2-Act205 Funding Valuation Package Office Personnel.pdf
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Actuarial Valuation Report for South Whitehall Township Office Personnel Pension Plan
This document is an actuarial valuation report prepared for the South Whitehall Township Office Personnel Pension Plan as of January 1, 2025, by Jeffrey S. Myers, FSA, EA, MAAA, a consulting actuary and enrolled actuary under ERISA. The report evaluates the plan's financial status and funding requirements under Pennsylvania's Act 205 of 1984. As of the valuation date, the plan held market value assets of $10,874,964 with an actuarial value of assets of $11,006,494, against an actuarial accrued liability of $13,947,914, resulting in an unfunded actuarial accrued liability of $2,941,420. The plan covers five active members, seven vested former members, 38 retired members, and two spouse beneficiaries of deceased members, with a total covered payroll of $355,512. The plan's funded ratio improved from 64.7 percent on January 1, 2023, to 78.0 percent on January 1, 2025, driven by positive investment returns and employer contributions. The report projects that the unfunded accrued liability will be fully amortized by 2031 under the current funding schedule.
The minimum municipal obligation (MMO) for the plan year is $621,680, comprising normal cost of $49,941, administrative expenses of $37,975, and amortization of the unfunded accrued liability of $533,764. Member contributions are currently suspended. The plan assumes a 7.50 percent annual interest rate, 5.00 percent salary increases, and uses the Entry Age Normal actuarial cost method as required by Act 205. Investment returns for 2024 were 12.44 percent on a market value basis. The plan is mature, with retired members' liabilities representing 86.15 percent of total accrued liability and negative cash flow of 3.98 percent relative to market value of assets, typical for well-funded plans with declining active membership. The report includes sensitivity analysis showing that a one percent decrease in the interest rate would increase the accrued liability to $15,210,183 and required contributions to $813,511, while a one percent increase would reduce the accrued liability to $12,861,136 and contributions to $445,587. The plan's assets are diversified across money markets, exchange-traded funds, and mutual funds, with no outstanding liabilities.
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Actuarial Valuation for Funding
SOUTH WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP OFFICE
PERSONNEL PENSION PLAN
As of January 1, 2025
South Whitehall Township Office Personnel Pension Plan
Actuarial Valuation as of January 1, 2025
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Actuarial Certification
Summary of Principal Plan Benefit Provisions (SPPB)
Actuarial Assumptions and Methods
Section 1 - Summary of Plan Assets and Summary of Plan Membership
Section 2 - Act 205 Funding Calculations
Section 3 - Supplemental Information
Appendix
Executive Summary
1/1/2021 1/1/2023 1/1/2025
Market Value of Assets (MVA) 10,442,710$ 9,044,186$ 10,874,964$
Actuarial Value of Assets (AVA) 10,442,710$ 10,382,534$ 11,006,494$
Actuarial Accrued Liability (AAL) 13,931,370$ 13,977,421$ 13,947,914$
Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability (UAAL) 3,488,660$ 3,594,887$ 2,941,420$
Change in Estimated Cost 66,497$ (56,599)$ (142,089)$
Normal Cost 98,189$ 60,545$ 49,941$
W-2 Payroll 710,416$ 430,246$ 355,512$
Percentage of W-2 Payroll 13.8% 14.1% 14.0%
Average Age 51.2 55.0 56.4
Interest 7.63% 7.50% 7.50%
Salary Scale 5.00% 5.00% 5.00%
Average Life Expectancy* 85.20 86.94 86.94
Mortality Basis PubG-2010 PubG-2010 PubG-2010
Projection Scale MP-2020 MP-2021 MP-2021
Participant Counts
Active 9 6 5
Vested Former 10 11 7
Receiving Benefits 34 35 40
Total 53 52 52 *Based on a male currently aged 60.
The purpose of the valuation report is to determine the actuarial status of the Plan and to serve as the basis for satisfying the reporting requirements under Act 205. The actuarial calculations contained in this report will be used to determine future minimum municipal obligations.
The Summary of Principal Plan Benefit Provisions (SPPB) may be found following the Actuarial
Certification. This summary represents our understanding of the current plan provisions in effect at
January 1, 2025. Following the SPPB is a summary of the Actuarial Assumptions and Methods used in this valuation report.
