40 ILCS 5/9-173: Additional contributions and credits-all employees.

Any employee in service on July 1, 1947, may elect to make additional contributions while in service which shall not exceed 7/13 of the sum accumulated for age and service annuity on July 1, 1947, or at age 65 if he attained such age prior thereto. The time and manner of making such additional contributions shall be prescribed by the board. Concurrently with each such additional contribution, the county shall contribute 1 and 4/10 times the additional contributions.

These contributions shall be improved at interest at the rate and in like manner as other employee and county contributions; provided, that the employee, while in service, may request a refund of all or any part of his contributions, without interest, or shall have them refunded to him, without interest, when he retires on annuity or to his widow, if and to the extent they do not serve to increase the annuity otherwise payable to him or his widow.

By such refund the employee or his widow surrenders and forfeits all rights which might otherwise have accrued by virtue of any amount so refunded, including related county contributions.