ENSURING LONG-TERM SOLVENCY

“CONCERNS FOR MISSOURI SCHOOLS”

PSRS / PEERS

A PERSPECTIVE REPORT

Presented by

Lee’s Summit R-7 School District

Dr. David McGehee – Superintendent

Mr. Jon Plaas – R-7 Board of Education

Thursday, March 12 Testimony

Veteran Affairs, Pensions, and Urban Affairs Committee (SB383) *Also presented at 2008 MSBA Conference with the assistance

of Board Member, Mr. Jeff Tindle

ENSURING LONG-TERM SOLVENCY

“CONCERNS FOR MISSOURI SCHOOLS”

INTRODUCTION

At a time when “Hot Topics” for many school districts in Missouri and across the nation include rising fuel costs, the fallen housing market, property tax reform, energy consumption and school safety, lost is the impact that these and other factors have on the ability to fund employee retirement systems.

In 2002-2003 the PSRS / PEERS governing Board of Trustees was grappling with the challenge of sustaining Missouri’s quality retirement system in the face of a projected $5 Billion shortfall. In an era of rising costs and declining revenues, fiscal solvency of our quality retirement system has been challenged.

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ENSURING LONG-TERM SOLVENCY

“INITIATIVE ARISES FROM R-7 GOVERNANCE MODEL”

This “Perspective Report” will center on retirement funding data and inclusion for all stakeholders through one Missouri School Board’s approach to studying the issues: “encouraging discussion about alternative solutions to ensure solvency” and “protecting the quality retirement opportunities for public school employees.”

Board/Superintendent Agreement2008-2009 Action Items

1) Implement year three of the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan and review and revise as necessary in preparation for implementation of year four of the five-year plan. 2) Continue to evaluate the value of membership in the Cooperating School Districts of Greater Kansas City and make a recommendation regarding R-7 participation. 3) Continue ongoing informational campaign to inform voters about progress on 2008 no-tax-increase bond issue projects and the positive impact of the 2008 no-tax-increase Prop C waiver continuance. 4) Successfully manage the 2008 bond issue projects. 5) Initiate an informational campaign informing R-7 citizens about the district enrollment status, Comprehensive Facility Master Plan, program and facility needs and possible future tax levy and “no tax increase” bond issues. 6) Continue to emphasize, through communication and practice, the importance of meeting the needs of each child through the implementation of year-two of the Professional Learning Communities Concepts in all schools in the district. 7) Review and recommend for consideration effective preK-12 teaching schedules that are fiscally sustainable and embed adequate collaboration opportunities. 8) Conduct a comprehensive wage and salary study in order to move forward the goal of developing fair and cost effective salary schedules, to address competitiveness across the schedules and to meet the long-term needs of our growing district. 9) Develop and implement a plan for the district’s transition to an All-Day Kindergarten Program. 10) Conduct a K-6 boundary study by organizing a credible representative committee and make boundary adjustment recommendations to the Board of Education that consider enrollment projections and building capacities while balancing enrollment at all schools. 11) While emphasizing the importance of protecting the benefits afforded to current and future retired employees of the R-7 School District, communicate the financial constraints of the District related to budgeting for mandated contribution increases, and lobby for research aimed at identifying additional solutions to assure fiscal sustainability of the Public School Retirement System and the Public Education Employee Retirement System.

11) While emphasizing the importance of protecting the benefits afforded to current and future retired employees of the R-7 School District, communicate the financial constraints of the District related to budgeting for mandated contribution increases, and lobby for research aimed at identifying additional solutions to assure fiscal sustainability of the Public School Retirement System and the Public Education Employee Retirement System.

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ISSUE: DEALING WITH LONG-TERM PSRS / PEERS SOLVENCY!

Funding of “Benefit Improvements” ($3 Billion)

Recovery from “Portfolio Shortfall” ($2 Billion)

Rising Costs of preserving quality Retirement

System Benefits

ENSURING LONG-TERM SOLVENCY

“CONCERNS FOR MISSOURI SCHOOLS”

Contributing factors…….

Contributions

and Earnings

Benefit Costs

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RESPONSE: SINGLE SOLUTION APPROVAL!