1/1/2019 1/1/2021 1/1/2023 1/1/2025
AVA 73.8% 75.0% 74.3% 78.9%
MVA 63.4% 75.0% 64.7% 78.0%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
110% History of Plan's Funded Ratio
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Market Value of Assets 21.2% 13.9% 14.3% (17.1%) 16.6% 12.4%
Actuarial Value of Assets 3.3% 7.8% 9.5% 5.0% 7.1% 6.5%
Components of Financial Requirements
Illustration of Minimum Municipal Obligation
Financial Requirements
Normal Cost
Administrative Expenses
Amortization of Unfunded Actuarial
Accrued Liability (UAAL)
Total Financial Requirements
Expected Member Contributions
Minimum Municipal Obligation (not less than $0)
Act 44 OptionalRegular
49,941$
533,764
0$
Amortization
37,975
75% Amortization
37,975
49,941$
Please note that the figures shown above are for illustrative purposes only. The actual minimum municipal obligation is determined through the annual budgeting process.
400,323
0$
621,680$
621,680$
488,239$
488,239$
South Whitehall Township Office Personnel Pension Plan
The following is a summary of the net dollar-weighted rates of investment return for the past six calendar years on both a market value and actuarial value basis:
2. Administrative Expenses – Examples of administrative expenses paid from the plan assets are expenses for: investment advisory services, actuarial services and trustee services.
3. Amortization of the Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability – The amount of this cost is comprised amortization of the various gains and losses, plan amendments, and changes in actuarial assumptions that have occurred in the Plan over time. The Plan had an actuarial loss of $286,157 for the previous two-year period.
Actuarial Valuation as of January 1, 2025
Executive Summary
There are three cost components that make up the financial requirement of a Plan’s Minimum Municipal
Obligation.
1. Normal Cost – This is the cost of pension and other benefits earned during the current year.
History of Investment Results
Normal Cost
$49,941
8% Admin Expenses
$37,975
6%
Amortization of
UAAL
$533,764
86%
Normal Cost Admin Expenses Amortization of UAAL
Actuarial Certification
In preparing this report, we have relied upon the data furnished to us. The data with respect to receipts and disbursements and assets of the Plan was furnished by Charles Schwab. The data with respect to participants and beneficiaries was furnished by South Whitehall Township. The data has been reviewed and has been determined to be reasonable and consistent.
The information as contained in this report is a projection of liabilities based upon stated assumptions and is not an exact statement of the Plan's ultimate benefits and liabilities. Future actuarial measurements may differ significantly from the current measurements presented in this report due to such factors as the following:
plan experience differing from that anticipated by the economic or demographic assumptions; changes in economic or demographic assumptions; increases or decreases expected as part of the natural operation of the methodology used for these measurements (such as at the end of an amortization period or additional cost or contribution requirements based on the Plan's funded status); and changes in plan provisions or applicable law. Due to the limited scope of the assignment, an analysis of the potential range of such future measurements was not performed.
I certify that all costs, liabilities, rates of interest, and other factors under the Plan in Section 2 of the report have been determined on the basis of actuarial assumptions and methods, each of which is reasonable (taking into account the experience of the Plan and reasonable expectations) or which, in the aggregate, result in a total contribution equivalent to that which would be determined if each such assumption and method were reasonable, and which, in combination, offer my best estimate of anticipated experience under the Plan.
I am a member of the American Academy of Actuaries, a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, and an Enrolled Actuary under ERISA, and I meet the Qualification Standards of the American Academy of Actuaries to render the actuarial opinion contained in this report.
5/9/2025 Date Jeffrey S. Myers, FSA, EA, MAAA Partner & Consulting Actuary Enrolled Actuary No. 23-03939
Summary of Principal Plan Benefit Provisions
Eligibility
All nonunion employees join the Plan on the 91st day of employment.
All employees hired after January 1, 2015, shall not be eligible to participate in the Plan.
Normal Retirement
A participant is eligible for normal retirement after attainment of age 65 and completion of seven years of service.
The normal retirement pension is payable monthly during the participant's lifetime, with payments ceasing upon death.
The amount of monthly pension is equal to 2.0% of final average monthly compensation times years of service.
Average monthly compensation is based upon the last 36 months of employment.
Late Retirement
If a participant continues working after his normal retirement date, his pension does not start until he actually retires. The late retirement benefit is the benefit accrued to the late retirement date.
