STRS NEWS

APRIL BOARD NEWS

April 19, 2019

Retirement Board Continues Its Review of Funding Policy

At its April meeting, the State Teachers Retirement Board continued discussion on its funding policy and reviewed possible updates to the policy. The current funding policy’s stated purpose is to “state the Board’s objectives for funding and to lay out clear criteria for making decisions regarding changes to funding and benefits, as well as when those changes should be considered by the board.” The funding policy also includes the board’s goal and objectives for funding member and retiree pension benefits.

Board members discussed the policy objective of “100% funding” (when plan assets are equal to the expected benefits to be paid to the membership, if STRS Ohio meets all future economic and demographic assumptions). Staff projects that if the system’s experience matches these assumptions, the plan will be 100% funded in 2034. The board asked for additional information from staff and plans to continue its review of the funding policy at its May meeting.

Proposed STRS Ohio Operating Budget for Fiscal 2020 Calls for 2.6% Increase Over Current Year Budget

STRS Ohio’s Finance Department presented its proposed system budgets for the 2020 fiscal year (July 1, 2019–June 30, 2020) at the April board meeting. The proposed operating budget totals $104.4 million, an increase of 2.6% over the current year budget. The proposed fiscal 2020 budget reflects 535 full-time equivalent associates, down from 538 in the current year and marks the sixth straight year of headcount declines as technology automates more processes. The proposed budget projects a 1.8% increase in the Salary and Wages category and includes an increase in costs for investment research services. The proposed capital budget for 2019 totals $4.9 million, an increase of 17.5% over the current year’s budget. The fiscal 2020 budget includes replacement of the roof on the South Building, an HVAC system upgrade and enhanced building security initiatives.

Expense information is posted on STRS Ohio’s website each month, and detailed payments by vendor are also uploaded to the Ohio Treasurer’s Open Checkbook site each year.

Retirements Approved

The Retirement Board approved 73 active members and 69 inactive members for service retirement benefits.

The STRS Ohio eUPDATE is designed solely to provide timely and accurate news and information about legislation, benefits and other issues affecting the STRS Ohio membership.

If you wish to comment on a topic, please either email contactus@strsoh.org or call the Member Services Center toll-free at 888‑227‑7877.

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MARCH BOARD NEWS

March 22, 2019

Lard to Serve on Retirement Board

STRS Ohio congratulates Arthur Lard, a high school teacher for Portsmouth City Schools, who will fill a contributing member seat on the board beginning Sept. 1. He was the only STRS Ohio contributing member to file enough completed petitions for the 2019 election by the deadline of Feb. 22, 2019. Since he is unopposed, in accordance with Ohio statute, no election needs to be held. The term for this seat expires on Aug. 31, 2023. Board members are not compensated for board service but may be reimbursed for actual necessary expenses incurred while serving on the board.

Board Continues Discussion of Its Pension Funding Policy

At the March meeting of the State Teachers Retirement Board, the board continued its discussion about updating its pension funding policy. The funding policy includes the board’s goal and objectives for funding member and retiree pension benefits. Following discussion at the board’s February meeting, staff shared a draft funding policy that included the goal to safeguard members’ benefits in the long term.

The Retirement Board reiterated its objective to reach a funded ratio of 100% (when plan assets are equal to the expected benefits to be paid to the membership). Staff projects that if the system’s experience matches its current economic and demographic assumptions, the plan will be 100% funded in 2034. The board also discussed the possibility of considering benefit changes before the plan is 100% funded. The board plans further discussion and possible adoption of an updated funding policy at its April meeting. STRS Ohio’s actuary, Cheiron, updates the plan’s funded ratio on an annual basis in its pension valuation report. The funded ratio as of June 30, 2018, was 75.5%.

Board Committee Reviews Job Description, Timeline for Executive Director Search

The Retirement Board’s Ad Hoc Executive Director Search Committee held its first meeting and reviewed the executive director’s job description along with an estimated timeline for the proposed search process. Executive Director Mike Nehf plans to retire after his current employment contract ends on June 30, 2020. The committee recommended that STRS Ohio issue a request for proposal for a consultant to assist with the search.

Retirements Approved

The Retirement Board approved 68 active members and 60 inactive members for service retirement benefits.

