January 2014

California Pension Reform: An Interview With San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed

January 27, 2014
Chad Aldeman
San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed is sponsoring a statewide ballot initiative that would change California’s constitution to allow state and city governments to make prospective changes to retiree benefits. To better understand the initiative and why he’s sponsoring it, I spoke with Mayor Reed.
Funding
Legal Issues
Pension Politics
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In California, Teacher Turnover Higher Than Other Public Sector Workers

January 23, 2014
Leslie Kan
Teachers are often lumped in with other public sector workers, but the turnover rates of the teaching profession places them in a much more volatile position than other state or local government positions.
Pensions and Human Capital
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Teacher Pensions Don't Boost Retention

January 23, 2014
Chad Aldeman
Do pensions affect teacher retention decisions? According to their own data, state pension plans say no, at least for the vast majority of teachers.
Mobility and Portability
Pensions and Human Capital
Retirement Insecurity
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Pensions and the Local Economy

January 22, 2014
Chad Aldeman
Pensions contribute a large amount of money to local economies, but size shouldn't be the end-all argument. We need to get past discussions of size and start talking about the most effective ways to ensure retirement security for all public sector workers.
Alternative Models
Funding
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Hidden Pension Costs Help States "Balance" Their Budgets

January 17, 2014
Chad Aldeman
Every state except Vermont has a balanced budget amendment, yet states have wracked up large unfunded liabilities for their pension and retiree health plans. How can both of these things be true at the same time?
Funding
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Military Personnel and Federal Workers Not Immune to Pension Cuts

January 13, 2014
Chad Aldeman
Like city and state governments, the federal government is facing rising pension costs and is dealing with them in similarly unproductive ways.
Pension Politics
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Pension reform vs. the “California Rule”

January 9, 2014
Chad Aldeman
Cities and states faced with rising pension costs have begun to search for the most effective way to balance retirement promises made to workers with the need for fiscal sustainability and employer flexibility. One such battle is currently playing out in California.
Legal Issues
Pension Politics
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Half of New York City's Teachers Won't Qualify for a Retirement Benefit

January 7, 2014
Chad Aldeman
In order to cut costs and recover from the recent recession, New York City recently lengthened the vesting requirement, the time period employees need to stay in order to qualify for even a minimum pension, from five years to ten. Now, half of all new teachers in the Big Apple will not qualify for a retirement benefit.
Mobility and Portability
Retirement Insecurity
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