Early Retirement
A participant is eligible for early retirement when the participant's attained age and years of vesting service, when added together, equal or exceed 80 ("Rule of 80"). There is no actuarial equivalent reduction for "Rule of 80". A participant who terminates prior to age 55 with 25 years of service may retire at age 55 with an actuarially reduced benefit.
Disability Retirement
If a participant is eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits, he is eligible for a disability pension. The disability pension is equal to the actuarial equivalent of the benefit based on the normal retirement formula.
Death Benefits
If a participant (including vested former members) is vested, a death benefit is payable to his surviving spouse in an amount equal to 100% of the qualified survivor benefit.
Vesting
A participant's benefits vest upon completion of seven years of service. The vested benefit is a deferred pension beginning at normal retirement equal to the benefit accrued to the date of termination.
Accrued Pension
The benefit accrued at any date other than the normal retirement date is determined according to the normal retirement benefit formula but based upon compensation and service to date.
Summary of Principal Plan Benefit Provisions
Contributions
Member contributions are currently suspended. Member contributions are credited with 7.0% interest.
Actuarial Assumptions and Methods
Interest
7.50%
Salary
5.00% Annual Increase
Withdrawal
Table D-3: Rates of withdrawal at selected ages:
Age Rate Age Rate Age Rate
20 7.0000% 35 4.5000% 50 1.5000%
25 5.5000% 40 4.0000% 55 0.5000%
30 5.0000% 45 3.0000% 60 0.0000%
Mortality
PubG-2010 mortality table, including rates for disabled retirees and contingent survivors.
Incorporated into the table are rates projected generationally using Scale MP-2021 to reflect mortality improvement.
Disability
No disability was assumed.
Retirement
Earlier of Normal Retirement Age or first eligibility for Rule of 80 (not before age 62), or age on valuation date, if greater.
Preretirement Death Benefit
Liabilities computed on the assumption that all participants will have spouses of the same age at the date of eligibility for the benefit.
Actuarial Assumptions and Methods
Expenses
Provision for administrative expenses added to annual contribution requirement, per Act 205 of 1984.
Inflation
Moderate inflation based on long term historical average rates is a component of the actuarial assumptions used herein. Provision is not made for advance funding of sharply higher rates of inflation experienced in some years. The effects of such higher rates are reflected in the funding after their occurrence.
Actuarial Value of Assets
Each year the investment gain (excess of actual investment income including realized and unrealized appreciation over expected investment income) or loss is recognized over a five-year period. In no event is the actuarial value of assets allowed to be greater than 120% or less than 80% of market value.
Actuarial Cost Method
Entry Age Normal (required by Act 205 of 1984)
South Whitehall Township Office Personnel
Pension Plan
Actuarial Valuation as of January 1, 2025
Section 1
Summary of Plan Assets and Summary of Plan Membership Act 205 Funding Calculations
Receipts and Disbursements - January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023
Market Value at 1/1/2023 9,044,185.84$
Receipts
Employer and State Contributions Received 780,104.00$
Investment Income
Income Received 298,142.64$
Accrued Income at 1/1/2023 0.00
Accrued Income at 12/31/2023 0.00
Total Investment Income 298,142.64
Change in Market Value 1,124,666.69
Total Receipts 2,202,913.33
Disbursements
Monthly Benefit Payments (1,099,964.41)$
Administrative Expenses (35,837.41)
Total Disbursements (1,135,801.82)
Market Value at 12/31/2023 10,111,297.35$
Approximate Net Dollar-Weighted Rate of Investment Return 16.57%
Receipts and Disbursements - January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024
Market Value at 1/1/2024 10,111,297.35$
Receipts
Employer and State Contributions Received 770,730.00$
Investment Income
Income Received 525,117.51$
Accrued Income at 1/1/2024 0.00
Accrued Income at 12/31/2024 0.00
Total Investment Income 525,117.51
Change in Market Value 671,911.76
Total Receipts 1,967,759.27
Disbursements
Monthly Benefit Payments (1,163,979.14)$
Administrative Expenses (40,113.10)
Total Disbursements (1,204,092.24)
Market Value at 12/31/2024 10,874,964.38$
Approximate Net Dollar-Weighted Rate of Investment Return 12.44%
Assets and Liabilities
Assets
Cash 0.00$