Other STRS Ohio News

STRS Ohio Retains Top Spot for CEM Service Level While Maintaining Cost per Member

CEM Benchmarking released the results of its annual Pension Administration Benchmarking survey for fiscal year 2018 activity and for the fourth year in a row, STRS Ohio received the top service level score. The survey benchmarks more than 40 participating pension systems, primarily from the United States, Canada and Scandinavia. STRS Ohio’s service level score was 95, compared to the median score of 81. STRS Ohio earned the highest service level score for each of the following areas of business: Pension Payments, Call Center, One-on-one Counseling, Pension Estimates, Member Presentations, Website, Annual Statements and Disaster Recovery. This is the 21st year that STRS Ohio has participated in the benchmarking study and the 11th time the system received the top score.

While the service level was at the top, the administrative cost per active member and annuitant remained at $105. STRS Ohio’s total administrative costs decreased by $300,000; however, the number of active members and annuitants decreased by about 800, resulting in a level cost per active member and annuitant. This continues a trend of reduced administrative costs.

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August Board News

Posted: Aug. 20, 2018

Board Elects Price to Fill Contributing Member Seat

At the August meeting of the State Teachers Retirement Board, the board elected Dale Price to fill the contributing member seat previously held by Tim Myers, who retired in June. Price, a high school mathematics teacher for Toledo Public Schools, just completed his second term on the Retirement Board. The term for this seat expires in 2020. When a vacancy occurs during the term of office of any elected member of the board, Ohio law directs the remaining members of the board to elect a successor member. Board members receive no compensation for service on the board other than reimbursement for actual, necessary expenses.

STRS Ohio’s Total Fund Returns 9.57% for Fiscal 2018; Active Management Adds $350 Million in Value

At the August board meeting, Investment Department staff reported that STRS Ohio’s total fund return for the year ending June 30, 2018, was +9.57%. This follows returns of +14.29% in fiscal 2017 and +0.92% in fiscal 2016. The fiscal 2018 return beat the total fund benchmark by 0.63%. The system’s active management of the funds, rather than relying on index funds, added approximately $350 million in value after all investment costs during the fiscal year. Total fund assets were $77.7 billion as of June 30, 2018.

STRS Ohio’s fiscal 2018 total fund return ranked in the top 20% of Callan’s public fund sponsor database. Callan serves as an investment consultant to the Retirement Board. The strong performance was led by a +16.21% return on domestic equities and a 13.59% return on alternative investments.

While the fiscal 2018 return topped STRS Ohio’s actuarial assumed rate of return, STRS Ohio’s investment consultants continue to call for lower than normal returns over the next decade. During the Retirement Board’s October meeting, new actuarial consultant Cheiron will present the results of its annual pension valuation report. This report will show the financial impact of the investment return as well as how other economic and demographic factors affected the retirement system’s funding position.

STRS Ohio’s Returns Over Various Time Periods
5-year total fund return	9.26%
10-year total fund return	7.04%
20-year total fund return	6.78%
30-year total fund return	8.57%
Current assumed actuarial rate of return	7.45%

Board Continues Discussion on Plan Management Policy for Health Care Fund

The Jan. 1, 2018, valuation of the Health Care Fund showed that strong investment returns and good claims experience have the fund in a stable financial position with assets of $3.69 billion. The Retirement Board has expressed its interest in preserving this stability and is continuing its discussion about adopting a plan management policy for the fund. A plan management policy is designed to provide the guidance necessary to help make the plan more stable, secure and reliable. During its August meeting, the board discussed how to develop a policy that addresses two key principles: 1) the board’s desire to offer a meaningful premium subsidy to plan enrollees, and 2) sustainability of the fund for current and future plan enrollees. In the months ahead, the board will continue its discussion of how to find the right balance between these two principles.

With all 14% of employer contributions needed to fund pensions, the Health Care Fund currently is funded by premiums paid by enrollees, government reimbursements and investment earnings on these funds. The board hopes to finalize decisions about the plan management policy for the Health Care Fund later this year.

Fiscal 2018 Operating Expenses Total $637,000 Less Than Budgeted Amount

Final figures for fiscal 2018 show that STRS Ohio’s operating expenditures were approximately $637,000 less than the operating budget approved for the fiscal year. Administrative expenses totaled $98.9 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018. STRS Ohio posts approved administrative expenses on its website following each board meeting.

Retirements Approved

The Retirement Board approved 794 active members and 124 inactive members for service retirement benefits.

