Headlines about "Government plans - state and local - misc"
Gathered from the web by the editors at BenefitsLink.com.
Calculating the Combined Value of San Diego's Two Pension Plans
Excerpt: "AS A CITY, San Diego is unusual -- almost unique -- in that it provides its 'general' city employees (all but police and firefighters) with not just one, but TWO FULL MATCHING PENSIONS. In addition to the traditional government defined benefit (DB) plan common to all cities, San Diego also provides such employees with a 401k-type, defined contribution (DC) plan -- their SPSP plan. These employees must put in a minimum of 3% into their earmarked account, and can put in more up to set limits (see Excel spreadsheet [on the target page]). Whatever they put in, the city will match dollar-for-dollar. This spreadsheet is designed to show the combined value of these two benefits." (PensionWatch)
Comparison Chart of Selected Features of Public Sector Hybrid Retirement Benefit Plans (PDF)
2 pages. (National Association of State Retirement Administrators)
New York Governor Seeks Input on Bill Regarding Prostate, Breast Cancer Screenings
Excerpt: "New York Gov. David A. Paterson called for public comments today on whether certain public employees should receive paid time off for prostate and breast cancer screenings. Bill S.8077/A.10035-A would clarify state law to explicitly state that certain government employees are entitled to up to four hours of paid leave for these health screenings. Paterson must act on the legislation by Wednesday." (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle)
Jacksonville, FL Police and Fire Pension Fund Underfunded for 30 Years
Excerpt: "'It's cause for concern but not for alarm.' That's how John Keane, executive director and administrator of the Police and Fire Pension Fund (PFPF), describes the current underfunding of the pension plan for Jacksonville's public safety employees who are currently enrolled in the fund. As of Sept. 30, 2007 the PFPF was underfunded (liabilities exceeded assets) by $534 million. According to figures provided by the Council Auditor's Office, that means the PFPF is underfunded by 36.5 percent." (Financial News & Daily Record)
[Guidance Overview] GASB 45 Standard Creates Accounting Quandary for Health Benefits in Retirement (PDF)
6 pages. Excerpt: "Differing opinions on discount rate selection under a new government accounting standard could lead local governments to unintentionally mislead creditors about their financial obligations for retiree health benefits." (American Academy of Actuaries)
San Diego Mayor, Unions Reach Deal on Pension Reform
Excerpt: "A tentative deal to overhaul the city's pension plan has been reached by Mayor Jerry Sanders and three city unions, officials said Tuesday. Sanders said the agreement is another step in reforming the city's pension system. He said in 20 years, the new compromise would save the city $23 million a year." (NBCSandiego.com)
[Official Guidance] Proposed GASB Technical Bulletin: Determining the Annual Required Contribution Adjustment for Postemployment Benefits (PDF)
8 pages. Excerpt: "This Technical Bulletin clarifies the requirements of Statements 27 and 45 for calculating the annual required contribution (ARC) adjustment. Specifically, this Technical Bulletin applies to situations in which the ARC includes a known amount related to the amortization of past employer contribution deficiencies or excess contributions to a pension or other postemployment benefit (OPEB) plan." (Governmental Accounting Standards Board)
[Opinion] There Is No Fundamental Problem with Defined Benefit Plans If Managed and Designed Well
Excerpt: "The problems they have are simply one of design and making decisions based on politics rather than mathematics." (voiceofsandiego.org)
Post-Retirement Health Benefits Cut for Future St. Petersburg, FL, Public Sector Employees
Excerpt: "St. Petersburg is cutting benefits for the next generation of police officers, firefighters and paramedics. In labor negotiations, it's called a 'giveback' -- and a lot of public sector workers will be giving back benefits in the years ahead.' (Fox Television Stations, Inc.)