Money Markets 497,347.06
Exchange Traded Funds 3,358,008.54
Mutual Funds 7,004,612.58
Total Assets in Fund 10,859,968.18$
Benefits Receivable 14,996.20
Accrued Income 0.00
Total Assets 10,874,964.38$
Liabilities
Total Liabilities 0.00
Net Assets 10,874,964.38$
Summary of Plan Membership
Active Members
Number of Members Annual Payroll
Active Members as of 1/1/2023 6
New Members During the Period 0
Returned to Active 0
Members No Longer Active:
Retired with Disability Benefit 0
Retired with Service Retirement Benefit (1)
Separated with Deferred Benefit 0
Separated with Refund of Contributions 0
Separated with Neither Deferred Benefit nor Refund of Contributions0
Deceased 0
Total (1)
Active Members as of 1/1/2025 5 355,512$
Vested Former Members
Number of Members Annual Benefit
Vested Former Members as of 1/1/2023 11
Separated with Deferred Benefit 0
Beneficiary of Deceased Participant 0
Returned to Active 0
Retired with Service Retirement Benefit (4)
Deceased or Paid in Full 0
Vested Former Members as of 1/1/2025 7 108,040$
Retired Members
Number of Members Annual Benefit
Retired Members as of 1/1/2023 33
Retired with Service Retirement Benefit 5
Deceased or Paid in Full 0
Retired Members as of 1/1/2025 38 1,140,296$
Spouse Beneficiaries of Deceased Members
Number of Members Annual Benefit
Spouse Beneficiaries of Deceased Members as of 1/1/2023 2
Additional Spouse Beneficiaries of Deceased Members 0
Deceased 0
Spouse Beneficiaries of Deceased Members as of 1/1/2025 2 66,256$
Actuarial Valuation as of January 1, 2025
Section 2
Act 205 Funding Calculations Supplemental Information
Actuarial Value of Assets
2021 2022 2023 2024
Market Value at 1/1 10,442,709.88$ 11,400,164.53$ 9,044,185.84$ 10,111,297.35$
Contributions 688,146.00 681,256.00 780,104.00 770,730.00
Benefit Payments and Expenses (1,148,881.41) (1,172,261.84) (1,135,801.82) (1,204,092.24)
Expected Investment Income ¹ 765,925.66 836,599.62 664,975.27 742,096.22
Expected Value at 12/31 10,747,900.13$ 11,745,758.31$ 9,353,463.29$ 10,420,031.33$
Market Value at 12/31 11,400,164.53 9,044,185.84 10,111,297.35 10,874,964.38
Gain/(Loss): (Market Value 652,264.40$ (2,701,572.47)$ 757,834.06$ 454,933.05$ less Expected Value)
Percentage of Gain/(Loss) to be recognized in the future 20% 40% 60% 80%
Gain/(Loss) to be recognized 130,452.88$ (1,080,628.99)$ 454,700.44$ 363,946.44$ in the future
Market Value at 12/31/2024 10,874,964.38$
Total (Gain)/Loss for 2021-2024 to be recognized in the future 131,529.23
Actuarial Value of Assets at 12/31/2024 11,006,493.61$
2023 Approximate Net Dollar-Weighted Rate of Investment Return 7.12%
2024 Approximate Net Dollar-Weighted Rate of Investment Return 6.52%
7.50% annual interest rate
Actuarial Value of Assets cannot be greater than 120% nor be less than 80% of the Market Value.
Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability and Normal Cost
Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability
Actuarial Present Value of Future Benefits
Active Members Retirement Pension Benefits 1,659,595$
Active Members Vested Withdrawal Benefits 7,727
Active Members Preretirement Death Benefits 13,984
Vested Former Members Benefits 490,365
Retired Members Benefits 11,456,419
Surviving Spouses Benefits 559,722
Total 14,187,812$
Actuarial Present Value of Future Normal Costs (239,898)
Actuarial Accrued Liability 13,947,914$
Actuarial Value of Assets (11,006,494)
Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability 2,941,420$
Normal Cost
Normal Cost 49,941$
Normal Cost as a Percentage of Annual Payroll 14.0%
Analysis of the Change in the Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability
Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability at 1/1/2023 3,594,887$
Additions
Normal Costs 124,117$
Administrative Expenses 75,950
Interest on Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability, Normal Costs, and Administrative Expenses 579,281
Total 779,348
Contributions
Employer and State Contributions (1,550,834)$
Interest on Contributions (83,654)
Total (1,634,488)
Adjustment for Funding Deviation (84,484)
Modification in the Benefit Plan 0
Change in Actuarial Assumptions 0
Actuarial Loss
Investment Loss 110,290$
Experience Loss 91,383
Funding Deviation 84,484
Total 286,157
Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability at 1/1/2025 2,941,420$
Amortization of Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability
Outstanding Amortization Remaining
Initial Date Initial Amount Balance Amount Amortization Nature
January 1, 2015 (269,504) (124,561) (28,781) 5 Years Assumption Chg.
