I just read an article in the St Joseph News Press that states the Missouri pension system " is struggling " It then talks of the pension buyout program. Financially is the system struggling?
I saw in the editorials from the Kansas City and St Louis newspaper that MOSERS is funded only at 69%. What does this mean for the long term future of MOSERSAs of June 30, 2016 (the close of the most recent fiscal year), MOSERS is 69.6% funded. That means that we have 69.6% of assets necessary to pay all accrued liability over the long term. Because we operate on a very long-term horizon (already analyzing and anticipating funding needs 30-50 years into the future). We will send a summary annual financial report for fiscal year 2017 to all members in December.
The MOSERS board has taken several actions to keep the retirement system solid and secure into the future. The board approved a proposal to reduce the system’s long-term liability by offering a voluntary lump-sum payment (rather than a monthly pension) to former state employees who will be eligible for a pension benefit at some point in the future. This is the Buyout Program the articles are referring to.
Also, unlike in other states, the Missouri General Assembly has consistently appropriated the full employer contribution to MOSERS as recommended by the plan’s actuary. The Governor signed House Bill 5 on June 30, 2017, which resulted in full funding of MOSERS at the contribution rate as certified by MOSERS Board of Trustees in September 2016.
You can find more information on Rumor Central about other related Board decisions and MOSERS' appropriation as well as additional details regarding MOSERS' funded status.
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