Washington, D.C. Court Employees Want Retirement Plan Fixed
Excerpt: "When the D.C. Revitalization Act was passed in 1997, the law required employees of D.C. Superior Court and the D.C. Court of Appeals to participate in the federal pension system. But the law didn't provide for counting years worked under the former retirement plan." (Law.com)
GASB Issues Proposal on Required Contributions for OPEBs
Excerpt: "The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) has issued for comment a proposed Technical Bulletin, 'Determining the Annual Required Contribution for Postemployment Benefits.' According to a GASB announcement, the document will clarify that the use of actual known amounts for purposes of calculating the annual required contribution (ARC) adjustment relating to pensions and other postemployment benefits (OPEB) is consistent with the intent of existing standards." (PLANSPONSOR.com; free registration required)
States Eye Cycle of Retiring, Rehiring
Excerpt: "The practice -- called 'double dipping' -- lets tens of thousands of state and local workers retire, collect pension benefits and then keep working, often at the same job. . . . Double-dipping is legal in nearly every state under existing pension and hiring rules. It is especially common among educators, police officers and others who retire young after 20 to 30 years on the job." (USA TODAY)
Hearing: Your Money, Your Future: Public Pension Plans and the Need to Strengthen Retirement Security and Economic Growth
Excerpt: "U.S. Senator Robert P. Casey (D-PA) convened a hearing of the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) to examine the public and private sector impacts of defined benefit pension plans in the public sector. The hearing entitled, 'Your Money, Your Future: Public Pension Plans and the Need to Strengthen Retirement Security and Economic Growth' was held Thursday, July 10 at 10:00am in Room 106 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The panel of experts discussed the recent changeover from defined benefits to defined contributions plans and its effect on employees' retirement income and the U.S. economy." (U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee)
[Guidance Overview] IRS May Not Exercise Participant's Early Distribution Election to Collect on Levy
Excerpt: "IRS Office of Chief Counsel issued an Advice Memorandum concluding that the Service is not entitled to exercise a taxpayer's right to suspend membership in a state retirement fund in order to obtain immediate distribution where the taxpayer has not reached retirement age. Office of Chief Counsel, Internal Revenue Service, Memorandum No. 200819001, Released May 9, 2008." (Deloitte via BenefitsLink.com)
The Crisis in State and Local Government Retiree Health Benefit Plans: Myths and Realities (PDF)
12 pages. Excerpt: "This Issue Brief explores some of the most importantperceptions associated with retiree health plans and the new GASB accounting standards and assesses whether these beliefs are myths or realities." (Center for State and Local Government Excellence)
[Guidance Overview] Supreme Court ADEA Cases Address Disability Pension Provision and Downsizing (PDF)
Excerpt: "This case clarifies that differential treatment based on pension status does not automatically correlate with age discrimination, but recognizes that discrimination can be shown where pension status is a proxy for age or a plan design is impermissibly motivated by age. To minimize potential exposure to age discrimination claims, employers should exercise particular caution in structuring benefit plans or programs that take age into account, such as phased retirement programs, or that base eligibility on pension status." (Buck Consultants)
San Diego Pension Plan Predicted to Pass
Excerpt: "Mayor Jerry Sanders took his pension plan for city workers on the road yesterday, seeking understanding and support from Scripps Ranch voters at a town-hall meeting. The plan, designed to save the city money in the future, would cut retirement benefits for non-public-safety employees hired on or after July 1, 2009." (San Diego Union Tribune)
[Guidance Overview] Supreme Court Issues Two Significant Employee Benefits Decisions, But Uncertainty Remains (PDF)
4 pages. Excerpt: "In its recent decisions in Kentucky Retirement Systems v. E.E.O.C. and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company v. Glenn, the United States Supreme Court addressed several important issues regarding the design of employee benefit plans and related litigation. Both decisions, however, have unfortunately left a number of significant issues undecided and may lead to confusion and uncertainty for litigants and courts alike." (Dechert LLP)