January 1, 2015 (96,384) (44,549) (10,293) 5 Years Actuarial Gain
January 1, 2017 (413,979) (147,987) (53,151) 3 Years Assumption Chg.
January 1, 2017 1,401,728 501,085 179,968 3 Years Actuarial Loss
January 1, 2019 148,861 97,201 17,173 7 Years Assumption Chg.
January 1, 2019 1,272,291 830,767 146,773 7 Years Actuarial Loss
January 1, 2021 321,526 252,193 37,031 9 Years Assumption Chg.
January 1, 2021 579,936 454,883 66,792 9 Years Actuarial Loss
January 1, 2023 (1,186,567) (1,012,529) (160,806) 8 Years Assumption Chg.
January 1, 2023 2,166,532 1,848,760 293,612 8 Years Actuarial Loss
January 1, 2025 286,157 286,157 45,446 8 Years 1 Actuarial Loss
Total 4,210,597$ 2,941,420$ 533,764$
Projected plan year in which the unfunded accrued liability is fully amortized is 2031.
Aggregation of Changes in Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability
Date of Aggregated Outstanding Amortization Remaining
Aggregation Target Date Balance Amount Amortization
January 1, 2025 2031 2,941,420$ 533,764$ 7 Years
1 Average Future Service is 8 years.
Illustration of Minimum Municipal Obligation
Financial Requirements
Normal Cost 49,941$
Administrative Expenses 37,975 1
Amortization of Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability 533,764
Total 621,680$
Expected Member Contributions 0
Minimum Municipal Obligation 621,680$ 2
1 Total Administrative Expenses for Plan Year 1/1/2023 to 12/31/2023 - $ 35,837
Total Administrative Expenses for Plan Year 1/1/2024 to 12/31/2024 - $ 40,113
2 This is not an actual MMO. Figures from this report will be used to prepare actual MMOs in future years.
Actuarial Valuation as of January 1, 2025
Section 3
Supplemental Information #VALUE!
Supplemental Information
Schedule of Funding Progress
Entry Age Net Position UAAL
Market Actuarial Unfunded as a % of as a % of
Value Accrued AAL Total Funded Covered Covered
Valuation of Assets Liability (AAL) (UAAL) Liability Ratio Payroll Payroll
Date (a) (b) (b-a) (b-a)/b (a/b) (c) ((b-a)/c)
1/1/2015 8,287,828$ 10,825,711$ 2,537,883$ 23.4% 76.6% 1,803,986$ 140.7%
1/1/2016 8,109,139 11,364,222 3,255,083 28.6% 71.4% 1,659,343 196.2%
1/1/2017 8,328,720 11,915,149 3,586,429 30.1% 69.9% 1,386,068 258.7%
1/1/2018 8,886,366 12,225,448 3,339,082 27.3% 72.7% 1,206,763 276.7%
1/1/2019 8,124,622 12,817,957 4,693,335 36.6% 63.4% 1,172,873 400.2%
1/1/2020 9,584,832 13,090,457 3,505,625 26.8% 73.2% 850,460 412.2%
1/1/2021 10,442,710 13,931,370 3,488,660 25.0% 75.0% 710,416 491.1%
1/1/2022 11,400,165 13,881,742 2,481,577 17.9% 82.1% 531,450 466.9%
1/1/2023 9,044,186 13,977,421 4,933,235 35.3% 64.7% 430,246 1146.6%
1/1/2024 10,111,297 13,979,261 3,867,964 27.7% 72.3% 439,185 880.7%
1/1/2025 10,874,964 13,947,914 3,072,950 22.0% 78.0% 355,512 864.4%
Schedule of Interest Rate Sensitivity Testing
Entry Age Net Position
Market Actuarial Unfunded as a % of
Value Accrued AAL Total Funded
Interest of Assets Liability (AAL) (UAAL) Liability Ratio
Rate ¹ (a) (b) (b-a) (b-a)/b (a/b)
6.50% $ 10,874,964 15,210,183 4,335,219$ 28.5% 71.5%
7.50% 10,874,964 13,947,914 3,072,950 22.0% 78.0%
8.50% 10,874,964 12,861,136 1,986,172 15.4% 84.6%
¹ Valuation interest rate is 7.50%
Supplemental Information
Schedule of Contributions from the Employer and Other Contributing Entities
Actuarially ¹ Contributions ² Contribution
Determined From Deficiency/
Year Contribution Employer (Surplus)
2015 782,792$ 782,820$ (28)$
2016 745,839 745,839 0
2017 704,611 722,111 (17,500)
2018 665,787 665,787 0
2019 803,614 809,797 (6,183)
2020 707,207 707,207 0
2021 753,600 688,146 65,454
2022 681,256 681,256 0
2023 780,104 780,104 0
2024 770,730 770,730 0
¹ Minimum Municipal Obligation under Act 205 of 1984
² Includes general municipal pension system State aid
Appendix
Pension Plan Risks Measuring pension obligations and calculating actuarially determined contributions requires the use of assumptions regarding future economic and demographic experience. Future experience may differ from the assumptions used in these calculations resulting in a different outcome than expected. This uncertainty inherent in pension plans results in required contribution and funding level volatility. In many cases when discussing risks, the focus is on downside risk, there is also upside risk. It is essential that the entity taking on the risk understands the risk, bears the potential loss or reaps the potential reward.
