Full coverage: California pensions
March 3, 2012
Salary 'spiking' drains public pension funds, analysis finds
Approaching retirement, Ventura County Chief Executive Marty Robinson was earning $228,000 a year.
7:41 PM PDT, October 24, 2011
Villaraigosa puts teeth into his stand on pension funds
Worried about the prospects of a new round of budget cuts during his last two years in office, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has grown increasingly bold — some say too aggressive — in his attempts to influence panels that guide the city's huge retirement funds.
September 29, 2011
Some Gov. Jerry Brown appointees get pension and paycheck
Reporting from Sacramento -- Every month, Ann Ravel gets a paycheck from her salary as chairwoman of California's ethics watchdog agency and a second, bigger check from her public pension as a retiree.
September 28, 2011
Legal opinion could spell trouble for plan to roll back L.A. pension costs
The cornerstone of L.A. City Hall's recent plan to fix its finances and rein in soaring retirement costs has been thrown into jeopardy.
September 23, 2011
L.A. County deputies' pension disclosures postponed
A judge agreed Thursday to postpone the disclosure of pension data for 2,529 retired Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies after a union attorney claimed that giving it to the Los Angeles Times would endanger the lives of some retirees.
August 9, 2011
Calpers cutting top-end pension benefits
The Bell scandal has prompted the state retirement system to look again at some officials' payouts.
June 29, 2011
Newport Beach lifeguards' retirement benefits scaled back
The City Council approves a reworked contract that reduces pension plans for new employees and requires current guards to contribute more toward their own retirement costs.
June 16, 2011
Lifeguards' special-status pensions under scrutiny in California
Most full-time lifeguards get the same 'public safety' pensions as police officers and firefighters. But a growing number of cities are demanding that lifeguards cut their benefits and pay more toward them.
June 1, 2011
Republicans promote Costa Mesa as a pension-slashing leader
The Orange County city may lay off half of its workers. The GOP sees it as a local 'ground zero' in efforts to curb the collective bargaining powers of public employees.
June 1, 2011
Bell and Vernon cases put focus on pensions of non-elected officials
Under the law, elected officials who are convicted of felonies also lose their pensions. That isn't so with other public employees.
May 19, 2011
Public hospital CEO got severance 3 years before he retired
Salinas hospital district, already under fire for the executive's nearly $4-million retirement package, gave him a $948,000 severance payment in 2008. Experts say the size and complexity of the payments are highly unusual.
May 18, 2011
State's portion of CalPERS pension bill will be less than expected
California is getting a slight break on its pension bill for the upcoming fiscal year.
May 16, 2011
Counties may be forced to reveal workers' pension payments
A ruling by a state appeals court orders Sacramento County's pension system to make public the names and pension pay for 8,500 retirees. L.A., Orange, San Diego and San Bernardino counties, among others, may have to follow suit.
May 16, 2011
Skelton: Good GOP bills held hostage in budget stalemate
Practical proposals on parks, pensions and welfare fail as Democrats refuse to pass Republican measures without a budget deal.
May 12, 2011
California asks Bell to investigate police disability pensions
State retirement system officials are examining whether former City Administrator Robert Rizzo used workers' comp and disability pensions to pad payments to police chiefs who were being forced out.
May 7, 2011
Editorial: A case for pension reform
A new report estimates that government workers' wages in California are about the same as in the private sector, but the retirement benefits are considerably greater.
May 5, 2011
Proposals would cut benefits for California employees 25% to 40%
In an analysis of two concepts, the nonprofit California Foundation for Fiscal Responsibility warns that the state's five biggest pension funds are in precarious financial conditions.
April 30, 2011
Editorial: Big pension in little Salinas
Samuel Downing got $3.9 million in supplemental retirement benefits. Is this reasonable?
April 28, 2011
Public hospital president's retirement pay spotlights issue of 'supplemental' pensions
The president and CEO of a Salinas, Calif.-area public hospital district will receive nearly $4 million in retirement pay on top of his $150,000 annual pension. Such 'supplemental' pensions are one focus of criticism over the way public officials are compensated in retirement.
April 24, 2011
Times/USC Dornsife poll: California voters want public employees to help ease state's financial troubles
A cap on pensions and a later retirement age -- even for current public employees -- are supported by the poll's respondents.
April 11, 2011
Skelton: Cutting public pensions now won't save California
In the long run, however, pension reform makes political and budget sense, and Brown has grabbed the initiative away from Republicans.
April 8, 2011
Governments continued to enhance pensions amid economic collapse
The bills for enhanced pension benefits in Costa Mesa, San Bernardino and other cities and agencies are coming due. Drastic cuts and legal battles are just some of the consequences.
April 1, 2011
Jerry Brown plans to take his case for taxes to voters
With talks with the GOP over in Sacramento, the governor says he'll go on the road, including to many Republican districts, to persuade Californians of the need for a vote on tax extensions.
March 28, 2011
Editorial: Unions as leaders
Concessions by a coalition of L.A. city employee unions provide a template for bringing down costs across all L.A. city departments.
