CC 2015-02-24_11c Status of CalPERS Plans (2) J
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INCORPORATED 9� MEMORANDUM
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* JULY 10. 1911
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TO: CITY COUNCIL
FROM: DEBBIE MALICOAT, DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF THE STATUS OF THE CITY'S CALIFORNIA
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM (CALPERS) PLANS
DATE: FEBRUARY 24, 2015
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended the City Council:
1. Receive and review information on the status of the City's retirement plans with the
California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), and
2. Direct staff to engage Bartel Associates, LLC to provide actuarial analysis services.
IMPACT ON FINANCIAL AND PERSONNEL RESOURCES:
There is no direct financial impact to receive and review the status of the City's retirement
plans. However, significant future impacts to the City's retirement costs are projected over
the next few years based on information provided by CalPERS.
Engaging Bartel Associates, LLC to review the City's CalPERS plans and calculate
anticipated impacts to costs for the next five years will cost approximately $7,000. Sufficient
funding exists in the Non-Departmental budget to cover this cost.
BACKGROUND:
CalPERS is the State-wide Public Employees Retirement System, which provides retirement
benefits for all State employees as well as local government agencies that choose to join.
Each agency chooses benefit formulas from a list of those offered by CalPERS. However,
for employees hired after January 1, 2013, the City does not have a choice; these employees
are covered under the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA), which will
be discussed in more detail later in the report. CalPERS provides set monthly benefits that
are guaranteed for the life of the retiree, which is also known as a defined benefit program.
CalPERS categorizes employees into one of three categories: Police Safety, Fire Safety or
Miscellaneous. All non-sworn police or fire employees are grouped into the miscellaneous
category, regardless of whether they are represented by a police or fire bargaining union.
CalPERS is funded by two contributions, an employee share and an employer share. Both
are typically expressed as a percentage of the employee's earnings. The employee share is
set by the legislature and varies depending on the benefit formula. For most of the City's
employees, this is 9% for public safety employees and 7% or 8% for miscellaneous
employees. PEPRA requires new employees to pay Y2 of the Normal Cost for their benefits,
Item 11.c. - Page 1
CONSIDERATION OF CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM
(CALPERS) CITY PLAN STATUS
FEBRUARY 24, 2015
PAGE 2
rather than a fixed 7%, 8% or 9%. The current PEPRA employee contribution is 6.25% for
miscellaneous employees and 11.5% for safety employees. The employee share may be
"picked up" by the employer, at the employer's option, for employees hired before 2013.
PEPRA mandated that for all employees hired after 2013, employers were no longer allowed
to "pick up" the employee share. In years past, the City paid some or all of the employee
share of CaIPERS; however, negotiations for employees to pay their own share of costs was
undertaken in recent years and now all City employees pay the employee share. CaIPERS
would allow for additional cost-sharing to be negotiated, something that some cities around
California have done. The decision to do this would need to be carefully evaluated in the
context of the City's financial circumstances and is not the topic of this report.
The employer share is calculated annually by CaIPERS actuaries and is the difference
between the amount that must be contributed in order to pay benefits less the employee
share. The employer must pay the required contribution and the contribution amount
changes from year to year, depending upon a number of factors. This is usually what we are
referring to when we talk about the City's "CaIPERS rate" or"CaIPERS costs."
The CaIPERS benefits offered by the City of Arroyo Grande are summarized in the table
below.
Tier I Tier II Tier III PEPRA
Police-_Sworn_ 3.0% 50: 3:0%. 55 - 2.7% @ 57
Hired before,Dec 9, Hired Dec 9, 2011 to Hired on or after Jan
2011 Dec,31 2012 or 1"20.13
"Clssic" members- -
9% employee share 9% employee share, 1 s1.5% employee
share
Miscellaneous 2.5% @ 55, 2:0% @ 55 2.'0% @ 62
Hired before Hired Dec 21, 2Q1,,2,to' Hired on or after Jan
December 21, 2012 Deb.-31, 2012 or 1; 2013
"Classic" members
8% employee share 70%employee share 6.250/6 employee.
share
A benefit formula of 2.5% @ 55 means that an employee receives 2.5% of their salary for
each year of PERS-covered employment once they reach age 55.
For example, if an employee works 30 years and retires at 55 with a salary of$75,000 and a
benefit formula of 2.5% at 55, their retirement benefit would be calculated as follows:
30 years x 2.5% = 75% benefit formula
$75,000 (salary) x 75% (benefit formula) = $56,250 annual retirement benefit
Item 11.c. - Page 2
CONSIDERATION OF CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM
(CALPERS) CITY PLAN STATUS
FEBRUARY 24, 2015
PAGE 3
ANALYSIS OF ISSUES:
Calculating a plan's funding ratio is basically a comparison of how much money should be set
aside in order to provide benefits versus how much money is actually set aside. The
CalPERS actuaries determine the "Entry Age Normal Accrued Liability" which is the amount
of money that should be set aside to provide benefits. They then compare it to the Market
Value of the Plan's assets, the amount that is actually set aside. As of the most recent
actuarial report, which looks at data from the year ended June 30, 2013, the City's CalPERS
plans are approximately 70% funded, as detailed below. The City's estimated unfunded
liability is approximately $17.2 million.
PERS Unfunded Liability
Plan At June 30,2013 %Funded
Police(3%@ 50) 7,515,342 69.8%
Police 2nd tier(3% @ 55) 17,065 80.6%
Police PEPRA(2.7% @ 57) (119) 146.7%
Miscellaneous(2.5% @ 55) 9,263,627 70.4%
Miscellaneous 2nd tier(2% @ 55) 11 79.6%
Miscellaneous PEPRA (2% @ 62) (67) 134.2%
Subtotal 16,795,859
Fire (3% @ 55) 933,017 74.6%
Estimated City share (45%) 419,858
Total City unfunded liability 17,215,717 70.4%
Funding ratios can be helpful in determining how rates may need to change over time in
order to provide the contracted benefits. However, the funding ratio can fluctuate because the
formula uses the market value of the plan's assets. Many people remember in the early
2000's when plan assets exceeded the projected liabilities and CalPERS plans were "super
funded". When this occurred, CalPERS employer required contribution rates were zero and
most cities in this circumstance did not pay anything into CalPERS for a few years. That
changed as CalPERS experienced significant investment losses and enhanced benefit
formulas were negotiated with employees. Another provision of PEPRA is the elimination of
any such employer"contribution holidays".
For comparison, the funding ratios in other nearby cities is provided below. As displayed,
most cities in the area are approximately 70% funded on their first tier plans. Second tier
and/or PEPRA plan funding status varies, primarily due to the number of employees in the
plan. While this comparison illustrates that our neighboring cities have similar funding
percentages as the City of Arroyo Grande, it does not tell the reader anything about the
financial impact to the agency. Funding ratios do not indicate how many employees are in
each plan or ultimately the amount of money that will need to be contributed. And they don't
indicate how easy or difficult it will be for an individual agency to make their required
contribution, the budgetary situation of the agency or the trade-offs that will be required in
order to be fully funded. They are one mechanism for understanding the financial status of
Item 1 1.c. - Page 3
CONSIDERATION OF CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM
(CALPERS) CITY PLAN STATUS
FEBRUARY 24, 2015
PAGE 4
the retirement plan, but should be viewed in the larger context of the overall actuarial report
as well as the City's financial circumstances.
