From The Chicago Tribune:

The financial outlook for many Chicago suburbs is as bleak as the weather, with revenue-starved towns planning to issue furloughs, chop jobs and trim services.

But as municipalities finalize their budgets, one part is safe from the carnage. The pension funds of police officers and firefighters will remain untouched, and in many cases, will see sharp increases in spending.

Many communities are boosting their public safety retirement spending to make up for poor investment returns. They're paying for it with rainy day funds, money shifted from other departments, even property tax hikes.  Read more.