HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003 - Retirement Committee - Annual ReportCity of Fort Collins
General Employees' Retirement Committee
General Employees' Retirement Committee
2003 Annual Report
The General Employees' Retirement Plan (GERP) is managed and administered by the General
Employees' Retirement Committee (GERC) in accordance with the terms of the Plan. The 2003
actuarial report, prepared by Milliman USA (formerly Milliman & Robertson Actuaries &
Consultants) indicates that as of January 1, 2003, the GERP had 362 active members, 116
terminated vested members, and 123 retired members for a total of 601 members, as compared to
613 in 2002.
One way to look at the adequacy of plan funding is to compare the value of benefits under the
plan terms to the value of plan assets as of the valuation date (January 1, 2003). By this measure,
the Plan is fairly well funded, since the actuarial value of the Plan's assets covers 81.6% of the
present value of future benefits, and the market value of plan assets covers 68.0% of the present
value of future benefits. The Present Value of Future Benefits is $42,783,608 and the Market
Value of Assets is $29,082,465. The Present Value of Future Benefits includes benefits earned
to date plus the value of benefits anticipated to be earned for all expected future service by
current participants. The market value of Plan assets exceeds the present value of accumulated
Plan benefits by 3%, as of January 1, 2003.
Due to three years of bear market conditions, the Plan is under funded and additional
contributions to the Plan have been requested. The Committee is working with the Actuary to
determine the best course of action.
In 2003, the Committee was composed of Susan Lehman, Chair, Advance Planning; Bill
Switzer, Vice -chair, Utilities, Financial Operations; Michele Hays -Johnson, Utilities, Water
Production; Jim O'Neill, Purchasing Director; Dottie Nazarenus, a retired Plan Member; and
Alan Krcmarik, Financial Officer.
Staff support for the Committee included Ann Wardle, Secretary; Debbie Weedman and Vincent
Pascale, Human Resources; Greg Tempel, Assistant City Attorney; and Julie Depperman,
Finance as staff support for investments.
Committee Highlights for 2003:
Personal Retirement Planning Statements (PRPS)
The GERC had the PRPS prepared by the actuary, Milliman USA, and distributed them to
individual Members.
Plan Amendment
In 2003 there was one Resolution adopting the Third Amendment to the City of Fort Collins
General Employees' Retirement Plan as Amended and Restated Effective December 31, 2001;
amending the Plan to more equitably match the retirement benefit to actual service and the
contributions made to the Plan. The Committee recommended Resolution 2003-078, which was
adopted by City Council on June 17, 2003.
Credit for Part Time/Full Time Service
The Committee, with assistance from its actuary, Milliman USA, and internal and external legal
counsel, has studied this problem for the last four years. The Committee developed a Plan
change that more equitably matches the retirement benefit to actual service and the contributions
made into the Plan.
Retirement Philosophy
The Committee continues discussions with the actuary, Milliman USA and has not determined
what changes may be necessary in this philosophy considering the state of investment returns.
Investment Results
The total market value of cash and investments for the Plan as of December 31, 2003, was
$33,778,454. During 2003, the market value of assets increased by $4.7 million or 16.15%.