Arroyo Grover Paso Pismo San Luis Santa
Grande Atascadero Beach Morro Bay Robles Beach Obispo Maria
Police first tier 69.8% 72.2% 75.4% 73.6% 72.3% 69.4% 65.2% 75.2%
Police second tier 80.6% 80.6% N/A 80.6% 80.6% 80.6% 78.9% 99.9%
Police PEPRA 146.7% 146.8% 147.3% N/A 146.8%1 146.8% N/A 146.8%
Misc first tier 70.4% 73.6% 74.0% 75.4% 64.3% 71.3% 62.3% 73.1%
Misc second tier 79.6% N/A N/A 84.3% N/A 84.5% N/A N/A
Misc PEPRA 1 134.2%1 134.2% N/A 134.2% N/A 134.2% N/A I N/A
N/A indicates that the city has no employees in this tier.
New changes to risk pools, actuarial assumptions and the impacts on rates and
funding:
CalPERS has implemented new changes to their contribution policy and actuarial
assumptions that will impact employer contribution rates in the next few years. Understanding
exactly how these changes will affect the City of Arroyo Grande is complex and although staff
has a basic understanding, staff would recommend contracting with an independent actuarial
firm, to provide the staff and Council with a greater understanding of this before identifying
and developing appropriate mechanisms to mitigate the rate increases projected.
The CalPERS staff report from their Finance & Administration Committee meeting in May
2014 provides a good overview of the changes to risk pools that came about as a result of
PEPRA and is attached to this report. As outlined in the CalPERS staff report, they are trying
to address issues of funding, equity and employer contribution rate volatility. In order to
address these issues, the CalPERS Board approved a series of changes to risk pools that
will begin impacting the City's employer rate in FY 2015-16. Changes include: combining all
risk pools into one Miscellaneous and one Safety pool; collecting payments as a fixed dollar
amount, no longer a percentage of payroll; and changing the allocation of payments and
unfunded liabilities to agencies based on their share of the pool's liability rather than on their
share of the pool's payroll. This means that agencies that have higher liability compared to
their share of the pool's payroll will see contribution increases and those that have lower
liability compared to payroll share will see contribution decreases.
The agency's unfunded liability and payment is now going to be amortized and collected as a
flat dollar amount. The payment of the normal cost will continue to be paid as a percentage
of payroll, with formulas to adjust for ancillary benefits that an individual agency might be
providing to their employees. If an agency has a side fund, which the City of Arroyo Grande
does, there will not be changes to the current side fund balance or amortization schedule;
however, the payments will be made as flat dollar amounts, rather than as a percentage of
payroll.
In addition to these changes related to risk pooling, CalPERS is making changes to their
contribution policy, the impacts of which will be seen by the City in FY 2015-16. These
Item 11.c. - Page 4
CONSIDERATION OF CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM
(CALPERS) CITY PLAN STATUS
FEBRUARY 24, 2015
PAGE 5
changes will be phased in over a 5 year period. Future gains and losses from investments will
be amortized over a 25 year period, with the 5 year ramp up, it will be a total of 30 years.
Method and assumption changes will have a 15 year amortization period, plus the 5 year
ramp up, for total of 20 years. There is no cap on rate increases each year.
And if that weren't complex enough, the CalPERS Board reviewed changes to their actuarial
assumptions, which are reviewed every 3 years, and these impacts will be seen by the City in
FY 2016-17. There are no changes to the economic assumptions, such as the rate of return
on investments. However, there are impacts related to mortality, which anticipates that
people in retirement are living longer. In addition, earlier retirements, particularly for those
agencies that have the 2.7% @ 55 formula for Miscellaneous and all Safety plans, and higher
salary increases for Safety near retirement, will increase employer contribution rates.
Options for the future and further consideration:
Given the complexities and the significant amount of money spent on retirement
contributions, staff recommends contracting with an independent actuary to assist in
projecting the City's costs in the next 5 years, which will assist in financial planning and
sustainability efforts. This information will be useful in determining options that are available
to assist the City in mitigating the cost increases projected, such as paying the unfunded
liability through pension obligation bonds or other one-time funding sources.
ALTERNATIVES:
No alternatives are provided; the report is informational in nature. However, providing
direction to staff regarding contracting with an independent actuary to assist in further
analysis would be helpful.
ADVANTAGES:
Having a basic knowledge and understanding of CalPERS benefits, funding status and
actuarial methods will assist the Council and public in making informed decisions related to
CalPERS issues.
DISADVANTAGES:
There are no identified disadvantages to receiving this information.
ENVIROMENTAL REVIEW:
No environmental review is required for this item.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND COMMENTS:
The Agenda was posted in front of City Hall on Thursday, February 19, 2015. The Agenda
and report were posted on the City's website on Friday, February 20, 2015. No public
comments were received.
Attachment:
CalPERS Finance &Administration Committee staff report from May 20, 2014
Item 11.c. - Page 5
ATTACHMENT 1
All
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Finance & Administration Committee
CaIPERS California Public Employees'Retirement System
Agenda Item 5a May 20, 2014
ITEM NAME: Changes to Pension Risk Pools as a Result of Pension Reform
PROGRAM: Actuarial Office
ITEM TYPE: Action
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Board adopt changes to the risk pooling structure by
adopting the following:
• Changes to Board resolution ACT-96-05E regarding amortization and
smoothing policies
• Changes to Board resolution ACT-99-03 regarding employer contributions in
excess of actuarially determined rate
• Changes to Board resolution 03-03-AESD regarding the list of available risk
Pools
• Changes to Board resolution 04-02-AESD regarding the phasing-out of
normal cost for employers joining the risk pooling structure
• Changes to Board resolution 05-02-AESD regarding smoothing of employer
rate and the minimum employer contribution rate for plans with a surplus
• Create new Board resolution ACT-14-01 regarding the allocation of pool's
unfunded accrued liability
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Last month, staff brought an item to this Committee identifying some unintended
consequences resulting from the interaction of the Public Employees' Pension
Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) and existing Board policies on risk pools.
Changes necessary to ensure the proper funding of these pools were identified in this
agenda item. At that time, the Board was asked to delay by one month a vote to
change the risk pooling structure to allow for additional stakeholder outreach.
The stakeholder outreach has shown that there is general support for the approach
recommended by staff. It has also identified one area of possible concern as
described in the section on outreach.
Staff is therefore recommending the same changes that were recommended last
month. The following summarizes the key recommended changes:
1. Combine all active and inactive risk pools into two risk pools, one for all
miscellaneous plans and one for all safety plans.
2. Allocate the pool's unfunded accrued liability proportionately to each individual
plan based on each plan's total liability instead of plan payroll.
Item 11.c. - Page 6
Agenda Item 5a
Finance & Administration Committee
May 20, 2014
Page 2 of 9
3. Collect employer contributions toward the unfunded accrued liability and Side
Fund for plans participating in a risk pool as dollar amounts instead of
contribution rates expressed as a percentage of payroll.