March 21, 2011
Skelton: Brown must use a stick on allies and a carrot on Republicans
Unions and environmentalists opposed to pension reform and regulatory relief must give if there's to be any hope of gaining GOP votes for a tax election.
March 18, 2011
Republicans, Democrats both see political advantage in California pensions issue
Republicans are waging a cost-cutting campaign in various states and have targeted taxpayer-funded benefits. Democrats, however, are reluctant to give up too much in negotiations over public pensions because of labor's influence in California politics.
March 3, 2011
Villaraigosa calls for curbs in city workers' benefits
The mayor wants to boost retirement age for new employees to 65 and calls for a cap on health subsidies to retired city workers. The city faces a $54-million shortfall now and a $350-million shortfall next year.
February 27, 2011
Charter amendment would roll back some L.A. police and fire pension benefits
With public employee pensions projected to consume a big chunk of Los Angeles' general fund by 2015, city officials take reforms of police and fire retirement benefits to the voters. But some say Charter Amendment G changes too little.
February 26, 2011
Editorial: Day of reckoning on pensions
The Little Hoover Commission paints a bleak picture of what's ahead for state and local governments in California.
February 24, 2011
Skelton: The pension haves vs. the have-nots
The long-term erosion of private-sector workers' security fuels resentment over generous public payouts.
February 16, 2011
California state employees take advantage of pension perk
State allows employees to increase retirement benefits by buying up to five fictitious years -- known as 'air time' -- to add to their public service. Financial advisors call it a great deal for retirees but bad for taxpayers.
January 28, 2011
Utilities have no incentive to scrap pension plans
While most other private companies have accepted that traditional pension plans are unsustainable and have switched workers to 401(k) accounts, utilities can offload all financial risk to ratepayers.
January 25, 2011
Editorial: It's a bankrupt idea
Allowing states to default on their debts is the wrong way to deal with unfunded public employee pensions.
January 18, 2011
Lazarus: It's time to retire utilities' 'bulletproof' pension system
There's nothing unusual about Southern California Edison's request for a 7.5% rate hike, partly to cover its pension fund losses. But at a time when few people have guaranteed retirement benefits, why can't utility workers share the pain?
January 18, 2011
Opinion: Pension reform or else
The unfunded pension liabilities of California's state and local governments exceed $700 billion. We can't fix the budget without reducing public employee retirement benefits.
January 5, 2011
UC's top leaders reject bigger pensions for top earners
Thirty-six highly paid employees have threatened to sue if benefits were not based on full salaries. The UC president and the regents board chairman support the $245,000 limit.
December 1, 2010
Lawyers and auditors in prison agency get the same perks as cops and firefighters
Because they are classified as peace officers, they carry guns, drive state-owned cars and get enhanced pension benefits.
November 13, 2010
Rizzo, other former Bell officials won't receive pensions to match huge salaries
Because the city could not document pay increases over the years, Rizzo will be entitled to retirement benefits on a salary of only $85,200 -- or about one-tenth of his last yearly pay as city administrator, according to a CalPERS report.
November 2, 2010
Hiltzik: Social Security rules penalize California public employees
Repeal of provisions that reduce benefits for teachers and others has failed, but reform may be more easily accomplished.
October 20, 2010
State pensions face steep shortfalls, report concludes
Milken Institute conference delivers a sobering appraisal of public retirement funds and suggests ways to 'fix California.'
October 19, 2010
Villaraigosa introduces pension reform proposal
The plan, which would cut retirement pay and hike healthcare costs for new police and firefighting personnel, is aimed for the March ballot.
October 14, 2010
New hires strain DWP pension plan
Utility faces higher retirement costs after absorbing 1,600 city workers facing layoffs.
October 1, 2010
Schwarzenegger vetoes bills on pension limits
The measures, a reaction to the Bell scandal, were among flurry signed or killed.
September 24, 2010
Opinion: SEIU is off-base on legalizing pot
Arnold Schwarzenegger: The union's endorsement of Proposition 19 as a way for California to avoid cuts to social programs is wrong, Gov. Schwarzenegger argues. Pension reform is a better solution.
September 21, 2010
Editorial: Three peas in a pod
Although Meg Whitman and Jerry Brown have some differing views on the causes and cures for California's problems, most of their proposed fixes already have been suggested or tried by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
September 4, 2010
In wake of Bell scandal, CalPERS may change pension calculation rules
Former City Manager Robert Rizzo's latest contract divided his nearly $800,000 salary between his main job and various city boards. Excluding the side pay could drastically cut his retirement income.
September 2, 2010
Vernon city attorneys get same pension deal as police and firefighters
The 'safety employee' formula could boost a former city attorney's benefit by 11%, a pension expert says. The formula is usually reserved for public safety workers whose jobs put them in harm's way.
August 31, 2010
UC retirement funds face a shortfall of more than $20 billion, report says
A panel recommends increasing contributions by employees, raising the retirement age for new hires and reducing some benefits.
August 18, 2010
California pension reform effort loses support
The bill's sponsor, state Controller John Chiang, and others say it has become so watered down that it would do little to prevent public employees from spiking their end-of-career paycheck.
