LOC News
LOC Co-Hosting PERS Webinars
The LOC and Piper Sandler are pleased to provide three upcoming free PERS webinars for public employers on June 9-11.
Webinar 1: June 9, 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. PT
- Title: What’s Happening to PERS Side Accounts Created Prior to 2008?
- Description: Jurisdictions that created PERS Side Accounts prior to 2008 (largely funded with bond issues) will see them expire in 2027. Although the bonds will expire as well, PERS plans to change the implementation of the Side Account expiration from current practices, which will have implications for payroll rates in the 2027-29 biennium. Further, many of these jurisdictions will experience rate increases in the 2025-27 biennium tied to their Side Accounts, largely because of investment underperformance and strong payroll growth in 2022 and 2023. This webinar will explain these developments and provide specific analyses for each affected jurisdiction.
- Who should attend: Any jurisdiction that created a Side Account – either with cash or bonds – prior to 2008.
Webinar 2: June 10, 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. PT
- Title: Is Creating a New PERS Side Account Worth Considering?
- Description: PERS Side Accounts have been utilized by jurisdictions across the board to effectively bring down the costs of pension expenses. Some have used cash to create these accounts; others have used funds borrowed in the bond market. While most have been successful, Side Accounts are not without risk. Bonds, in particular, require favorable market conditions to have the best chance of success. This webinar will cover how Side Accounts work, what the EIF State matching program offers, and an overview of pension bonds, including risks and potential rewards. Actual case studies will be provided.
- Who should attend: Any jurisdiction with an unfunded actuarial liability.
Webinar 3: June 11, 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. PT
- Title: What are Pre-SLGRP Liabilities and Transition Liability/Surpluses, and Why Should I Care?
- Description: For those jurisdictions that are members of the PERS State and Local Government Rate Pool (SLGRP), when you joined the pool, you may have been assigned a ‘Pre-SLGRP Liability’ and a “Transition Liability or Surplus’ to equalize your actuarial status with all other participants in the pool. These assignments were then incorporated into your PERS payroll rate as either a charge or a credit. For most, these line items will be expiring in the 2027-29 biennium, affecting your payroll rate either positively or negatively. This session is designed to make sure you are aware these changes are coming. It will provide background on how PERS payroll rates are determined, how these extra charges/credits have been incorporated into overall PERS rates and how their expiration will affect your rates. Actual case studies will be reviewed.
- Who should attend: Any member of the SLGRP.
Advance registration is required. Register here
Contact: Scott Winkels, Lobbyist - swinkels@orcities.org
Last Updated 5/9/25