4. Change the way existing employers will see their rate phased into the pool's
rate when first joining a risk pool.
5. Clarify how additional contributions sent by employers to pay down an
unfunded accrued liability will be applied and toward which portion of their
unfunded accrued liability these additional contributions will first be used.
The proposed changes preserve the essential pooling of risks needed to prevent
demographic events from causing significant rate shocks for small plans. Although
the proposed changes will not change the amount of contribution needed to properly
fund the risk pools, the proposed changes in the cost allocation methods will result in
some employers having to contribute more and some employers having to contribute
less. Additional information is provided later in the agenda item and the attachments.
STRATEGIC PLAN
This agenda item is not part of our strategic plan but rather is a response to changes
in the external environment that staff is responding to as part of the ongoing workload
of the Actuarial Office.
BACKGROUND
Risk Pooling was implemented effective with the June 30, 2003 actuarial valuations
to protect small employers (those with less than 100 active members) against large
fluctuations in employer contribution rates caused by unexpected demographic
events.
In June 2012, staff delivered a review report on risk pooling including all Board
actuarial policies related to risk pooling, risk pooling practices, internal procedures,
laws and regulations to assess what has worked and what can be improved. The
review demonstrated that the key objective of risk pooling had been realized, i.e. risk
pooling has protected small employers against large changes in employer
contribution rates due to unexpected demographic events. In the report, it was noted
that the pension reform proposals under consideration at the time could effectively
close all existing risk pools and have a significant impact on the risk pools at
CaIPERS.
Pension reform legislation was enacted in 2012 through the passage of PEPRA.
PEPRA effectively closed the existing pools at that time. Since the effective date of
the legislation was after the effective date of the June 30, 2012 actuarial valuations,
staff did not make any changes to those valuations. In November 2012, the Board
approved adding two new risk pools due to the formulas created by PEPRA to be
able to implement PEPRA on January 1, 2013.
Item 1'I.c. - Page 7
Agenda Item 5a
Finance & Administration Committee
May 20, 2014
Page 3 of 9
It is now necessary to consider the appropriate treatment of the effective closure of
the risk pools for the "Classic" formulas —those in existence prior to the passage of
PEPRA.
ANALYSIS
In an open pension plan, a fundamental underlying assumption is there will be an
ongoing influx of new employees to replace those employees that exit due to
retirement, disability, turnover or death.
PEPRA has closed all existing active risk pools to new public employees hired on and
after January 1, 2013 except for classic members. When a pension plan becomes
closed to new entrants, attrition will begin; reducing the number of active employees
toward ultimately having a pension plan with no active employees.
Several issues have arisen as a result of PEPRA for the risk pooling structure. These
issues were discussed in detail in an agenda item to this Committee last December.
These issues can be categorized as funding, equity and employer contribution rate
volatility issues.
Funding issue
Contributions for pools are collected as a contribution rate expressed as a
percentage of payroll. When setting the contribution rates, the Actuarial Office uses
the payroll information from the data in the actuarial valuation. The payroll
information is three years prior to the fiscal year when the contribution rate will apply.
As a result, the payroll is projected forward for three years under the assumption it
will grow by 3% per year, the current Board approved payroll growth assumption.
With the closing of the pools to new PEPRA hires in the near term, covered payroll is
most likely going to increase at a rate lower than 3% or even decline. When a pool
experiences smaller payroll growth than assumed, it can lead to an underfunding of
the plan. Changes must be made to the current pooling structure to avoid this
potential underfunding.
Equity issue
Under the current risk pooling structure, the existing unfunded accrued liability and
future gains and losses are currently allocated to plans in each risk pool based on the
payroll of the plan. This structure works well to the extent the payroll of each plan is
expected to grow at about the same rate. With the closing of the pools to new hires,
the payroll of plans will decline over time. Since every employer participating in risk
pooling has different demographic characteristics, their active members will retire or
exit the plan at different times leading to some plans experiencing a faster decline in
payroll than others.
Since gains and losses of the entire pool are currently allocated based on payroll,
plans with larger payroll will be asked to contribute more toward the pool's unfunded
Item 1 1.c. - Page 8
Agenda Item 5a
Finance & Administration Committee
May 20, 2014
Page 4 of 9
accrued liability than plans with smaller payroll. As the number of active members
decline in the pool, the payments toward the unfunded liability will disproportionally
be shifted to those plans having the largest number of remaining active members
resulting in an inequitable allocation of costs. To address this equity issue, changes
are needed on how costs are allocated within each risk pool.
Employer Contribution Rate Volatility issue
When PEPRA was enacted, it closed all classic active pools to new PEPRA hires.
The unfunded accrued liability for the classic pools remained unchanged. Under
current Board policies, payments to the amortization of the unfunded accrued
liabilities and side funds are expressed as a percentage of payroll. If the unfunded
accrued liability decreases over time as employers pay down the unfunded accrued
liability, employer contribution rate volatility will eventually increase to an alarming
level. This is going to be difficult for employers to budget and could lead to severe
hardship for some employers.
Possible Solutions
At the April 2014 Board meeting, staff presented to the CalPERS Board two
alternatives for the future of risk pooling to address these issues without sacrificing
the considerable benefit to contribution rate stability for smaller employers that risk
pooling provides. The two alternatives are described in more details below.
Alternative 1
Alternative 1 includes keeping the current pooling structure of 9 closed active pools, 1
inactive pool and 2 open active PEPRA pools and modifying current funding and
amortization methods to address the funding and equity issues with the least amount
of change to our current pooling structure. Even though the payroll of employer is still
open and can be expected to grow over time, the same is not true of the groups
covered under the classic formula.
The changes proposed under alternative 1 will result in almost all pooled employers
having to contribute more in the near term. We expect that about 90% of the
Miscellaneous plans in the classic risk pools will experience employer rate increases
between 0-3% of payroll and about 75% of the Safety plans will experience increases
of 2-5% of payroll. In addition to the contribution increases, a change of the
allocation of the pool's unfunded accrued liability will further increase or decrease
individual employer contribution rates. Attachment 1 shows a distribution of the
estimated impact of changes to risk pooling on employer rates for alternatives 1 and
2.
Under this alternative, we will need to monitor the funding of each risk pool carefully.
It is possible that we may have to modify our funding approach to reflect the
demographics of the closed groups which would further increase contributions.
Item 11.c. - Page 9
Agenda Item 5a
Finance & Administration Committee
May 20, 2014
Page 5 of 9
Alternative 1 is not the preferred approach. More details on Alternative 1 can be
found in agenda item 7b to this Committee last December.
Alternative 2
Staff reviewed another alternative which is combining all pools into two pools, one for
all miscellaneous groups and one for all safety groups. This is the approach that staff
is recommending and requires structural changes. By combining all pooled plans
into two risk pools, the payroll of the risk pools and employers within the pools can be
expected to increase at the assumed 3% annual growth, addressing some of the
issues that resulted from having a declining active population in the pool. Therefore,
we will be able to keep our current level percentage of pay amortization schedule to
avoid the necessity of immediate increases to employer contributions.
In addition to combining all existing risk pools into two risk pools, staff is
recommending that we start collecting employer contributions toward unfunded
accrued liability and side fund as dollar amounts instead of contribution rates.