West Virginia to Give Loans for Teachers to Pay Retirement Buy-In
Excerpt: "Teachers who opt to switch back into the Teachers Retirement System from the Teachers Defined Contribution Plan will have the opportunity to take out a loan to help cover their buy-in costs. The law requires the state to offer the loan to all teachers who choose to switch their retirement plans." (Charleston Daily Mail)
Pension Option Can Pay Off - Buying Years of Service Worthwhile
Excerpt: "How do I determine if I should purchase years of service from my state pension plan? If I used $97,000 to purchase 10 years of service, I would receive a full pension of about $1,300 per month (up from about $400 a month currently) and could continue to participate in the employees' health plan." (The Hartford Courant)
IRS, Treasury Implementation of PPA Clarification of Required Minimum Distribution Rules for Government Plans (PDF)
1 page. Excerpt: "The proposed regulations would be effective for all years to which section 401(a)(9) applies. Comments on the proposed regulations are due by October 8, 2008." (Sutherland)
Fiscal Watchdog Group Urges End to New York Public Pension Enhancements
Excerpt: "'These bills are quite symptomatic of the fact that the state has to start connecting the dots,' said Elizabeth Lynam of the Citizens Budget Commission, the Manhattan-based watchdog group urging the vetoes. 'They can't say they're concerned about local tax burdens on the one hand, and on the other hand do business as usual by approving these sweeteners.'" (Rochester Democrat & Chronicle)
Governmental Accounting Standards Board Looking at Pensions
Excerpt: "As cities and states struggle with ballooning retirement costs, accounting rule makers started an ambitious project Thursday to force state and local governments to issue better numbers and reveal the true cost of their pension promises." (The New York Times; free registration required)
State's Pension Changes Still Leave Uncertain Future for Government Workers
Excerpt: "Public-employee fringe benefits are at the heart of an odd controversy during the Kentucky General Assembly's special session, which began Monday. Despite nearly unanimous floor votes for a reform package of Kentucky's generous health and pension plans this week, wide divisions persist on what needs to come next for the government offerings. The state is languishing under a nearly $30-billion shortfall in its public employee benefit accounts." (Business Lexington)
Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel Calls State Retirement Bill Questionable
Excerpt: "Sen. Steve Faris, D-Central, asked for an opinion from the state's attorney general about whether legislation that would curtail the Deferred Option Retirement Plan for some categories of employees who are entitled to select that benefit would be constitutional." (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
[Opinion] How Public Sector Pension Plans Provide Adequate Retirement Savings in an Efficient and Sustainable Way
Excerpt: "A review of the economic evidence on state and local DB plans tells us that these pension plans have proven themselves as model retirement systems. They have a successful track record of performance in delivering adequate benefits in a sustainable and efficient manner." (Center for American Progress)
Testimony: State and Local Government Pension Plans: Current Structure and Funded Status (PDF)
28 pages. Statement of Barbara D. Bovbjerg, director, education, workforce, and income security, before the Joint Economic Committee on July 10, 2008. (U.S. Government Accountability Office)
Accounting Quandary for Health Benefits in Retirement (PDF)
6 pages. Excerpt: "A common reaction to the new accounting standard increased contributions to a pension-like trust, which will be recorded as an expense. There are two predominant views on how best to select the discount rate for measuring OPEB liabilities during the phase-in period. But each has serious deficiencies." (Mark Shemtob via Contingencies)
[Opinion] Setting the Stage for OPEB bonds
Excerpt: "It's now a 'perfect storm' for state and local governments who already face acute budgetary pressures -- just as they begin to budget money to fund their retiree medical benefits (OPEB). And many underfunded pension plans could soon see their actuarial status erode, requiring increased employer contributions." (Governing.com)
[Official Guidance] Proposed IRS Regs: Reasonable Good Faith Interpretation of Required Minimum Distribution Rules by Governmental Plans (PDF)
