11 - ACTUARY STUDY - PENSION AND RETIREMENTi_
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ITEM 11
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Memorandum
To: Board of Directors
Via: Scott Carroll, General Mana'er��
From: Anna Sanchez, Administrative Service Manager
Date: July 26, 2012
Subject: Pension and Retirement Health Unfunded Liability
Summary
In early 2012, the Board of Directors directed staff to review the District's unfunded
liability related to the existing pension program and retirement health program.
Staff Recommendation
The Board of Directors give direction to staff.
Analysis
The Costa Mesa Sanitary District's pension program and retirement health program
are governed by Board - approved policies and procedures. CMSD provides healthcare
insurance plans on a contributory basis; and voluntary insurance plans that are fully
paid by the employees.
When the District seperated from the City of Costa Mesa, for staffing purposes, the
District offered permanent positions to City staff who were already performing these
functions. As a negotiating tool, the Board elected to maintain the benefits offered
former City of Costa Mesa employees. As a result, the District Board adopted a
retirement formula of 2% at age 55. Under this reitrement formula, the District pays
the employee's contributing share of 7% towards reitrement. Additionally, eligible
employees would receive a retirement health package at the time of retirement.
The Retiree Medical benefit maintained for eligible employees provides full -time
employees who were hired prior to 2004, who are enrolled in the District's group
medical plan, a contribution from the District towards their life or medical insurance.
This contribution is calculated using a formula based on years of service, not to
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Board of Directors
July 26, 2012
Page 2 of 3
exceed $500 per month. Currently, only one employee was eligible for this benefit,
and has retired as of March 2012.
In 2011, the District re- evaluated the pension program in place and recommended
pension reform for adoption. As of August 2011, the District adopted a second tier
retirement formula for all newly hired staff. The new tier formula is set at 2% at age 60
with the employees paying the 7% contributing share towards retirement. Currently,
42% of all full -time District employees are enrolled in the second tier retirement
system.
Lastly, all District employees are required to participate in the Retirement Health
Savings plan. This program requires employees to contribute 1% of their gross pay
towards a savings account specified for medical related payments after retirement.
In early 2012, the Board requested staff perform an actuarial study on the unfunded
pension liability and retirement health benefit liability facing the District in future years.
This study will comply with the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB)
statement No. 45 pertaining to Other Post - Employment Benefits (OPEB) reporting
requirement. Staff contacted three.different firms in California who specialize in these
studies.
Staff has retained the services of Bartel Associates to conduct an analysis and provide
a presentation to the Board on the District's unfunded pension and OPEB liabilities.
Bartel Associates is an experienced actuarial consulting firm specializing in providing
public agencies with actuarial consulting services including retiree medical plan
valuations, pension plan valuations, actuarial audits, and CaIPERs retirement
consulting.
They have completed their analysis, which has addressed three points of interest:
•, Discuss the District's unfunded pension and OPEB liability
• Compare the District's benefits to other agencies
• Compare the District's unfunded liabilities to other agencies
The actuarial study results from Bartel Associates was not available at the time of
printing of the agenda packet but will be presented to the Board at the meeting.
Strategic Element & Goal
Not applicable
Legal Review
Not applicable
Board of Directors
July 26, 2012
Paae 3 of 3
Financial Review
Not applicable
Committee Recommendation
Not applicable
Public Notice Process
Copies of this report are on file and will be included with the entire agenda packet for
the July 26, 2012 Board of Directors regular meeting at District Headquarters and on
District's website.
Alternative Actions