Implementing this change will address the funding issue that would arise from the
declining population under the classic formula. This will result in a major change in
how contributions are collected from employers. Anecdotally, employers seem to be
supportive of this approach. Several employers have approached CaIPERS over the
last several months proposing that we no longer collect contributions for the unfunded
accrued liability as a percentage of payroll but rather invoice them for the amount
needed each year to pay down the unfunded accrued liability. The normal cost
contribution would continue to be expressed as a percentage of payroll.
Staff is also recommending changes to the method to allocate cost to plans in risk
pools. Staffs recommendation is to allocate the pool's unfunded accrued liability to
each individual plan within the pool based on the plan's total liability instead of based
on the plan's payroll. This is a change for which many pooled employers have been
requesting. Additionally, many pooled employers have been asking for the ability to
pay down their share of the pool's unfunded accrued liability. This is not possible
unless we allocate the unfunded accrued liability of the pool to each employer on an
annual basis. Making this change will address the equity issue and allow employers
to pay down their share of the pool's unfunded accrued liability. Although the
recommended changes to the cost allocation method will not change the amount of
contribution needed to properly fund the risk pools, the changes in the cost allocation
methods will result in some employers having to contribute more and some
employers having to contribute less. An analysis performed by staff showed that
almost half of the plans will see a change — positive or negative of less than 1% of
payroll. About 80% of employers will experience changes between -3% to +3% of
payroll. However, there are a few plans with large retiree to active ratios that will
experience increases in excess of 3% of payroll.
Attachment 1 shows a distribution of the estimated impact of changes to risk pooling
on employer rates for alternatives 1 and 2. This comparison shows that under
Item 1'I.c. - Page 10
Agenda Item 5a
Finance &Administration Committee
May 20, 2014
Page 6 of 9
alternative 2 most employers will see a smaller rate increase than under alternative 1.
Attachment 2 shows a distribution of the difference in employer contributions rates
between alternative 1 and alternative 2. Most employers will see a smaller increase in
contribution rate under alternative 2 compared to alternative 1.
The solution for alternative 2 will require a significant effort to program and design the
required database changes to our existing system. If adopted by the Board, these
changes will be reflected in the June 30, 2013 actuarial valuations that will be
performed later this summer and will be used to set the employer contribution rates
for fiscal year 2015-16.
To implement these changes, modifications are necessary to five existing Board
policies as is the creation of one new policy. The policies being modified or created
are the following:
• Board resolution ACT-96-05E: modified to ensure amortization and smoothing
policies properly reflect the proposed changes. See Attachment 3 for a copy of
the final recommended version of the Board resolution. The proposed changes
highlighted in the redline version was provided in the April agenda item.
• Board resolution ACT-99-03: modified to reflect employers with pooled plans
will be asked to contribute both a rate and a dollar amount to fund their plans.
See Attachment 4 for a copy of the final recommended version of the Board
resolution. The proposed changes highlighted in the redline version was
provided in the April agenda item.
• Board resolution 03-03-AESD: modified to combine existing pools and reflect
that only two risk pools will be administered going forward for employers that
contract with CalPERS. See Attachment 5 for a copy of the final
recommended version of the Board resolution. The proposed changes
highlighted in the redline version was provided in the April agenda item.
• Board resolution 04-02-AESD: modified to properly reflect that normal cost of
plans will need to be taken into account when phasing in an existing plan
joining a risk pool for the first time. See Attachment 6 for a copy of the final
recommended version of the Board resolution. The proposed changes
highlighted in the redline version was provided in the April agenda item.
• Board resolution 05-02-AESD: minor changes to ensure consistency with the
proposed changes. See Attachment 7 for a copy of the final recommended
version of the Board resolution. The proposed changes highlighted in the
redline version was provided in the April agenda item.
• Board resolution ACT-14-01: new policy being created to establish the process
used to allocate the pool's unfunded accrued liability to each plan on an
annual basis. See Attachment 8 for a copy of the proposed new Board
resolution.
Item 1 1.c. - Page 11
Agenda Item 5a
Finance & Administration Committee
May 20, 2014
Page 7 of 9
Outreach
As reported to the Board last month, staff requested delaying Board action on this
item in order to provide additional outreach to our public agency employers so they
could fully understand the impact on their agencies. Staff made available an analysis
of the estimated impact of the proposed changes to risk pools on each employer's
contributions under the two alternative solutions. In addition CalPERS staff has
participated in meetings with various employer organizations to provide information
and answer questions. Furthermore, the Actuarial Office delivered a webinar hosted
by the League of Cities on Wednesday April 30, 2014 that was made available to all
pooled employers affected by the proposal. Over 250 employers signed in to listen to
the webinar.
In addition to the webinar, the various employer organizations have reached out to
their membership to survey them on the two alternatives being considered to address
the issues identified in this agenda item. At the time of writing this agenda item, staff
had not yet received a formal letter summarizing the results of the survey but based
on discussions staff had with representatives of the League of Cities, the vast
majority of the employers that responded to the survey were in favor of Alternative 2.
Staff will provide additional detail at the Committee meeting if available. It has been
brought to our attention that a small group of employer had concern over the proposal
to start billing the payment required to pay down an unfunded liability as a dollar
amount rather than as a percentage of payroll. The concern seems to be over the
fact that in some instances, specific MOU language refers to the CalPERS
contribution rate and there was a concern of the impact on these MOUs of setting a
lower rate combined with a dollar amount for the unfunded portion of the rate. We
have been in communications with employers on this subject and staff intends to
continue provide in the valuation report for information purposes what the contribution
rate would have been had we set a rate for the unfunded liability component of the
contribution. Charging a specific dollar amount to pay down the unfunded liability is a
change that is necessary to preserve equity and ensure fairness among the
employers participating in risk pools. Continuing to bill as a contribution rate to pay
down the unfunded liability would result in a shifting of cost anytime an employer's
payroll does not increase at a rate of exactly 3% per year. Staff is working with the
stakeholders to determine how much of an issue this will be and will provide
additional information at the Committee meeting. Staff is working with the
stakeholders to determine how much of an issue this will be and will provide
additional information at the Committee meeting.
BUDGET AND FISCAL IMPACTS
This item was not anticipated in the strategic or business plan and has not been built
into the budget. Given the time constraint to implement the changes outlined in this
agenda item, it is anticipated that any work associated with the issues described
herein will have to be completed with existing staff and absorbed within current
Item 1'I.c. - Page 12
Agenda Item 5a
Finance & Administration Committee
May 20, 2014
Page 8 of 9
budgets although this may be revisited in a future agenda item. Unless action is
taken, contributions from employers will have to be accelerated and impose
additional strain on employers' budgets.
BENEFITS/RISKS
As stated earlier, several issues have arisen as a result of PEPRA for the risk pooling
structure. These issues can be categorized as funding, equity and employer
contribution rate volatility issues.
Staff is recommending changes to address some of these issues. If the Board were
to not adopt changes to the risk pooling changes, the issues identified in this agenda
item would remain in place and could have a drastic impact in a few years.
