The GASB has written a very helpful article for understanding Deferred Inflows and Outflows of resources.
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Difference between pension amounts for Books (accounting), Bonds, and Budgets (cash contributions) plus a Guide to Pension Funding for Elected Officials from the Pension Funding Task Force.
CalPERS Announces PEMHCA Minimum Contribution for 2014.
This report discusses the public policy objectives of pension and OPEB funding and develops a model funding policy consistent with those objectives as well as with actuarial standards of practice. Appropriate plan funding is a major issue for retirement systems, with current funding levels relatively low and recognizing constraints on available resources. With the elimination of the ARC (Actuarial Required Contribution) under GASB Statement 68, which has been used by many plans as the "out of bounds marker" for funding, there is little guidance for setting contribution levels. “Actuarial Funding Policies and Practices for Public Pension and OPEB Plans and Level Cost Allocation Model” was adopted March 1, 2013 by the legislature-created California Actuarial Advisory Panel to advise actuaries and retirement boards both in California and across the U.S when setting funding policies. John Bartel is a member of the California Actuarial Advisory Panel. Please contact John or any of our actuaries to understand the model funding policies and how they might apply to your plan.
A new report by the Pew Charitable Trusts, “A Widening Gap in Cities: Shortfalls in Funding for Pensions and Retiree Health Care” found a funding shortfall of $217 billion for 61 of the nation’s largest cities in 2009. Of this, $118 billion was for retiree healthcare (“OPEB”) benefits. The report examines plans of the largest city in each state, plus other very large cities. In all, over 45% of U.S. municipal employees are covered by the surveyed plans.
To get a better view of the present state of major pension plans, and the potential impact of their vulnerabilities on governments, taxpayers, and investors, Morningstar has analyzed current data for pension plans administered by each of the 50 states.
The IRS has issued draft proposed regulations that outline the requirements for being a government pension plan. Governmental pension plans are not subject to many of the rules others are subject to, so governmental plan status is critical. In particular, these rules define what is “an agency or instrumentality of a State or political subdivision of a State.” This may be a very significant issue for agencies that are participating in CalPERS. There are opportunities for public comment to IRS both on these rules, and the proposed regulations which will follow.
This article from the Legislative Analyst’s Office (California’s Nonpartisan Fiscal and Policy Advisor) reviews Chapter 9 of the Federal bankruptcy code as it applies to local governments and municipalities. It outlines the process and addresses questions including whether retiree benefits could be reduced.
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