The following are examples of risks that may significantly affect the plan's future financial condition:
1. Investment risk is the potential that investment returns will be different than expected. Investment returns less than expected will lead to lower asset values, a reduction to the plan's funded status, and higher contribution requirements. The reverse is true if investment returns are higher than expected.
2. Asset/liability mismatch risk is the potential that changes in asset values do not match changes in the value of liabilities. If there is a change in asset values relative to liabilities which reduces the plan's funded status, higher contributions may be required in order for the Plan to meet its benefit payment obligations as they become due.
3. Interest rate risk is the potential that interest rates will be different than expected. A decrease in the interest rates used to value plan liabilities results in an increase in liabilities and vice versa. The interest rates used for valuing liabilities for contribution determination is based on the expected long term rate of investment return for the plan's assets. A change to the investment allocation could warrant a change to the interest rate used, a lower long-term return would result in higher contribution requirement and vice versa. An illustration of the impact of a 1% change to the interest rates is provided in Section 3 of this report.
4. Longevity and other demographic risks are the potential that mortality or other demographic experience will be different than anticipated. This can lead to actuarial gains or losses. For example, if fewer participants die than expected, this will create an actuarial loss and may result in a higher required contribution.
5. Contribution risk is the potential of actual future contributions deviating from expected future contributions. For example, if actual contributions are not made in accordance with the plan's funding policy or there are material changes in the anticipated number of employees or covered payroll, it may impact future contributions.
There are a variety of different maturity measures that can help assess this risk. A mature plan may have more difficulty recovering from adverse experience. A plan that is closed to new entrants will mature over time as the member population ages. There are a number of ways to measure plan maturity. The following maturity measures are relevant to this plan:
1. The ratio of the retired members' liability to the total accrued liability is 86.15%. To the extent that the expected benefit payment streams for retired members are not supported by investments that provide matching income streams (asset/liability mismatch), the risk of a larger funding shortfall with respect to the retired member liability rises as this percentage increases.
2. The ratio of prior year contributions reduced by prior year disbursements (benefit payments and expenses) to market value of assets is -3.98%. A negative percentage indicates negative cash flow, which leads to lower asset values and may amplify investment risk. If the plan experiences lower than expected investment returns in combination with negative cash flow, the plan will be more underfunded (or less overfunded), and may have higher contribution requirements than would otherwise be the case if it had positive cash flow. A positive percentage indicates positive cash flow, which leads to higher asset values and may mitigate the effect of investment risk.
Negative cash flow is expected for a mature or well-funded plan. It does not indicate that a plan had been poorly managed.
3. Duration measures the sensitivity of the liability to interest rate changes. The duration of the plan's liability is 9.40 years. This means for every 1% decrease in the interest rate, the present value of future benefits liability will increase by approximately 9.40% and vice versa. The lower the duration, the less sensitive the liabilities are to a change in interest rate.
Low-Default-Risk Obligation Measure
The pension plan invests in a diversified portfolio with the objective of maximizing investment returns at a reasonable level of risk. The potential for investment returns to be different than expected is a key investment risk for the plan, which can be reduced by investing solely in bonds. However, this would also likely reduce the plan’s investment returns resulting in an increase in the plan’s required contributions.