Staff presented two alternatives to address some of these risks. Alternative 1 has
the benefit of being the easiest one to implement from a perspective of system and
program changes needed. However, it still does not eliminate all of the issues
identified. The risk in implementing alternative 1 is that first it would result in all
pooled employers having to pay more at a time when budgets are already strained.
In addition, is not likely to fully eliminate the funding, equity and employer contribution
rate volatility issues we are facing. This alternative may necessitate future changes
to our funding approach to reflect the demographics of the closed classic groups
which would further increase employer contributions. As stated earlier, this is not the
preferred alternative.
Alternative 2 is the solution recommended by staff to address the issues listed above.
Alternative 2 preserves the essential pooling of risks needed to prevent demographic
events from causing significant rate shocks for small plans. This alternative is more
complicated to implement and will require significant changes to systems, policies
and procedures. Under this alternative, there is no overall increase in employer
contributions although some employers will have higher contributions and some
lower. The risk of not implementing this approach would be that the funding, equity
and employer contribution rate volatility issues would remain in place and would
require some action i,n the future. The risk in implementing this change is some
employers will see increases in contributions at a time when budgets are already
strained.
Another option that was not considered as viable was the elimination of risk pools at
CaIPERS and returning each plan to a stand-alone basis. This path would
reintroduce the risk of large increases in contribution rates caused by demographic
events for small plans that was eliminated with the creation of risk pools. Dismantling
risk pools would re-introduce risks that have been eliminated by their creation and
would impact contribution rates in a similar fashion to how Alternative 2 is expected
to impact rates.
Item 1'I.c. - Page 13
Agenda Item 5a
Finance & Administration Committee
May 20, 2014
Page 9 of 9
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 — Estimated Impact of Changes to Risk Pooling on Employer
Contributions: Comparison of Alternative 1 to Alternative 2
Attachment 2 — Estimated Impact of Changes to Risk Pooling on Employer
Contributions: Difference in Rate Between Alternative 1 and
Alternative 2
Attachment 3 — Board Resolution ACT-96-05E - Final Recommendation
Attachment 4— Board Resolution ACT-99-03 - Final Recommendation
Attachment 5 — Board Resolution 03-03-AESD - Final Recommendation
Attachment 6 — Board Resolution 04-02-AESD - Final Recommendation
Attachment 7 — Board Resolution 05-02-AESD - Final Recommendation
Attachment 8 — Board Resolution ACT-14-01 - Final Recommendation
DAVID LAMOUREUX
Deputy Chief Actuary
Actuarial Office
ALAN MILLIGAN
Chief Actuary
Item 1'I.c. - Page 14
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Item 5a, Attachment 3, Page 1 of 6
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM
RESOLUTION
No. ACT-96-05E (Rev.)
Subject: Actuarial Policies -Amortization & Smoothing Policy
WHEREAS, 1. In accordance with Government Code section 20120, the
Board of Administration of the California Public Employees'
Retirement System (the "Board") is vested with the
management and control of the Public Employees'
Retirement System (the "System").
WHEREAS, 2. Under Article XVI, Section 17 of the California Constitution
(the "Constitution"), the Board has plenary authority and
fiduciary responsibility for the investment of monies and
administration of the System. The Constitution also vests
the Board with the sole and exclusive power to provide for
actuarial services in order to assure the competency of the
System.
WHEREAS, 3. In furtherance of its sole and exclusive duty to make
actuarial determinations under Section 17, the Board has
hired a Chief Actuary to advise the Board and to direct the
activities of the System's professional actuarial staff.
WHEREAS, 4. Also in furtherance of its sole and exclusive duty to make
actuarial determinations, the Board has retained the services
of an outside consulting actuarial firm, to review the work of
the System's actuarial staff and to certify that such work
satisfies actuarial standards of practice.
WHEREAS, 5. The Board's Chief Actuary has advised the Board to adopt
specific written policies regarding the actuarial practices that
are most prudent for the System.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
(A) It is the policy of the Board to use professionally accepted amortization
methods to eliminate unfunded liabilities or surpluses in a manner that
Item 1 1.c. - Page 17
Item 5a, Attachment 3, Page 2 of 6
maintains benefit security for the members of the System while minimizing
substantial variations in employer contribution rates.
(B) To accomplish this goal, the Board hereby adopts an amortization method
which amortizes different portions of the total unfunded liability or surplus
over different periods of time, depending upon the type of event that
created the particular portion of the unfunded liability or surplus,
specifically as follows:
(1) For the June 30, 2012 valuation, the annual contribution amount
with regard to gains and losses shall be determined as the dollar
amount (increasing each year by the overall payroll increase
assumption adopted by the Board) required to amortize the
accumulated amount of unamortized gains and losses as of the
valuation date over a period of thirty years.
The provisions of this paragraph (13)(1)will also be in effect for the
June 30, 2013 actuarial valuation for the State & Schools plans.
(2) Commencing with the June 30, 2013 valuation, the annual
contribution amount with regard to gains and losses recognized in
that valuation shall be the dollar amount determined in accordance
with the following schedule:
• Year 1: 20% of base payment
• Year 2: 40% of base payment
• Year 3: 60% of base payment
• Year 4: 80% of base payment
• Years 5 through 26: base payment
• Year 27: 80% of base payment
• Year 28: 60% of base payment
• Year 29: 40% of base payment
• Year 30: 20% of base payment
The base payment, for this paragraph (13)(2), shall be the annual
amount (increasing each year by the overall payroll increase
assumption adopted by the Board) necessary for the gains and
losses to be fully amortized over a fixed 30 year period using the
above schedule.
Notwithstanding the above, the provisions of this paragraph (13)(2)
will commence with the June 30, 2014 actuarial valuation for the
State & Schools plans.
(3) For the June 30, 2012 valuation, the annual contribution with regard
to a change in unfunded liability due to a change in plan provisions,
Item 11.c. - Page 18
Item 5a, Attachment 3, Page 3 of 6
or a change in actuarial assumptions, or a change in actuarial
methods, shall be the dollar amount (increasing each year by the
overall payroll increase assumption adopted by the Board) required
to amortize that change in unfunded liability over a period of twenty
years from the date of the actuarial valuation which first recognizes
that change in unfunded liability.
The provisions of this paragraph (13)(3)will also be in effect for the
June 30, 2013 actuarial valuation for the State & Schools plans.
(4) Commencing with the June 30, 2013 actuarial valuation, the annual
contribution amount with regard to a change in unfunded liability
due to a change in plan provisions (other than a Golden
Handshake) shall be the dollar amount (increasing each year by the
overall payroll increase assumption adopted by the Board) required
to amortize that change in unfunded liability over a period of twenty
years from the date of the actuarial valuation which first recognizes
that change in unfunded liability.
Notwithstanding the above, the provisions of this paragraph (13)(4)
will commence with the June 30, 2014 actuarial valuation for the
State & Schools plans.
(5) Commencing with the June 30, 2013 actuarial valuation, the annual
contribution amount with regard to a change in unfunded liability
due to a Golden Handshake shall be the dollar amount (increasing
each year by the overall payroll increase assumption adopted by
the Board) required to amortize that change in unfunded liability
over a period of five years from the date of the actuarial valuation
which first recognizes that change in unfunded liability.