Legislation 2003 (HB #346, #174) allowed “uncapped”

contribution rate increases

Employer / Employee annual rate increases

Current year contribution and match rate

ENSURING LONG-TERM SOLVENCY

“CONCERNS FOR MISSOURI SCHOOLS”

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+ .5% PSRS, + .25% PEERS*

PSRS 13% PEERS 6.25%

Contributions

and Earnings

Benefit Costs

*Assumes 8% annual return on investments

IMPACT: PSRS, ANNUAL INCREASE TO CONTRIBUTION RATE

Allows trustees to require both school districts and employees to increase contributions up to 0.5% more each year

Plans are to raise contributions from 10.5% to 14.5% over eight years assuming a PSRS portfolio return based on 8%

Result statewide is a $20 Million additional matched contribution each year

ENSURING LONG-TERM SOLVENCY

“CONCERNS FOR MISSOURI SCHOOLS”

In FY09, the fifth year of planned increases, statewide the impact is $100 Million

1 A Quarterly PSRS / PEERS Investment and Funding Update

CONTRIBUTION RATE INCREASES

Contribution rate increases are not in response to the Systems’ inability to provide promised benefits for the foreseeable future. Instead, they are about ensuring that future generations will inherit a system as strong and reliable as the one we have today.

Short-term declines in the stock market can affect PSRS/PEERS pre-funded ratio, and cause contribution rate increases to continue longer than expected. 1

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Annual Cumulative Annual Cumulative Annual CumulativeSchool Retmt Cost Cost Cost Cost Cost CostYear Rate Small Small Medium Medium Large Large

FY05 11.00% 13,822$ 13,822$ 164,403$ 164,403$ 825,503$ 825,503$ FY06 11.50% 34,265$ 48,087$ 335,185$ 499,588$ 1,135,384$ 1,960,887$ FY07 12.00% 25,682$ 73,769$ 446,454$ 946,042$ 751,345$ 2,712,232$ FY08 12.50% 21,548$ 95,317$ 407,390$ 1,353,432$ 859,852$ 3,572,084$ FY09 13.00% 35,925$ 131,242$ 468,570$ 1,822,002$ 942,943$ 4,515,027$ FY10 13.50% 39,424$ 170,666$ 538,855$ 2,360,857$ 1,034,126$ 5,549,153$ FY11 14.00% 43,236$ 213,902$ 619,683$ 2,980,540$ 1,134,126$ 6,683,279$ FY12 14.50% 47,417$ 261,319$ 712,635$ 3,693,175$ 1,243,796$ 7,927,075$

ENSURING LONG-TERM SOLVENCY

“CONCERNS FOR MISSOURI SCHOOLS”

PSRS RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTION RATE INCREASE IMPACT

What does this mean to your district?

0.4094$

FTE: 32.59

0.2851$

FTE: 69.70

0.5497$

FTE: 2.83

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FY09 Increased Levy Equivalent

Equivalent Teaching Positions Lost

Note: Numbers above reflect actual growth in retirement budget line and include the impact of increased FTE and salary enhancements, as well as the increase in retirement match.

$384,500

$390,000

$465,858

$481,875

$500,000

Denotes actual dollars directly and solely associated with the retirement match increase, excluding all staffing growth and salary enhancement impact.

CONSIDERATIONS: COLLABORATIVE, DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH!

PSRS / PEERS initiate appropriate research and studies

Educational organizations dialogue on Solvency Issues

(MSBA / MASA / MRTA / Teacher groups)

Sensitivity to School District / Employee contribution tolerance and

sustaining quality retirement system

Research and study topics may include anything

related to supporting and sustaining a

quality retirement system.

ENSURING LONG-TERM SOLVENCY

“CONCERNS FOR MISSOURI SCHOOLS”

The Public School &The Public Education Employee

Retirement Systems of Missouri

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ISSUE: STAKEHOLDER REPRESENTATION IN DECISION-MAKING

ENSURING LONG-TERM SOLVENCY

“CONCERNS FOR MISSOURI SCHOOLS”

Involve all stakeholders (contributors), including School Boards, in

PSRS/PEERS Board of Trustees data-driven decisions

Conduct and communicate various actuarial PSRS / PEERS studies,

findings, and reports

If necessary, seek legislative support for the

Long-Range plan

Identify a plan of action

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SUMMARY

This “Perspective Report” is not about reducing Missouri Public School Retirement System employee benefits. Rather, it is about:

ENSURING LONG-TERM SOLVENCY

“CONCERNS FOR MISSOURI SCHOOLS”

These things are truly a concern for all Missouri Public School Districts and related education associations and organizations. Addressing them in a timely manner is appropriate and necessary for teachers and other school employees, school Boards of Education and our respective Professional Learning Communities!

• Contribution tolerance (School District / Employee / Patron)

• Representation for all stakeholders

• Data-driven (actuarial) decision-making

• Competition for budget dollar alternatives

• Long-Term quality Retirement System Solvency!

• Enhancing the attractiveness of our profession

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