A new study shows some government pension funds around Chicago are in dire straits. The report published by the watchdog group Civic Federation shows ten of Northeastern Illinois’ pension funds are a combined $18 billion short. The pension funds most in trouble are those of the Chicago Transit Authority and the Chicago Police and Fire Departments.

Lawrence Msall is president of the Civic Federation. He says the pension funds have gotten more stressed over the past ten years.

MSALL: It’s startling. One, by the size of the deficit that these pension funds are racking up and two, the government’s inability to reverse course in terms of the decline and how fast that decline has been.

Msall says pension systems can be saved. He suggests public agencies adopt a pension system more in line with what the private sector uses, like 401 Ks, where the government matches employee contribution.