Notwithstanding the above, the provisions of this paragraph (13)(5)
will commence with the June 30, 2014 actuarial valuation for the
State & Schools plans.
(6) Commencing with the June 30, 2013 actuarial valuation, the annual
contribution amount with regard to a change in unfunded liability
due to a change in actuarial assumptions or actuarial methods shall
be the dollar amount required to amortize that change in unfunded
liability over a period of twenty years from the date of the actuarial
valuation which first recognizes that change in unfunded liability in
accordance with the following schedule:
• Year 1: 20% of base payment
• Year 2: 40% of base payment
• Year 3: 60% of base payment
Item 11.c. - Page 19
Item 5a, Attachment 3, Page 4 of 6
• Year 4: 80% of base payment
• Years 5 through 16: base payment
• Year 17: 80% of base payment
• Year 18: 60% of base payment
• Year 19: 40% of base payment
• Year 20: 20% of base payment
The base payment, for this paragraph (13)(6), shall be the annual
amount (increasing each year by the overall payroll increase
assumption adopted by the Board) necessary for the change in
unfunded liability to be fully amortized over a fixed 20 year period
using the above schedule.
Notwithstanding the above, the provisions of this paragraph (13)(6)
will commence with the June 30, 2014 actuarial valuation for the
State & Schools plans.
(7) Any agency contracting with CalPERS for the first time shall have
the initial unfunded liability amortized over a period equal to the
smaller of twenty years or the average future working lifetime of
that agency's active members with the annual contribution amount
increasing each year by the overall payroll increase assumption
adopted by the Board.
(8) Commencing with the June 30, 2012 actuarial valuation,
notwithstanding the foregoing (1) through (7) and except as
provided in (10) below, the annual contribution (increasing each
year by the overall payroll increase assumption adopted by the
Board) with regard to the total unfunded liability as of any valuation
date shall not be less than the amount necessary to amortize the
total unfunded liability over a period of thirty years from the date of
that actuarial valuation.
(9) In certain cases, provide for a Fresh Start of the amortization
bases. Under this policy, Fresh Start means combining multiple
amortization bases into a single base.
(a) A Fresh Start may be used whenever application of policies as
set forth in paragraphs (13)(1) through (13)(8) results in
mathematical inconsistencies or a violation of the goals as
stated in paragraph (A), including, without limitation, the
following circumstances:
(1) a negative employer contribution rate; or
(2) a negative employer amortization payment on a positive
Item 1'I.c. - Page 20
Item 5a, Attachment 3, Page 5 of 6
unfunded liability; or
(3) a positive employer amortization payment on a negative
unfunded liability (i.e. an actuarial surplus); or
(4) the effect of adding multiple amortization base payments
results in a net amortization payment that completely
amortizes the total unfunded liability/surplus in a very short
time period, which results in a large change in the employer
contribution rate; or
(5) whenever application of the methods set forth in paragraph
(B), in the professional judgment of the Chief Actuary, does
not accomplish the goals as stated in paragraph (A).
(b) The amortization period of the Fresh Start base shall be
determined by policies established by the Chief Actuary in a
manner which best meets the goals stated in paragraph (A).
The Chief Actuary will inform the Board of the policies so
established, and the Board shall retain its right to instruct the
Chief Actuary to change those policies.
(10) Commencing with the June 30, 2012 actuarial valuation, the annual
contribution with regard to the side fund for agencies joining a risk
pool for the first time shall be the dollar amount (increasing each
year by the overall payroll increase assumption adopted by the
Board) required to amortize the side fund using a Fresh Start. The
Fresh Start shall be done over a period that would produce an
amortization payment that would be as close as possible to the
payment that all existing separate amortization bases would have
generated had the plan not participated in a risk pool.
(11) Commencing with the June 30, 2013 actuarial valuation only,
combine all existing amortization bases established on or before
June 30, 2012 for the risk pools being combined as a result of
changes made to Board Policy No. 03-03-AESD. The single
amortization base for the risk pools will be amortized over a period
that is the same or as close as possible to the period had the pools'
amortization bases not been combined. Once combined and
amortized, the amortization base will be allocated to each individual
plan within the pool in accordance with Board policy ACT-14-01.
(12) Commencing with fiscal year 2015-16, for plans participating in a
risk pool the plan's total payment towards the unfunded liability will
no longer be billed as a percentage of payroll. It will be billed as a
dollar amount instead.
Item 11.c. - Page 21
Item 5a, Attachment 3, Page 6 of 6
(C) (1) In situations where the Chief Actuary expects a plan to have a
decrease in payroll over time or to increase at a slower rate than the
overall payroll increase assumption, the methods described in paragraph
(B) can be changed to better accomplish the goals stated in paragraph (A)
by calculating the dollar amount needed assuming the amount (or base
payment) will remain the same each year instead of increasing each year
by the overall payroll increase assumption adopted by the Board.
(2) In the case of inactive plans, the methods described in paragraph
(B) will be applied except that annual contribution amounts will not
increase each year by the overall payroll increase assumption adopted by
the Board and instead all bases will be amortized as a level dollar.
(3) When an active plan changes status to an inactive plan, the
amortization periods used to set the annual contribution towards the
unfunded liability will be the greater of the current amortization period or
10 years (if requested by the employer) and amortized as a level dollar
amount.
(D) Public agency employers for whom the policies provided in this Resolution
produce severe financial hardship may petition the Chief Actuary, for an
extension of the amortization period to no more than thirty years. Other
employers for whom the policies provided in this Resolution produce
severe financial hardship may petition the Board for an extension of the
amortization period to no more than thirty years.
(E) This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon adoption.
* * * * * * * * * *
I hereby certify that on the 20th day of October, 1999 the Board of Administration
of the California Public Employees' Retirement System, made and adopted the
foregoing Resolution; and that this Resolution was amended on the 20 h day of
April, 2005; and that this Resolution was again amended on the 17th day of April
2013; and that this Resolution was further amended on the 21St of May 2014.
ROB FECKNER, PRESIDENT
BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION, PUBLIC
EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM
Item 11.c. - Page 22
Item 5a, Attachment 4, Page 1 of 2
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM
RESOLUTION
No. ACT-99-03 (Rev.)
Subject: Actuarial Policies - Employer Contributions in Excess of Actuarially
Determined Rate
WHEREAS, 1. In accordance with Government Code Section 20120, the Board of
Administration of the California Public Employees' Retirement
System (the "Board") is vested with the management and control of
the Public Employees' Retirement System (the "System").
WHEREAS, 2. Under Article XVI, Section 17 of the California Constitution, the
Board has plenary authority and fiduciary responsibility for the
investment of monies and administration of the System. The
Constitution also vests the Board with the sole and exclusive power
to provide for the actuarial services in order to assure the
competency of the System.
WHEREAS, 3. In furtherance of its sole and exclusive duty to make actuarial
determinations under Section 17, the Board has hired a Chief
Actuary to advise the Board and to direct the activities of the
Board's professional actuarial staff.
WHEREAS, 4. Also in furtherance of this sole and exclusive duty to make actuarial
determinations, the Board has retained the services of an outside
consulting actuarial firm to review the work of the Board's actuarial
staff and to certify that such work satisfies actuarial standards of
practice.