9 pages. Excerpt: "This document contains proposed regulations under sections 401(a)(9) and 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) to permit a governmental plan to comply with the required minimum distribution rules by using a reasonable and good faith interpretation of the statute. These proposed regulations will affect administrators of, employers maintaining, participants in, and beneficiaries of governmental plans. . . . Section 823 of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 . . . instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue regulations under which, for all years to which section 401(a)(9) applies, a governmental plan, within the meaning of section 414(d), shall be treated as having complied with section 401(a)(9) if such plan complies with a reasonable good faith interpretation of section 401(a)(9)." (Internal Revenue Service)
[Guidance Overview] Pension Plan May Vary Imputed Service Based, in Part, on Age (PDF)
2 pages. Excerpt: "Justice Kennedy filed a dissenting opinion arguing that the Kentucky plan presented a 'straightforward act of discrimination on the basis of age.' Id., dissent slip op. at 3. The opinion criticized the majority for basing its decision on policy arguments that do not follow a clear rule of law. Justice Kennedy warned that '[b]y embracing the approach rejected by the en banc panel and all other Courts of Appeals that have addressed this issue, this Court creates unevenness in administration, unpredictability in litigation, and uncertainty as to employee rights once thought well settled.' Id., dissent slip op. at 2." (Sutherland)
[Opinion] San Diego Pension Reform Proposal Would Require Patience to See Savings
Excerpt: "The proposed plan which, among other things, reduces city employees' retirement age and significantly cuts the city's contributions to employee retirement savings, would eventually save taxpayers an estimated $22.5 million annually. The key word is eventually. Because federal laws prevent the rolling back of already-negotiated benefits, the proposed reforms would only apply to new employees hired after July 1, 2009." (voiceofsandiego.org)
Teacher Pension Plan a Win for West Virginia
Excerpt: "With more than 78 percent of the eligible participants selecting to transfer from a defined contribution pension plan to a defined benefit pension plan, over 15,000 teachers and school service employees will be moving into a bona fide retirement plan." (Herald-Dispatch.com)
New Jersey Public Employee Benefits Battle May Get Bigger
Excerpt: "Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney, an ironworkers union official, led the push for reform [two years ago]. But intense opposition from the powerful public unions including a Statehouse protest by thousands of workers halted the effort. In recent weeks, however, lawmakers led by Sweeney and Senate Budget Chairwoman Barbara Buono, D-Middlesex, managed to push through legislation to scale back future compensation for teachers and public employees, though milder than the 2006 proposals and less comprehensive than the changes they initially set out to make this year." (NJ.com)
Mercer Asks Court to Drop Charges in Milwaukee Pension Suit
Excerpt: "Mercer has filed a motion for summary judgment asking a district court to dismiss all claims against it in a lawsuit claiming the firm was negligent in its role as actuary to the Milwaukee County pension plan. The county, the Milwaukee County Employees' Retirement System, and its governing Pension Board, sued Mercer for its alleged role in the enactment of a BackDROP provision." (Mercer LLC)
GASB Begins Project Examining Possible Changes to Benefit Accounting and Reporting Standards (PDF)
Page 2 of 8 pages. Excerpt: "On April 24, 2008, the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) revised its 2008 Technical Plan, adding a new 'Postemployment Benefit Accounting and Financial Reporting' project. The overall goal of the project is to consider improvements to accounting and financial reporting standards for state and local government pension and other postemployment benefits (OPEB) . . . ." (Gabriel Roeder Smith & Company)
National Association of State Retirement Administrators Supports Amending PPA's Cap on Interest Credits for Public Plans (PDF)
Page 1 of 8 pages. Excerpt: "[NASRA] supports legislation that would allow public plans to set their own interest crediting rates. This provision was recently included in H.R. 6382. Although bill was dropped on June 26, there is hope that it will be brought up again when Congress returns from its July recess." (Gabriel Roeder Smith & Company)
Do State Pension Officials Have Something to Hide?