June 22, 2018 Board News

Retirement Board Names Chair, Vice Chair

During its June meeting, the State Teachers Retirement Board elected contributing teacher member Carol Correthers (Lorain City Schools, Lorain County) as its vice chair for the coming year. According to Board Policies, retired teacher member Robert Stein, who is currently serving as vice chair, automatically moves into the position of chair. Stein and Correthers will assume their new responsibilities on Sept. 1, 2018. Board members receive no compensation for serving on the board other than reimbursement for actual, necessary expenses.

Board Adopts Fiscal Year 2019 Investment Plan

The Retirement Board voted to adopt the fiscal year 2019 Investment Plan presented by staff. The plan details staff’s investment strategy for each asset class in the system’s investment fund. The 2019 Investment Plan projects returns for the upcoming fiscal year at or near STRS Ohio’s policy objective investment returns of 6.84% and sustained momentum for above-trend global economic growth for the upcoming fiscal year.

The board’s investment consultants, Callan and Cliffwater LLC, reviewed and expressed support for the Investment Plan. Staff will evaluate the need to issue an addendum to the Annual Investment Plan once market levels are set on June 30, 2018. STRS Ohio will post the fiscal year 2019 Investment Plan on its website in early July. A copy of the plan is also available by request through STRS Ohio’s Member Services Center by calling toll-free 888-227-7877.

Board Discusses Plan Management Policy for Health Care Fund

STRS Ohio’s most recent valuation report showed that strong investment returns and good claims experience had a positive effect on STRS Ohio’s Health Care Fund. The Retirement Board has expressed its interest in preserving the Health Care Fund stability and at its June meeting discussed the value of adopting a plan management policy for the fund. A plan management policy is designed to provide the guidance necessary to help make the plan more stable, secure and reliable. It would also clearly communicate the Health Care Fund’s intent to the various stakeholders of the retirement system. The first steps in developing a management policy would include setting a goal for the Health Care Fund and a set of metrics to measure progress toward that goal. The board will continue its discussion on a plan management policy at its August meeting with a review of possible goals and objectives to consider. Additional discussion is expected in the months that follow.

Retirement Board Adopts Fiscal Year 2019 Budgets

The Retirement Board adopted the proposed system budgets for the 2019 fiscal year (July 1, 2018–June 30, 2019). The fiscal 2019 operating budget totals $101.7 million, an increase of 2.2% over the fiscal 2018 budget. The Retirement Board and staff continue to be mindful of expenses. The budget calls for a fifth straight year of declines in the total number of associates. STRS Ohio is budgeting for 538 full-time equivalent associates, down from a high of 735 associates in 2001. Other cost efficiency measures include lower spending on printing costs as more members opt for STRS Ohio’s online services.

The adopted capital budget for fiscal 2019 totals $4.2 million, an increase of about $890,000 over the current year budget. Capital projects for the year include a recap of the roof on STRS Ohio’s North Building, freight elevator improvements and final completion of the member and employer computer system upgrade. STRS Ohio reviewed its budgets with the Ohio Retirement Study Council during the Council’s May 2018 meeting.

Retirements Approved

The Retirement Board approved 483 active members and 78 inactive members for service retirement benefits.

May 18, 2018

Board Approves Health Care Premiums for 2019; More Than 90% of Enrollees Will See No Premium Increase

During the May meeting of the State Teachers Retirement Board, the board approved 2019 premiums for all plans offered through the STRS Ohio Health Care Program. A complete list of these premiums is posted on the system’s website or can be obtained by calling STRS Ohio’s Member Services Center toll-free at 888-227-7877. About 92% of plan enrollees will have 2019 health care premiums equal to their 2018 premiums. STRS Ohio staff works with health care consultants and actuaries to develop expected costs for the health care plans. Lower than anticipated health care claims during the review period for STRS Ohio’s self-insured plans had a positive impact on the 2019 premiums. Approved dental and vision plan premiums for 2019 are essentially unchanged.

Additional information about the 2019 health care program will be provided in upcoming newsletters and on the STRS Ohio website. In late October, all plan enrollees will receive personalized health care plan information in preparation for the fall open-enrollment period that extends from Nov. 1–20.