WHEREAS, 5. The Board's Chief Actuary has advised the Board to adopt specific
written policies regarding the actuarial practices that are most
prudent for the System.
WHEREAS, 6. The Board has exclusive authority to set employer contribution
rates for public agencies that have elected to contract with
CalPERS for retirement system coverage. From time to time, such
public agencies wish to make employer contributions in excess of
the normal rate determined by the Board. Acceptance of employer
contributions in amounts exceeding the normal rate of contribution
generally enhances the security of benefits that will be paid to
participants and their beneficiaries.
Item 11.c. - Page 23
Item 5a, Attachment 4, Page 2 of 2
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
1. It is the policy of the CalPERS Board that employers participating in the
CalPERS system may make employer contributions in excess of the employer
contribution rate approved by the CalPERS Board, provided that: (a) acceptance
of these contributions does not, under professionally accepted actuarial methods,
increase the total amount of employer contributions that would otherwise be paid
to CaIPERS; and (b) the employer gives reasonable notice to its employees of
its intention to make such contributions.
2. For employers participating in one of the risk pools, lump sum contributions in
excess of the employer contribution rate and/or amount approved by the
CalPERS Board shall be included in the assets of the pool but accounted for
separately for purposes of setting individual employer contribution rates and/or
amounts. Contributions in excess of the employer contribution rate and/or
amount approved by the CalPERS Board shall first be used to eliminate the side
fund, if applicable, and then the plan's share of the pool's unfunded accrued
liability. Subsequent contributions that would create a surplus will be amortized
over time in accordance with Board resolution ACT-96-05E and other applicable
resolutions of the Board and will be credited with the actual investment earnings
of the Public Employees' Retirement Fund.
3. The Chief Actuary of CalPERS shall have the authority to make the actuarial
determinations necessary to implement this resolution.
This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon adoption.
I hereby certify that on the 17th day of November, 1999 the Board of Administration of
the California Public Employees' Retirement System, made and adopted the foregoing
Resolution; that this Resolution was amended on the December 14, 2011; and further
amended on May 21St, 2014.
ROB FECKNER, PRESIDENT
BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES'
RETIREMENT SYSTEM
Item 1 1.c. - Page 24
Item 5a, Attachment 5, Page 1 of 2
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM
RESOLUTION
No. 03-03-AESD (Rev.)
Subject: Actuarial Policies - List of Available Risk Pools
WHEREAS, 1. In accordance with Government Code section 20120, the Board of
Administration of the California Public Employees' Retirement
System (the "Board") is vested with the management and control of
the Public Employees' Retirement System (the "System").
WHEREAS, 2. Under Article XVI, section 17 of the California Constitution, the
Board has plenary authority and fiduciary responsibility for the
investment of monies and administration of the System. The
Constitution also vests the Board with the sole and exclusive power
to provide for the actuarial services in order to assure the
competency of the System.
WHEREAS, 3. In furtherance of its sole and exclusive duty to make actuarial
determinations under Section 17, the Board has hired a Chief
Actuary to advise the Board and to direct the activities of the
Board's professional actuarial staff.
WHEREAS, 4. Also in furtherance of this sole and exclusive duty to make actuarial
determinations, the Board has retained the services of an outside
consulting actuarial firm, to review the work of the Board's actuarial
staff and to certify that such work satisfies actuarial standards of
practice.
WHEREAS, 5. The Board's Chief Actuary has advised the Board to adopt specific
written policies regarding the actuarial practices that are most
prudent for the System.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
Pursuant to section 20840 of the California Government Code, the Board has the
authority to create, combine or eliminate risk pools for miscellaneous members and
Item 11.c. - Page 25
Item 5a, Attachment 5, Page 2 of 2
safety members. Pursuant to this authority, the Board hereby combines all existing
pools into two pools, one for all miscellaneous groups and one for all safety groups.
* * * * * * * * * *
I hereby certify that on the 18th day of June, 2003 the Board of Administration of the
California Public Employees' Retirement System, made and adopted the foregoing
Resolution; and that this Resolution was amended on the 16th day of June 2004; and
further amended on the 15th day of November 2012 and further amended on the 21St
day of May 2014.
ROB FECKNER, PRESIDENT
BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM
Item 1'I.c. - Page 26
Item 5a, Attachment 6, Page 1 of 2
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM
RESOLUTION
No. 04-02-AESD(Rev)
Subject: Actuarial Policies - Phasing-Out the Difference Between the Pool's
Normal Cost and the Individual Employer's Plan's Normal Cost Upon
Joining the Risk Pooling Structure.
WHEREAS, 1. In accordance with Government Code Section 20120, the Board of
Administration of the California Public Employees' Retirement
System (the "Board") is vested with the management and control of
the Public Employees' Retirement System (the "System").
WHEREAS, 2. Under Article XVI, Section 17 of the California Constitution (the
"Constitution"), the Board has plenary authority and fiduciary
responsibility for the investment of monies and administration of the
System. The Constitution also vests the Board with the sole and
exclusive power to provide for the actuarial services in order to
assure the competency of the System.
WHEREAS, 3. In furtherance of its sole and exclusive duty to make actuarial
determinations under Section 17, the Board has hired a Chief
Actuary to advise the Board and to direct the activities of the
Board's professional actuarial staff.
WHEREAS, 4. Also in furtherance of this sole and exclusive duty to make actuarial
determinations, the CalPERS Board has retained the services of an
outside consulting actuarial firm, to review the work of the Board's
actuarial staff and to certify that such work satisfies actuarial
standards of practice.
WHEREAS, 5. The Board's Chief Actuary has advised the Board to adopt specific
written policies regarding the actuarial practices that are most
prudent for the Systems.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
The Chief Actuary shall establish a phase out of the difference between the pool's
normal cost and the individual employer's plan's normal cost over a period of five years
upon the time when an existing public agency rate plan joins the risk pool structure for
the first time.
Item 1 1.c. - Page 27
Item 5a, Attachment 6, Page 2 of 2
The five year phase-out of the difference in normal costs will be established only once
(at the time of joining the risk pool structure). The phase-out shall begin with the
actuarial valuation at the time of joining the pool. The phase-out of the difference shall
not be affected by subsequent changes in benefits or changes in demographics.
When setting employer normal cost rates for existing public agency rate plans joining a
risk pool, the five year phase-out shall be accomplished as follows:
• First full year and the initial partial year (if any), 100% of the difference is added(if
the pool's normal cost is less than the individual employer's plan normal cost) ) or
subtracted (if the pool's normal cost is greater than the individual employer's plan
normal cost ) to the pool's rate to determine the employer's rate.
• Second full year, 80% of the difference is added/subtracted to the pool's normal
cost rate to determine the employer's rate.
• Third full year, 60% of the difference is added/subtracted to the pool's normal
cost rate to determine the employer's rate.
• Fourth full year, 40% of the difference is added/subtracted to the pool's normal
cost rate to determine the employer's rate.
• Fifth full year, 20% of the difference is added/subtracted to the pool's normal cost
rate to determine the employer's rate.
• Thereafter year, the phase-out is over and the rate plan is subject to the pool's
normal cost rate.