August 6, 2010
Bell salaries raise more concerns about CalPERS
The failure of the state's embattled pension system to take action after learning four years ago of Bell city officials' runaway salaries has put the fund under another unwelcome spotlight.
August 3, 2010
L.A. pensions may consume a third of city's general fund by 2015
City administrative officer reports that benefits for retired police, firefighters, DWP workers and other city employees could grow by $800 million in the next five years.
5:42 PM PDT, August 1, 2010
Other cities stuck with the tab for Bell officials' massive pensions
The unfolding story of the high salaries paid to municipal officials in Bell has delivered a surprise twist to taxpayers in Glendale, Simi Valley, Ventura and several other Southern California cities — they're on the hook for the pension bills.
August 1, 2010
Steve Lopez: Maybe we should thank Bell's Rizzo for shedding light on pension excesses
Marcia Fritz remembers it distinctly: She had a chilled glass of Handley chardonnay in her hand and was chatting with friends on the shores of Lake Tahoe in August of 2002. She was totally relaxed until one of her pals brought up an official in her mid-size city who was retiring. His pension was to be based on a 3-50 formula.
July 25, 2010
Lopez: Those sweet Bell retirements may cost you too
A pension reform activist says that since Bell is pooled with 140 similar-size California towns and public entities, their taxes will help support the three high-priced officials who have resigned.
July 25, 2010
Opinion: Curing pension envy
California doesn't have just one pension crisis, it has two. In the public realm, generous pensions and retiree health benefits have triggered a crisis as elected leaders try to square expensive promises with the realities of diminished revenues and investment losses. In California, commitments to retired state workers are crowding out crucial investments in education, health and infrastructure.
July 23, 2010
Brown details plan for California state worker pension reforms
The Democrat would adopt some Schwarzenegger ideas, such as asking current employees to contribute more to their plans and raising the retirement age for new hires.
July 18, 2010
Municipalities take aim at public pensions
Saddled with policies adopted when times were good, many face dire consequences now. San Diego is a case in point.
July 9, 2010
Convicted Orange County sheriff collects $215,000 pension
Mike Carona is among more than 400 county pensioners who received more than $100,000 in retirement payments in 2009, according to data released following a lawsuit filed by pension reform advocates.
June 17, 2010
Leaders of 4 California employee unions agree to pension rollback
The agreement with the state firefighters, Highway Patrol officers and other workers is seen as a victory for Gov. Schwarzenegger. The tentative contracts now face votes by union members and the Legislature.
June 17, 2010
CalPERS orders California, schools to boost contributions
The increase, to help cover investment losses at the giant public pension fund, would begin in July. Separately, the governor and four unions announce a deal to reduce future benefits.
April 29, 2010
Skelton: The perils of state pensions
Ever-rising payouts are putting labor-friendly Democrats on the spot
April 23, 2010
Whitman calls for major changes in California worker pensions
The Republican advocates raising the retirement age from 50 to 55 for public safety employees and from 55 to 65 for non-safety state workers. She takes a jab at Jerry Brown for the pension crisis.
April 23, 2010
Government pensions in cross hairs
State and local leaders see the growing cost as a threat to California's fiscal well-being.
April 21, 2010
Schwarzenegger, Villaraigosa back plans to rein in pension costs
They say public employees' retirement packages are more generous than taxpayers can afford.
April 14, 2010
Opinion: Going for broke in L.A.?
Tim Rutten: Unless pension costs can be brought under control, the city may face bankruptcy.
April 12, 2010
Opinion: Fuzzy math and public pension hysteria
Recent studies about CalPERS' impending doom should not be trusted.
April 6, 2010
Opinion: California's $500-billion pension time bomb
The staggering amount of unfunded debt stands to crowd out funding for many popular programs. Reform will take something sadly lacking in the Legislature: political courage.
March 16, 2010
For CalSTRS, an investment bet that failed
The state's teachers retirement fund had hoped four years ago that a flourishing bull market would help make up for a big projected shortfall. Now the fund is $43 billion behind as of June.
February 17, 2010
California, other states face problem of growing pension liabilities
State governments can help ease a $1-trillion shortfall by reducing future benefits, requiring greater employee contributions and raising retirement ages, a Pew report says.
January 29, 2010
Teachers pension fund is $43 billion short
The California State Teachers' Retirement System says that as of June 30, 2009, it could meet only an estimated 77% of its future pension obligations -- far less than the 100% recommended by actuaries
January 19, 2010
Editorial: Prudent pension reform for L.A. city workers
Adopting a two-tier system, in which newly hired employees would get reduced benefits, makes sense for the financially strapped city government.
January 6, 2010
Los Angeles officials consider a ballot measure to scale back pensions
The city's benefit costs are expected to double in the next four years, crippling the general fund and forcing drastic cutbacks in city services. Labor unions are fighting the plan.
October 9, 2009
Some state retirees rake in pensions and paychecks
Thousands who have returned to public service in California, including eight legislators, receive their retirement benefits and a salary. The practice has raised concerns.
Copyright © 2012, Los Angeles Times
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