Board Extends Medicare Part B Reimbursement for One Year; Continues Discussion on Health Care Fund

In other board action, the Retirement Board voted to extend the current Medicare Part B Partial Reimbursement Program for one year. Under this program, benefit recipients currently enrolled in the STRS Ohio Health Care Program and Medicare Part B receive $29.90 per month to reimburse a portion of the Medicare Part B premium. About 85,000 benefit recipients receive this reimbursement that was set to be reduced to $0 beginning Jan. 1, 2019. The board’s action at the May meeting extends the $29.90 per month reimbursement through the 2019 calendar year.

The board also agreed to a proposed timeline for additional discussions regarding the improved financial condition of the Health Care Fund. In June, the board will review several potential components of a health care funding management policy.

McFee, Rhodes Win Contributing Member Seats on the Retirement Board; Gruber Appointed to Investment Expert Seat; Myers Recognized for Board Service

Contributing teacher members Robert A. McFee and Jeffrey Rhodes were elected to the State Teachers Retirement Board in the 2018 election that concluded on May 7. McFee is a mathematics teacher for Willoughby Eastlake City Schools and Rhodes is a technology education teacher for North Royalton City Schools. The term for these seats begins Sept. 1, 2018, and ends on Aug. 31, 2022.

In April, the Speaker Pro Tempore of the Ohio House of Representatives and the President of the Ohio Senate jointly appointed David Gruber to an investment expert seat on the Retirement Board. Gruber is the director of Risk Advisory Services for Holbrook & Manter, CPAs. The term for this seat runs through Nov. 4, 2020.

The Retirement Board recognized Tim Myers, who is retiring and will be leaving the board. Myers has served as a contributing member on the board since 2008. The board thanked him for his service and commitment to the STRS Ohio membership.

Board members receive no compensation for service on the board other than reimbursement for actual, necessary expenses.

Retirements Approved

The Retirement Board approved 37 active members and 60 inactive members for service retirement benefits.

Other STRS Ohio News

STRS Ohio Earns GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Comprehensive Annual Financial Report

The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) awarded STRS Ohio its Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the system’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017. STRS Ohio has received the GFOA award each year since 1990. Staff consolidates financial, investment, actuarial and statistical information into one publication that meets the standards established by the GFOA to receive this recognition. You can access STRS Ohio’s CAFR in the publications section of the retirement system’s website.

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October Board News

Posted: Oct. 20, 2017

Actuarial Valuation Shows COLA Change, Investment Returns Lead to Funding Gains

During the October meeting of the State Teachers Retirement Board, actuarial consultant Segal Consulting presented key findings from its July 1, 2017, annual pension valuation report. This report provides a detailed look at the financial health of the pension fund. The most common ways to express the system’s financial condition are through the funded ratio and the funding period. This year’s valuation report shows the funded ratio — the value of assets compared to actuarial accrued liabilities (benefits earned by members of the system) — improved to 75.1% from 69.6% last year. The funding period — the amount of time needed to pay off the system’s unfunded liability under current assumptions and benefit levels — also improved, decreasing to 18.4 years from 26.6 last year. Segal shared that without the board’s action to reduce cost-of-living increases granted on or after July 1, 2017, to 0%, STRS Ohio’s funded ratio would be just 66.6% and the funding period would have increased to 50.4 years.

Investment returns for the 2017 fiscal year topped 14% and also helped account for part of the funding improvement. Segal noted that the pension fund has a net $155 million in deferred investment gains that will be recognized over the next three years. STRS Ohio uses a common actuarial technique called “smoothing” to spread investment market volatility over a four-year window rather than a one-year “spike.” Last year’s valuation report showed a net $2.8 billion in deferred losses to be recognized.

The valuation report measures two sets of assumptions — economic and demographic — against the retirement system’s actual experience from the past year. Economic measures include the rate of inflation, return on assets, salary increases and payroll growth. Demographic measures include retirements, disability inceptions, withdrawals and mortality (the number of deaths among active members and benefit recipients).

This year’s valuation report included the updated actuarial assumptions the board adopted in March. These new assumptions included reducing the expected investment return to 7.45%, updating to generational mortality tables to recognize that STRS Ohio retirees are living longer, reducing the inflation assumption and reducing overall expected payroll growth.

Other key points from the meeting include:

STRS Ohio’s Defined Benefit and Combined Plans paid about $7.2 billion in benefits during the fiscal year.
The unfunded actuarial accrued liability decreased to $23.9 billion from $30.6 billion.
Total covered payroll increased by 4.1%, exceeding the system’s payroll growth assumption.
Despite the improvement in the funding status, because of the volatility around investment returns, staff estimates STRS Ohio faces about a 30% chance that the pension fund drops below a 50% funded ratio in the next 10 years.

