PERS Resources on the web
Our Next 20: New perspectives on Oregon’s fiscal future
For a long-term look at the fiscal challenges facing Oregon’s schools and local governments, of which PERS costs are by far the greatest cause for concern, take at look at this new report, Our Next 20, produced by the North Star Civic Foundation and ECONorthwest.
As the authors note, PERS costs represent a generational challenge. “Conditions may improve in the early 2040s, when legacy UAL costs are expected to ease, but by then the damage will be done.”
Among the report’s recommendations: “To avoid budget imbalances in schools, counties, and cities, State policymakers should seek to bring employer rates (for PERS) to close to 15-18% of payroll before the next rate increases in 2021.” By then, PERS payroll rates will otherwise approach 30% of payroll.
2018-2019 State of Oregon PERS Reports
- PERS by the Numbers: A comprehensive document on the current status of Oregon’s Public Employee Retirement System.
- Contribution Rates 2019-2021: Table of rates paid by local and state governments over-and-above the portion of pension contributions paid by the fund.
- PERS UAL Task Force Final Report.
2018-2019 Oregon Legislative Fiscal Office Budget Reports & Briefs
In 2018, Oregon’s Legislative Fiscal Office (LFO) published a three reports on the status of various aspects of Oregon’s Public Pension system to assist policymakers in better understanding the current status and risks to the system.
- Public Employees Retirement System Side Accounts (#2018-1)
- 2019-21 Budgeted PERS Contribution Rates for State Government (#2018-3)
- PERS Liquidity and Insolvency Risk (#2018-4)
Legal resources
- Moro v Oregon (2016): Landmark Oregon Supreme Court Opinion that defines many of the legal parameters that must be taken into account with respect to PERS reform.
- Strunk v PERB (2005): Overturned cost of living freeze enacted by 2003 legislature was invalid; that PERS must credit 8% to Tier I employees; other provisions.
- City of Eugene (et al) v State of Oregon (et al): Press release from League of Oregon Cities outlining terms of settlement in light of “Lipscomb” ruling.
Legislative testimony
Other resources and research
- Oregon PERS: Burdened by The Past, Poised for the Future: Report by Portland City Club, May 2011
- Employee Contributions to Public Pension Plans — Report by National Association of State Retirement Administrators