Public pensions

CalPERS' plan to dial back the assumed return on its investments puts pressure on governments to make up the difference.

Bond director Ben Watkins lamented the loss of the refinancing tactic that helped refinance 62% of the state’s debt portfolio.

Urban planners argue for the unlocking of public assets through an asset trust, an idea largely untested in the U.S.

City officials said consolidating the boards will improve governance and result in stronger fund performance.

A pension task force convened by the governor proposed issuing long-term or perpetual notes to state-controlled entities that need risk capital.

Weak asset performance and inadequate contributions by some local governments have contributed to a 6% increase in liability burdens, Fitch Ratings said.

Bills look to tackle local governments' $18.8 billion pension and retirement health care unfunded liability,

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie urged his successor to reduce health benefits for public employees as a way to fund the state’s underfunded pension system.

Texas state pensions bear the third-highest risk of a downturn-driven "budget shock" behind Alaska and Connecticut, according to Moody's Investors Service.

Houston hits the market with more certainty about its pensions but less about the tax-exempt market.

Declining funding for Colorado's retirement accounts led S&P global ratings to revise the state's outlook to negative.

Treasurer Denise Nappier sees the just-passed spending plan as a roadblock to full funding.

Below-estimate state general fund revenues complicate pension funding decisions.

The state reported a small jump in its unfunded burden while its funded ratio saw a sliver of improvement.

Voters in Houston approved the measure by a more than three-to-one margin.

Democrat Scott Stringer earned a second term by trouncing Republican Michel Faulkner.

A commission would examine transferring capital assets to a trust and building asset values to benefit pension plans.

Nine states, including Texas and Virginia, received the lowest D-minus grade from the Volcker Alliance for handling retirement costs.

The collective funded ratio of all Illinois public pension funds is 47.9%, according a state report.

The Teachers' Retirement System saw double-digit investment returns but its unfunded tab grew.