Retirement Board Adopts Health Care Premium Subsidy Plan for 2019 and Beyond that is Designed to Extend the Life of the Health Care Fund

At its October meeting the Retirement Board adopted a new plan for providing health care premium subsidy assistance to benefit recipients who are enrolled in the STRS Ohio Health Care Program. The new subsidy strategy will go into effect in 2019 and will not affect the 2018 health care plan or premiums.

Since STRS Ohio health care plan enrollees are eligible for Medicare for most of their retirement years, the board-approved subsidy plan will offer greater protection against health care inflation for Medicare enrollees than for non-Medicare enrollees. Under the new subsidy plan, benefit recipients who are enrolled in an STRS Ohio health care plan under Medicare will receive a subsidy that will grow with health care inflation up to a cap of 6%. Non-Medicare enrollees will receive the same subsidy dollar amounts that are offered in 2018; however, this dollar amount will not grow with inflation in the future.

The newly adopted plan is projected to extend the solvency of the Health Care Fund to the year 2047. The fund previously was estimated to remain solvent through 2034. Additional details on subsidies, plan design and 2019 plan premiums will be shared in the spring/summer 2018 newsletters.

Annual Statements of Account Mailed to Members

Members began receiving their Annual Statements for the Defined Benefit Plan at the end of September. Mailing continued through mid-October for the Combined Plan and Reemployed Retiree statements. Many STRS Ohio members have chosen paperless delivery of their Annual Statement and instead view the statement through their Online Personal Account. Nearly 59,000 members have now opted out of receiving paper statements. Regardless of whether a member received a paper statement, all members can view a PDF version of their statement through the STRS Ohio website’s Online Personal Account section.

Public Participation at Retirement Board Meetings Moves to Mornings; Next Meeting Scheduled for Dec. 14

In response to member requests, the Retirement Board is moving the public participation portion of future board meetings to a morning time slot. Public comments will now take place mid-morning, typically following the report from the Investment Department. This is expected to be between 9:30 and 11 a.m., depending on the length of the agenda. STRS Ohio members requested the opportunity to speak before the current after-lunch time slot so they can express their views before the board takes actions during the day. The new schedule will begin at the board’s next scheduled meeting on Dec. 14.

Retirements Approved

The Retirement Board approved 281 active members and 91 inactive members for service retirement benefits.

June 16, 2017

Retirement Board Approves Health Care Premiums For 2018; Approximately 80% of Enrollees Will See No Premium Increase

At the June meeting of the State Teachers Retirement Board, the board approved 2018 premiums for all plans offered through the STRS Ohio Health Care Program. A complete list of these premiums is posted on the system’s website, or can be obtained by calling STRS Ohio’s Member Services Center toll-free at 888‑227‑7877. Additional information about the 2018 Health Care Program will be provided in upcoming newsletters and on the STRS Ohio website. In late October, all plan enrollees will receive personalized health care plan information in preparation for the fall open-enrollment period that extends from Nov. 1–21, 2017.

When determining premiums, the Retirement Board and STRS Ohio staff consider the claims experience of plan enrollees, annual health care cost trend rates and administrative expenses for the program. Factors that proved favorable for 2018 rate setting included: better than projected claims experience for the self-insured plans in 2015 and 2016, and low overall administrative expenses — especially for the self-insured plans. As a result, about 80% of enrollees will have 2018 premiums equal to or lower than their 2017 premiums — including more than 100,000 Aetna Medicare Plan enrollees who will see no increase.

Board Receives Updated Projections on Plans to Improve Health Care Fund Solvency

For much of the past year, the Retirement Board and staff have been exploring options to extend the life of STRS Ohio’s Health Care Fund. The health care program is currently funded through premiums charged to plan enrollees, government reimbursements and investment earnings on the fund. STRS Ohio no longer allocates a portion of the employer contributions to the Health Care Fund, as all of the employer contributions are needed to fund pension benefits. While health care coverage is not a guaranteed benefit, the board recognizes that this coverage is important to STRS Ohio members and benefit recipients.

The Health Care Fund has a balance of about $3.2 billion and is currently estimated to remain solvent for about 18 years. Staff has been working with the system’s actuary, Segal Consulting, to develop options to extend solvency to 30 years or more.