The Low-Default-Risk Obligation Measure (LDROM) represents the funding liability if the plan invested its assets solely in a portfolio of high-quality bonds whose cash flows approximately match future benefit payments. To calculate the LDROM, a rate such as the 30-year US Treasury Rate could be used. This rate for January 2025 is a single discount rate of 4.85%. All other assumptions used to calculate the LDROM match the assumptions used for the valuation. Using a lower interest rate will result in higher liabilities which also result in higher expected contribution levels. Below is a chart illustrating the impact on the plan if the interest rate used was 7.50% as well as the impact of a 1.0% change in the funding interest rate used. The difference between the plan’s actuarial accrued liability and the LDROM can be thought of as representing the expected taxpayer savings from investing in a diversified portfolio compared to investing in only high-quality bonds.
The actuarial valuation reports the funded status and develops contribution requirements based on the expected return of the plan’s investment portfolio. If instead, the plan switched to investing exclusively in high-quality bonds, the LDROM illustrates that the funded status would be lower, which also implies that the actuarially determined contributions would be higher, perhaps significantly. Unnecessarily high contribution requirements in the near term may not be affordable and could imperil plan sustainability and benefit security.
Interest Rate: 7.50%
(FUNDING)
6.50% (-1%
FUNDING)
8.50% (+1%
FUNDING)
4.85%
(LDROM)
Accrued Liability: $13,947,914 $15,210,183 $12,861,136 $17,786,964 Actuarial Value of Assets: $11,006,494 $11,006,494 $11,006,494 $11,006,494 Funding Percentage: 78.91% 72.36% 85.58% 61.88% Expected Contribution Level:
$621,680 $813,511 $445,587 $1,188,745
Reasonable Actuarially Determined Contribution (RADC) & Funding Policy
The reasonable actuarial determined contribution (RADC) is not set based on any prescribed assumptions or set by federal law. Under Pennsylvania’s Act 205 of 1984, the required minimum contribution level is outlined.
This funding methodology is used for all Pennsylvania municipal plans as well as other small public sector pension plans. We believe this funding methodology is reasonable to use as an estimate for the reasonable actuarial determined contribution (RADC) as it requires the funding of current accruals, an administrative expense load and a portion of the unfunded accrued liability to aim to achieve a 100% funding status over a reasonable period of time.
Funding Policy
As a result of this valuation, future contributions are expected to decrease. Investment returns in excess of 7.50% for the prior two years is the primary driver for the expected decrease.
Based on the current funding policy to contribute the Minimum Municipal Obligation as calculated under Act 205 of 1984, we anticipate the contribution amount will always exceed the normal cost of the plan plus interest on the unfunded actuarial accrued liability due to the loading of administrative expenses and the amortization of the unfunded accrued liability components being included in the calculation of the contribution amount.
The amortization schedule in the valuation (if the funding percentage is less than 100%) provides the period over which the unfunded actuarial accrued liability is expected to be fully amortized.
The contribution requirements are consistent with the plan’s ability to accumulate assets adequately to make benefit payments when due. Future contributions are expected except when the plan’s actuarial value of assets exceed the plan’s present value of future benefits.
Supplemental Information for Assumptions for Act 205 Funding Calculations In accordance with regulations under Act 205 of 1984, all actuarial assumptions are selected jointly by the actuary and the governing body of the pension plan.
Interest Rates The interest rate assumption is the long term expected rate of return on pension plan investments. It is based on the Plan’s current asset allocation, expected long term inflation, and historical long term expected real rates of return on the Plan’s major asset classes.
Salary Based on expected long term salary increases for active participants, considering the effects of future inflation.
Withdrawal Historical rates of withdrawal were considered as well as future expectations of withdrawal for the affected population.
Mortality Uses the most recent study of public sector data prepared by the Society of Actuaries and takes into account the occupational makeup of the participant group.
Disability Due to the small size of the Plan, no disability was assumed.
Retirement Due to the plan size and design, use of a single retirement age was assumed. The use of retirement rates is not expected to produce materially different results.
Preretirement Survivor Death Benefit A conservative assumption was made of percent married compared to current marital statistics for the general population.
Expenses Expected expenses are determined by averaging the two prior year's expenses.
Inflation Moderate inflation based on long term historical average rates is a component of the actuarial assumptions used herein.
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