Excerpt: "The senior investment officer at the Virginia Retirement System was apparently so terrified at having to disclose performance information for the fund's $3.3 billion in private equity investments that he asked his staff to box up every quarterly and annual report they received from general partners and ship them back. . . . His fear: that Virginia's freedom of information law might force him to reveal results to the fund's 580,000 retirees and the public. Not anymore. VRS got the law changed to exempt all private equity funds from disclosing returns." (Forbes.com)
[Guidance Overview] Supreme Court Narrowly Upholds State's 'Imputed Service' Formula for Disability Pensions
Excerpt: "The lynchpin of the Supreme Court's decision was its interpretation of Hazen Paper Co. v. Biggins, 507 U.S. 604 (1993), which involved a 62-year old employee who claimed he was unlawfully discharged by the employer in order to avoid the payment of pension benefits that were about to vest. In Hazen, the Supreme Court found that, without evidence of intent, a dismissal based on pension status was not a dismissal because of age." (Deloitte via BenefitsLink.com)
Decent Pay, Benefits, Job Security, Make Public Sector Jobs Attractive in Uneasy Economy
Excerpt: "As the nation's economy continues to suffer, schools, villages and other areas of the public sector are being viewed as good places to work with traditional pensions and lower-cost health-care benefits making up for what can be reduced annual salaries. That public-sector interest is backed up by national employment trends charted by the U.S. Department of Labor in 2007, the most recent available." (Daily Herald)
[Guidance Overview] U.S. Supreme Court Rules Disability Benefit Formula That Credits Younger Workers with Additional Years of Service Does Not Violate the ADEA (PDF)
Pages 4-6 of 11 pages. Excerpt: "The Court's opinion saves the imputing of service tied to pension eligibility from being deemed per se unlawful. Because of the numerous factors and qualifications referred to in the majority opinion, it is unclear, however, how broadly its reasoning and rule may apply beyond this context." (Proskauer Rose LLP)
Lawsuit Raises Questions on Administration of CalPERS PPO Plans
Excerpt: "A lawsuit before California's Second District Court of Appeal centers on the question of whether public employees who get health benefits through CalPERS can sue insurers if they deny treatment, the Los Angeles Daily Journal reports." (California HealthCare Foundation)
[Official Guidance] Text of IRS Notice 2008-62: Nonapplication of 457(f) and 409A to Certain Recurring Part-Time Compensation Arrangements (PDF)
4 pages. Excerpt: "The [upcoming proposed section 457(f)] regulations to be proposed are expected to address certain types of arrangements involving recurring part-year compensation, including common arrangements involving public school employees who provide services during a 10- month school year and elect to be paid ratably over 12 months. It is expected that the regulations would provide that if certain conditions described below are satisfied, § 457(f) would not apply to such arrangements. It is also expected that a conforming change will be proposed for regulations under § 409A, so that § 409A also will not apply to such arrangements if such conditions are met." (Internal Revenue Service)
Vermont Public Pension Plan Changes Effective Today
Excerpt: "The pension plan used by Vermont state employees is changing today. Now many state employees will see more money from their paychecks going into their pensions. New state employees will have to work for three more years to receive full retirement benefits. And the age of full retirement is increasing from 62 to 65." (AP via Vermont Public Radio)
[Guidance Overview] Supreme Court OKs Employer Use of Age as a Factor In Pension Plans
Excerpt: "What does this decision mean for public and private employers going forward? Basically, it means that public workers in Kentucky and states with similar pension plans can continue to rely on the promise of disability retirement benefits if they become disabled. It also means that public and private employers who feared their plans were implicated by the Kentucky Retirements Systems case -- a number estimated at 2,700 employers and 25 million affected workers -- do not have to cut benefits, increase employer contributions, or otherwise restructure their plans to bring them into compliance with the ADEA." (Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP)
[Guidance Overview] High Court Allows Different Calculations for Disability and Age-Related Retirements
Excerpt: "A state retirement system did not violate the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) by crediting young workers with additional years of service in calculating disability retirement benefits, according to a June 19 Supreme Court decision (Kentucky Retirement Systems et al. v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, No. 06–1037)." (Wolters Kluwer)
New Jersey Budget Cut but Leaves 'Pink Elephant' of Pensions
Excerpt: "Gov. Jon S. Corzine and the Democratically controlled state legislature accomplished a legislative coup of sorts last week when they approved a $32.9 billion state budget that is actually $600 million lower than the current year's budget, and that for the first time cuts back on pension and health benefits for new state workers and public school teachers." (The New York Times; free registration required)
[Opinion] It's Good to See Some Florida Cities Scrapping Costly Pension Systems
