SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Accept the January 1, 2019 Annual Actuarial Valuation for the Employees’ Pension Plan.
Body
SUMMARY:
Per the actuary report dated January 1, 2019, a minimum city employer contribution of $9.71 million, or 11.48% of covered payroll, is required for fiscal year 2020. This is an increase of approximately $910,000 over the fiscal 2019 required contribution of $8.80 million, or 10.69% of covered payroll.
The calendar year 2018 investment return was a loss of (2.48%), net of investment fees, versus the assumed rate of 6.75%. The five-year smoothed investment return based on the actuarial value of the assets was 5.76% versus the assumed rate of 6.75%. Calendar 2014 through 2018 investment returns were 7.99%, (0.28%), 6.70%, 16.01%, and (2.48%), respectively.
The plan experienced a net actuarial experience loss of ($5.8) million for the year. The loss is primarily due to the actuarial loss from the actuarial investment return of 5.76% versus the assumption of 6.75%.
The Plan's funded ratio at January 1, 2019 was 104.09% (including the credit balance) versus 106.96% for the prior year. The actuarial value of assets exceeds the market value of assets by $41.5 million as of January 1, 2019.
The plan's credit balance, which reflects actual contributions in excess of actuarially required contributions for prior years, increased from $22.8 million to $26.6 million during calendar 2018. This $3.8 million increase was due to the City’s budgeted overfunding of the fiscal 2019 required contribution. The City contributed 13% of covered salaries, versus the actuarially required 10.69%, to increase the plan’s credit balance reserves in anticipation of future volatility in required contributions.
The Employees’ Pension Plan is highly leveraged on investment returns in comparison to most pension plans, which means changes in investment earnings cause significant increases or decreases in required employer contributions. This year-to-year volatility necessitates building reserves, such as the plan’s credit balance, during periods of positive investment earnings experience. This provides the City the ability to subsidize increased employer contributions during periods of negative investment earnings experience with contributions from accumulated reserves.