of retirement, he would collect nearly $3.5 million.
Algonquin Township Highway Commissioner Bob Miller could collect $3.5 million in retirement benefits, though he only contributed $102,771 to his pension
| Reelectbobmiller.com
The projection is derived from records provided to the McHenry Times by the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), which administers the pensions of township officials.
It shows that Miller, 62, contributed $102,113 for his retirement, or an average of $2,269 per year.
Two years into his retirement-- at the end of 2018-- Miller will have already collected more than that, at total of $121,312, according to the projection.
By age 70, after eight years of retirement, Miller will have collected $764,191. By age 75, he’ll collect $1.37 million.
If he receives retirement benefits for 25 years-- until age 87-- he’ll collect $3,448,983.
Miller, of Cary, lost the Republican primary to Fox River Grove’s Andrew Gasser last month. Gasser will run unopposed in the April 4 township elections before taking office in May.
IMRF, the pension fund that covers city, county and township employees and elected officials, requires participants to contribute just 4.5 percent of their salary. Retirees like Miller receive 75 percent of their highest salary-- just over $94,000 in his case-- with annual increases and a annual supplemental “13th (monthly) payment” that grows over time.
The McHenry Times analysis projects Miller’s first full year retirement pay will be $74,404 in 2018, growing to $105,895 by age 70 and $132,218 by age 75.
Tens of thousands of Bob Millers
The difference between Miller’s retirement savings and what he stands to collect is emblematic of the State of Illinois’ public pension woes.
In 2015, the Illinois Department of Insurance estimated that, IMRF, which is responsible for funding the retirements of 118,038 former public employees, was short $8.98 billion in assets.
Last year, IMRF reported paying out $1.794 billion in benefits to retirees while earning just $320 million on its investments. Illinois property taxpayers (contributed $900 million) and active employees ($368 million) made up the difference.
Miller was first appointed Algonquin Township Highway Commissioner in 1993, after his predecessor and father, Delbert Miller, died suddenly of a stroke while in office.
His dad, who himself assumed the post from his father-in-law, former Fox River Grove mayor Julian Dvorak, originally hired him at age 18, in 1972.
Robert Miller's projected retirement benefits- 25 years
| Year | Age | Annual Benefit | Cumulative Collected |
| 2018 | 63 | $74,404 | $121,312 |
| 2025 | 70 | $105,895 | $764,791 |
| 2030 | 75 | $132,217 | $1,371,850 |
| 2035 | 80 | $162,242 | $2,121,433 |
| 2042 | 87 | $211,501 | $3,448,983 |
Robert Miller's retirement contributions, 1972-2017
| Year | Wage | Contribution |
| 2017 | $39,296 * | $1,768 * |
| 2016 | $94,311 | $4,244 |
| 2015 | $94,311 | $4,244 |
| 2014 | $93,318 | $4,199 |
| 2013 | $93,318 | $4,199 |
| 2012 | $92,003 | $4,140 |
| 2011 | $88,891 | $4,000 |
| 2010 | $85,751 | $3,859 |
| 2009 | $82,851 | $3,728 |
| 2008 | $80,064 | $3,603 |
| 2007 | $77,464 | $3,486 |
| 2006 | $74,844 | $3,368 |
| 2005 | $72,313 | $3,254 |
| 2004 | $69,731 | $3,138 |
| 2003 | $67,049 | $3,017 |
| 2002 | $64,470 | $2,901 |
| 2001 | $60,917 | $2,741 |
| 2000 | $57,167 | $2,573 |
| 1999 | $55,167 | $2,483 |
| 1998 | $53,167 | $2,393 |
| 1997 | $50,333 | $2,265 |
| 1996 | $47,438 | $2,135 |
| 1995 | $46,088 | $2,074 |
| 1994 | $44,758 | $2,014 |
| 1993 | $48,697 | $2,191 |
| 1992 | $40,623 | $1,828 |
| 1991 | $38,939 | $1,752 |
| 1990 | $37,067 | $1,668 |
| 1989 | $34,835 | $1,568 |
| 1988 | $35,164 | $1,582 |
| 1987 | $32,078 | $1,444 |
| 1986 | $30,856 | $1,389 |
| 1985 | $29,041 | $1,307 |
| 1984 | $26,904 | $1,211 |
| 1983 | $25,136 | $1,131 |
| 1982 | $23,560 | $1,060 |
| 1981 | $20,959 | $1,752 |
| 1980 | $19,053 | $857 |
| 1972-79** | $123,262 | $5,547 |
| Total | $2,251,192 | $102,113 |
* Includes projected salary and contribution through May, when Miller is anticipated to retire
**IMRF couldn't provide detailed data from 1972 through 1979, so for these years, the analysis uses estimates based on Miller's salary and pension contribution history.
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