Excerpt: "Leesburg is the latest Central Florida city to recognize its pension plan -- which grew during the boom years -- is getting harder and harder to support as retirees live longer and investments take a dive. Leesburg commissioners wisely decided to cap pensions and begin providing employees the government's equivalent of a 401(k) plan that most businesses adopted years ago." (Orlando Sentinel)
Minnesota Court Blocks Retiree Health Changes
Excerpt: "A Minnesota judge has blocked the city of Duluth from making any changes to the health coverage of two of its retirees and a third retired employee's spouse." (PLANSPONSOR.com; free registration required)
Compromise Reached on San Diego, California, Pension System Overhaul
Excerpt: "Mayor Jerry Sanders and City Council President Scott Peters Wednesday reached a compromise on competing ballot initiatives aimed at overhauling San Diego's pension system. The compromise would create a hybrid pension plan for newly hired, nonpublic safety employees that combines a conventional retirement plan with a 401(k)-type savings plan." (City Wire via 10News.com)
Kentucky Govenor Signs Pension Reform Bill
Excerpt: "[Governor] Beshear signed into law House Bill 1, the Pension Reform Act. Counties, cities and school districts are expected to receive immediate savings of about $56 million, and the state's unfunded pension liability is expected to decrease by billions of dollars, the governor's office said in a news release." (Business First of Louisville; bizjournals.com; free registration required)
[Opinion] Legislative Pension Mandates Drain Florida's Municipal Budgets
Excerpt: "[A] bill passed by the 2006 Legislature expanded worker's compensation and pension-disability benefits for law enforcement, firefighters and emergency medical technicians. Everyone values the service provided by these public employees. They put their lives on the line everyday. I appreciate their valor and commitment to serve. But ultimately the question becomes: Who is going to pay for these state-mandated benefits? The answer is, your city government and residents." (Miami Herald)
[Opinion] Yes, A Public Pension Can Be Forfeited
Excerpt: "As Upton Sinclair might have said: It is difficult to get a man to understand something when their pensions depend on not understanding it. So it is when government lawyers study whether public pensions are secure. They really want to believe they are. Based on my reading of the New Jersey state constitution, I don't. Here's how I see it playing out." (NJ.com)
Detroit Police, Firefighting Retirees Sue to Stop Transfer from Pension Fund
Excerpt: "Retired Detroit police and firefighters filed a lawsuit Thursday asking the Wayne County Circuit Court to block the City of Detroit's plan to transfer $75 million from their pension fund to shore up the city's budget." (Detroit Free Press)
Weston, Connecticut Nears Agreement with Eligible Employees on Payment Plan for Retirement Fund
Excerpt: "Local leaders are willing to cover all upfront costs associated with making four town employees eligible for Municipal Employees Retirement Fund benefits from the date at which they should have originally become part of the plan. All the four need to do now is agree to the Board of Selectmen's proposed repayment plan, which would allow each employee a certain time period to repay their portion of the eligibility cost." (The Weston Forum)
Changes to San Diego Pension Plan Would Cut Back Benefits for New Hires
Excerpt: "San Diego voters may get the chance in November to ratchet down retirement benefits for new city hires starting next year. The changes would increase the minimum retirement age, reduce the maximum benefit payout and cut the taxpayer contribution to the retirements of city workers almost by half." (San Diego Union Tribune)
Public Funds Campaign Against Latest Efforts to Value Pension Liabilities at Market Rates
Excerpt: "A move to market valuation could lead to public plans using a much lower discount rate, such as 4% to 5%, compared with the current 7% to 8.5%, and result in reporting higher liabilities . . . ." (Pensions & Investments)
Issue Report - A Framework for Decision Making on Funding State Retiree Health Care Benefits
Excerpt: "Written by the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR) at Michigan State University with a grant from the Center. It is the result of a request from the Michigan House of Representatives Committee on Retiree Health Care Reforms for research on retiree health care funding options." (Center for State and Local Government Excellence)
[Guidance Overview] Supreme Court Charts New Course in Pension Plan Case Interpreting ADEA
Excerpt: "In Kentucky Retirement Income Systems v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, No. 06-1037 (June 19, 2008), the United States Supreme Court interpreted the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) to permit Kentucky to increase disabled public safety workers' pensions to the level they would have attained at normal retirement age, even though that meant workers who became disabled after reaching retirement age would not receive any pension increase." (Littler Mendelson P.C.)
The Future of Public Employee Retirement Systems
Excerpt: "At a recent Wharton Impact conference hosted by the Pension Research Council, an energetic cast of academics, financial experts, regulators, and plan sponsors examined the challenges facing public retirement systems in the US and around the world." (Pension Research Council; registration required to download fulltext of paper)
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