New public agency rate plans as well as new rate plans for school districts joining risk
pooling shall be subject to the normal cost of the pool they are joining without any
phasing out.
This Resolution applies to all employers joining risk pooling for the first time for a
member classification based on an actuarial valuation dated June 30, 2013 or later.
Employers subject to the phasing-out established by the prior policy will no longer be
subject to the rules set by the prior policy and instead be subject to this policy based on
the normal cost difference in place at the time of joining the risk pool.
This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon adoption.
* ** * * * * * **
I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was originally made and adopted on the
16th day of June, 2004, was amended on the 13th day of June 2012, and further
amended on the 21St day of May 2014 by the Board of Administration of the California
Public Employees' Retirement System.
ROB FECKNER, PRESIDENT
BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM
Item 11.c. - Page 28
Item 5a, Attachment 7, Page 1 of 2
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM
RESOLUTION
No. 05-02-AESD (Rev)
Subject: Actuarial Policies - Smoothing Employer Contribution Rates
WHEREAS, 1. In accordance with Government Code section 20120, the Board of
Administration of the California Public Employees' Retirement
System (the "Board") is vested with the management and control of
the Public Employees' Retirement System (the "System").
WHEREAS, 2. Under Article XVI, section 17 of the California Constitution (the
"Constitution"), the Board has plenary authority and fiduciary
responsibility for the investment of monies and administration of the
System. The Constitution also vests the Board with the sole and
exclusive power to provide for actuarial services in order to assure
the competency of the System.
WHEREAS, 3. In furtherance of its sole and exclusive duty to make actuarial
determination, the Board has hired a Chief Actuary to advise the
Board and to direct the activities of the System's professional
actuarial staff.
WHEREAS, 4. Also in furtherance of its sole and exclusive duty to make actuarial
determinations, the Board has retained the services of an outside
consulting actuarial firm to review the work of the System's
actuarial staff and to certify that such work satisfies actuarial
standards of practice.
WHEREAS, 5. The Board's Chief Actuary has advised the Board to adopt specific
written policies regarding the actuarial practices that are most
prudent for the System.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
It is the policy of the Board to use professionally accepted actuarial methods to help
reduce volatility and help stabilize employer contribution rates.
(Rev. April 2013)
Item 1'I.c. - Page 29
Item 5a, Attachment 7, Page 2 of 2
That when the Board modifies amortization and smoothing methods, it shall consider all
of the following:
• The impact on the preservation/advancement of funded status
• The impact on the estimated volatility of the annual change in employer
contribution rates
• The impact on the estimated average employer contribution rate
• The likelihood of high level of employer contribution rates in any given year
• The likelihood of large changes in employer contribution rate in any given year
Beginning with the June 30, 2013 actuarial valuations the employer contribution rates
will not be less than a rate equal to the employer normal cost minus the payment for a
30 year amortization of any surplus.
* * * * ** * * **
I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was originally made and adopted on the
20th day of April, 2005, was amended on the 17th day of April, 2013, and was further
amended on the 21St day of May, 2014 by the Board of Administration of the California
Public Employees' Retirement System.
ROB FECKNER, PRESIDENT
BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES'
RETIREMENT SYSTEM
(Rev. April 2013)
Item 1'I.c. - Page 30
Item 5a, Attachment 8, Page 1 of 3
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM
RESOLUTION
No. ACT-14-01
Subject: Actuarial Policies —Allocation of Pool's Unfunded Accrued
Liability
WHEREAS, 1. In accordance with Government Code section 20120, the
Board of Administration of the California Public Employees'
Retirement System (the "Board") is vested with the
management and control of the Public Employees'
Retirement System (the "System").
WHEREAS, 2. Under Article XVI, Section 17 of the California Constitution
(the "Constitution"), the Board has plenary authority and
fiduciary responsibility for the investment of monies and
administration of the System. The Constitution also vests
the Board with the sole and exclusive power to provide for
actuarial services in order to assure the competency of the
System.
WHEREAS, 3. In furtherance of its sole and exclusive duty to make
actuarial determinations under Section 17, the Board has
hired a Chief Actuary to advise the Board and to direct the
activities of the System's professional actuarial staff.
WHEREAS, 4. Also in furtherance of its sole and exclusive duty to make
actuarial determinations, the Board has retained the services
of an outside consulting actuarial firm, to review the work of
the System's actuarial staff and to certify that such work
satisfies actuarial standards of practice.
WHEREAS, 5. The Board's Chief Actuary has advised the Board to adopt
specific written policies regarding the actuarial practices that
are most prudent for the System.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
(A) It is the policy of the Board to ensure equity within the risk pools by
allocating the pools unfunded accrued liability in a manner that treats each
employer fairly and that maintains benefit security for the members of the
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Item 5a, Attachment 8, Page 2 of 3
System while minimizing substantial variations in employer contribution
rates.
(B) To accomplish this goal, the Board hereby adopts an Unfunded Accrued
Liability allocation method specifically as follows:
(1) For the June 30, 2013 actuarial valuation only, individual plans
within a risk pool will be allocated their share of the pool's unfunded
accrued liability established on or before June 30, 2012 based on
their share of the pool's liability, net of side fund.
(2) Commencing with the June 30, 2013 actuarial valuations, allocate
the change in unfunded accrued liability for the pool due to benefit
changes to individual plans within the pool based on the actual
increase in liability for that plan that resulted from the benefit
change. This section applies to benefit changes provided either on
a voluntary basis by the employer or mandated by the California
Legislature. The change in unfunded accrued liability from benefit
changes assigned to each plan will be amortized as specified in the
Board's Amortization and Smoothing Policy (ACT-96-05E). This
provision does not apply to Class 3 benefits.
(3) Commencing with the June 30, 2013 actuarial valuation, allocate
the change in unfunded accrued liability for the pool due to
investment gains/losses to individual plans within the pool based on
the plan's share of the pool's assets. The change in unfunded
accrued liability due to investment gains/losses assigned to each
plan will be amortized as specified in the Board's Amortization and
Smoothing Policy (ACT-96-05E).
(4) Commencing with the June 30, 2013 actuarial valuation, allocate
the change in unfunded accrued liability for the pool due to non-
investment related gains/losses to individual plans within the pool
based on the plan's share of the pool's liability. The change in
unfunded accrued liability assigned to each plan due to non-
investment gains/losses will be amortized as specified in the
Board's Amortization and Smoothing Policy (ACT-96-05E).
(5) Commencing with the June 30, 2013 actuarial valuation, allocate
the change in unfunded accrued liability for the pool due to changes
in actuarial assumptions/methods to individual plans within the pool
based on the plan's share of the pool's liability. The change in
unfunded accrued liability assigned to each plan due to changes in
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Item 5a, Attachment 8, Page 3 of 3
actuarial assumptions/methods will be amortized as specified in the
Board's Amortization and Smoothing Policy (ACT-96-05E).
(C) This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon adoption.
* * * * * * * * * *
I hereby certify that on the 21St day of May, 2014 the Board of Administration of
the California Public Employees' Retirement System, made and adopted the
foregoing Resolution.
ROB FECKNER, PRESIDENT
BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION, PUBLIC
EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM
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