Actuarial Fiscal Note
Date Requested:February 23, 2017
Time Requested:02:23 PM |
| Agency: |
Consolidated Public Retirement Board |
|---|
| CBD Number: |
Version: |
Bill Number: |
Resolution Number: |
| 2495 |
Introduced |
SB374 |
|
|---|
| CBD Subject: |
Legislature, Retirement |
|---|
|
Retirement Systems Impacted by Legislation:
PERS
FUND(S):
PERS 2501
Sources of Revenue:
Other Fund N/A
Legislation creates:
Neither Program nor Fund
Actuarial Note Summary
Impact this measure will have on the liabilities and contributions associated with the retirement system(s).
This bill provides that for any person who first contributes to PERS after June 30, 2017, and claims retirement benefits based on service as a member of the Legislature, that member’s Final Average Salary shall be the average of all years of compensation earned by the member rather than the highest five of the last fifteen years of service.
If enacted, the bill would result in an immediate annual Normal Cost savings of approximately $500 and a total Actuarial Accrued Liability (AAL) savings of approximately $1000 for each newly-participating legislator entering the plan. The AAL savings would need to be amortized over the remaining amortization period for the Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability (UAAL) in PERS as set by the CPRB to get the annual savings amount. The annual savings would be dependent on the remaining amortization period. Also, note that these results are a per person savings. However, because of the small number of legislators expected to participate in PERS relative to its size, these savings would not have a material impact on the expected costs to the plan as a whole.
Fiscal Detail of Actuarial Impact
Impact on current benefit costs, prior service benefit costs and ongoing contribution requirements following full implementation.
| Impact On |
Following Full Implementation |
| Increase in Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability |
Initial Impact on Annual Contribution Requirement of System(s) |
Contribution Increase as a Percentage of Annual Payroll |
| Total Annual Costs |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
0.00 % |
| Normal Cost of System |
N/A |
$0.00 |
0.00 % |
| Past Service Liabilities |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
0.00 % |
Fiscal Year Past Service
Amortization Period Ends |
N/A |
2035 |
N/A |
Explanation of above Actuarial estimates:
Based on data for current and former legislators participating in PERS, it is estimated that the changes proposed by this bill would result in an annual Normal Cost savings between $500 and $3,200 for a newly-participating legislator, depending on his or her career length and salary earned during that career. AAL savings range from approximately $9,000 and $125,000 for each legislator to be amortized over the remaining amortization period in PERS. Again, these estimates vary according to the experience of any given participating legislator (when and whether they serve in other public employment covered by PERS, any salary increases/decreases over the course of their service in PERS, length of career, etc.). Also, savings estimates are based on actuarial assumptions which may or may not be met in future years.
Due to the small number of affected members in PERS, these cost savings would not likely result in any material change to the annual contribution requirement for PERS.
Analysis of Impact on Public Pension Policy:
• Possible unintended reduced benefit for long-time public employees with service earned as a member of the legislator.
• Possible larger pension benefits for members who start their career as a non-legislator and then work at least 15 years as a member of the legislature immediately prior to their retirement.
• §5-10-52 (b) (1) as written leaves some ambiguity as to whether the alternative calculation of Final average Salary would apply to any member whose first contribution is after June 30, 2017, or only those members whose first contribution as a legislator is after June 30, 2017.
Fiscal Note Summary
Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.
This bill provides that for any person who first contributes to PERS after June 30, 2017, and claims retirement benefits based on service as a member of the Legislature, that member’s Final Average Salary shall be the average of all years of compensation earned by the member rather than the highest five of the last fifteen years of service.
If enacted, the bill would result in an immediate annual Normal Cost savings of approximately $500 and a total Actuarial Accrued Liability (AAL) savings of approximately $1000 for each newly-participating legislator entering the plan. The AAL savings would need to be amortized over the remaining amortization period for the Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability (UAAL) in PERS as set by the CPRB to get the annual savings amount. The annual savings would be dependent on the remaining amortization period. Also, note that these results are a per person savings. However, because of the small number of legislators expected to participate in PERS relative to its size, these savings would not have a material impact on the expected costs to the plan as a whole.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2017
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2018
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation) |
| 1. Estmated Total Cost |
0 |
5,500 |
0 |
| Personal Services |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Current Expenses |
0 |
5,500 |
0 |
| Repairs and Alterations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assets |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. Estimated Total Revenues |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Explanation of above Fiscal Note estimates (include possible long-range effect):
Due to the small number of affected members in PERS, the cost savings estimated for this bill would not likely result in any material change to the annual contribution requirement for PERS. Necessary changes to the pension administration software utilized by the CPRB have the potential to cost approximately $5500.
Memorandum
• Possible unintended reduced benefit for long-time public employees with service earned as a member of the legislator.
• Possible larger pension benefits for members who start their career as a non-legislator and then work at least 15 years as a member of the legislature immediately prior to their retirement.
• §5-10-52 (b) (1) as written leaves some ambiguity as to whether the alternative calculation of Final average Salary would apply to any member whose first contribution is after June 30, 2017, or only those members whose first contribution as a legislator is after June 30, 2017.
This Actuarial/Fiscal Note is being submitted by the Consolidated Public Retirement Board. It has been reviewed by a qualified actuary, and a letter of certification is available from the CPRB upon request.
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Melody Bailey, Actuarial Analyst, WV CPRB
Email Address: melody.j.bailey@wv.gov