States Facing 96% of Unfunded Retiree Benefits
SFgate The near-failure by U.S. states to fund rising retiree health-care costs for millions of government workers threatens to produce budget crises similar to the one that pushed Stockton, California, to take a step toward bankruptcy last week.States haven't financed almost 96 percent of the $627.4 billion they were projected to owe for future retiree benefits in 2010, according to Bloomberg Rankings data. The estimated deficit grew from about 95 percent in 2009 as governors coped with lower general-fund revenue and rising demand for services following the longest recession since the Great Depression.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/…
Higher taxes? Anyone?
Last year I went to an economic forum in Rhode Island, which is struggling with this very issue. The panel was made up of the mayor of a near bankrupt town, the treasurer of RI, and the former head of the AICPA (big wig accountant). It was fascinating listening to the accountant describe the fiscal irresponsibility and financial mismanagement that's been going on in RI (and the rest of the country) for DECADES. I remember him saying that the retirement funding for firefighters in ONE TOWN was more than $6 million.
State and municipal employees have been making out like bandits over the last 60 years in terms of their benefits, in my opinion. I really think we need to look at the larger picture - we've become a "benefit nation." For years we've given out generous retirement packages, disability pay, extended unemployment checks, Medicare, etc without considering the future costs. When baby boomers are all retired and collecting their checks is when we'll be in a REAL crisis.
http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/baby-boomers
They aren't getting paid, I'm not worried about it.
Start raising taxes for government workers pensions? Not. Gonna. Happen.
Long-term problem that isn't an issue right now. Pensions are a larger concern because liabilities are 3-5 times the size, however also more funded. In the end, the health retirement benefits issue will resolved by a complete change in the structure of American Healthcare including new payment models and treatment structures (patient centered medical home).
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