Health care trend projections used in the Jan. 1, 2017, valuation showed expected cost increases (trend rate) over the next decade will be significant. Prescription drug costs alone are expected to increase 235% during that time frame. Segal also applied the new actuarial assumptions adopted by the board in March — including mortality improvement and a lower expected rate of return on investments — and these had a negative impact on the projected solvency period. The board is evaluating several cost models, including some that are based on current subsidy levels. Long-term costs, however, are expected to grow for all enrollees. Most of the cost models maintain a higher premium subsidy percentage for Medicare enrollees than for non-Medicare enrollees. The board will continue its discussion on the health care program in August.

In fiscal year 2016 alone, health care benefit payments totaled about $677 million — more than $1.8 million per day. The health care program currently covers about 126,000 individuals.

Fiscal Year 2018 Budgets Adopted, Administrative Spending Down

The Retirement Board adopted the proposed system budgets for the 2018 fiscal year (July 1, 2017–June 30, 2018). The fiscal 2018 operating budget totals $99.6 million, an increase of 2.8% over the fiscal 2017 budget. Investment items account for all of the increase, as administrative department budgets reflect a slight decrease from the current year. Budget increases in the investment area reflect changes in costs for custodial banking fees, payroll and staffing, and quotation and analytic services. The staffing component will expand STRS Ohio’s internal investment capabilities and recognize that STRS Ohio’s model of managing more than 70% of the system’s assets internally is cost effective. CEM Benchmarking analysis estimates STRS Ohio’s use of internal management saves about $100 million annually for the retirement system (based on median external management costs of STRS Ohio’s peer group of similar-sized retirement systems).

The Retirement Board and staff are mindful of expenses. For example, the fiscal 2018 budget is within one percent of the fiscal 2009 operating budget and the number of full time equivalent staff members has decreased from a high of 735 associates in 2001 to 544 associates in fiscal 2018. Other cost containment measures include spending less on printing costs as more members opt for the online services STRS Ohio offers. The adopted capital budget for fiscal 2018 totals $3.3 million, a 1.7% increase from the current year’s budget. STRS Ohio reviewed its budgets with the Ohio Retirement Study Council during its May 2017 meeting. The board voted to adopt the budgets effective June 22, 2017.

Throughout the year, the Retirement Board reviews monthly expenditures and year-to-date expenditure totals as part of its regular meetings. These items are posted on STRS Ohio’s website following each board meeting.

Retirement Board Chair, Vice Chair Named

The Retirement Board elected retired teacher member Robert Stein as its vice chair for the coming year. According to Board Policies, contributing teacher member Mark Hill (Worthington City Schools, Franklin County), who is currently serving as vice chair, automatically moves into the position of chair. Stein and Hill will assume their new responsibilities on Sept. 1, 2017. Board members receive no compensation for serving on the board other than reimbursement for actual, necessary expenses.

Board Adopts Fiscal Year 2018 Investment Plan

The Retirement Board voted to adopt the fiscal year 2018 Investment Plan presented by staff. The plan details staff’s investment strategy for each asset class in the system’s investment fund. The 2018 Investment Plan calls for near policy objective investment returns and slightly accelerating U.S. economic growth for the upcoming fiscal year.

The board’s investment consultants, Callan Associates and Cliffwater LLC, reviewed and expressed support for the Investment Plan. Staff will evaluate the need to issue an addendum to the Annual Investment Plan once market levels are set on June 30, 2017. STRS Ohio will post the fiscal year 2018 Investment Plan on its website in early July. A copy of the plan is also available by request through STRS Ohio’s Member Services Center by calling toll-free 888‑227‑7877.

Retirements Approved

The Retirement Board approved 373 active members and 114 inactive members for service retirement benefits.

May 19, 2017

Correthers Wins Contributing Member Board Seat; Stein, Walters Unopposed for Retired Member Seats

Contributing teacher member Carol Correthers was reelected to the State Teachers Retirement Board in the 2017 election that concluded on May 1. Retired teacher member and current board chair Robert Stein, as well as retired teacher Rita J. Walters, were unopposed for the two retired teacher seats on the board. Walters will be serving her first term on the board. The terms for these three seats begin Sept. 1, 2017, and end on Aug. 31, 2021. Board members receive no compensation for service on the board other than reimbursement for actual, necessary expenses.

Board Reviews Preliminary 2018 Health Care Premiums; Will Continue to Explore Options to Improve Solvency of the Health Care Fund

During the May meeting of the State Teachers Retirement Board, STRS Ohio staff presented a preliminary look at health care program premiums for 2018. Staff works with health care consultants and actuaries to develop expected costs for the health care plans. The board learned that lower than expected health care claims during the review period for STRS Ohio’s self-insured plans will likely have a positive impact on 2018 premiums for these plans. This means premium increases are expected to be smaller than the consultants’ original projections. The board is slated to approve premiums for the 2018 plan year at its June meeting. Once approved, the premiums will be posted on STRS Ohio’s website.

The board has been studying proposals to improve the solvency of the Health Care Fund. This fund is currently funded through premiums charged to enrollees, government reimbursements and investment earnings. At its April meeting, the board learned that long-term trend increase projections, along with the new actuarial assumptions adopted by the board in March, had a negative impact on Health Care Fund solvency. The fund is now estimated to remain solvent for about 18 years. Staff is working with the system’s actuary, Segal Consulting, to develop options to extend solvency to 30 years or more, with the goal to keep the fund solvent until funding from employer contributions can be used to support the program. The board is expected to continue its discussion on Health Care Fund solvency at its June meeting.

STRS Ohio Operations Reviewed as Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Discussion Continues

Following the fiscal year 2018 budget presentation at the April board meeting, the Retirement Board requested information regarding retirement system administration and associated costs. In May, staff presented an overview of STRS Ohio’s operating budgets since fiscal year 2006 and the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff members. STRS Ohio’s proposed fiscal 2018 operating budget of $99.6 million is slightly higher (0.7%) than the fiscal year 2009 operating budget. The number of FTE staff members has decreased from a high in that period of 624 in fiscal 2008, to the proposed 544 in the fiscal 2018 budget. Other operational efficiencies noted include:

High level of member service — STRS Ohio’s service has been ranked #1 compared to nearly 60 participating systems in CEM Benchmarking’s pension administration survey. While maintaining these high service levels, STRS Ohio’s costs have steadily declined while the average cost of CEM participants has increased.
Low-cost investment structure —STRS Ohio manages about 70% of system assets in-house, a higher percentage than its pension plan peers. Internal management is much less expensive than using external money managers. About 20% of STRS Ohio’s total investment costs are spent on the 70% of assets managed in-house. The remaining 30% of assets are managed by outside money managers — accounting for about 80% of STRS Ohio’s total investment costs. In its most recent study, CEM Benchmarking indicated if STRS Ohio outsourced its internally managed assets and paid the median costs of its peer group, total investment costs would have been about $102 million higher. The CEM study showed STRS Ohio ranked second best in its peer group for lowest investment costs, and its five-year total net return ranked in the top 25% of the peer group.

Retirements Approved

The Retirement Board approved 35 active members and 60 inactive members for service retirement benefits.

April 21, 2017

Board Votes to Reduce Future Cost-of-Living Increases to 0% to Preserve Fiscal Integrity of the System; Will Revisit Within Five Years

At the April meeting of the State Teachers Retirement Board, the board made the difficult but necessary decision to reduce cost-of-living increases granted on or after July 1, 2017, to 0% to preserve the fiscal integrity of the retirement system. Current benefit recipients’ base benefit and past cost-of-living increases will not be affected by this change. The board also agreed to evaluate — not later than the next five-year actuarial experience review — whether an upward adjustment of the cost-of-living increase is payable without materially impairing the fiscal integrity of the retirement system. The cost-of-living adjustment has a large financial impact on the pension fund because it affects both active and retired members of the system. The vote follows last month’s action to approve changes to the actuarial assumptions that are used to calculate pension liabilities. The new assumptions resulted in additional liabilities that took STRS Ohio outside the parameters established in the board’s funding policy and beyond the 30-year funding target in Ohio law.

The board’s action is the culmination of many months of work with staff and consultants to get a detailed look at the financial status of the pension fund. The Retirement Board’s actuarial consultant, Segal Consulting, provided the board with updated financial projections that took into account the newly adopted actuarial assumptions. The system’s financial strength is expressed through the funded ratio — that is, the value of assets compared to accrued liabilities (expressed as a percentage), and the funding period — the amount of time needed to reach a funded status of 100% assuming current contribution rates. Segal’s projections showed STRS Ohio’s funded ratio at 62.6% with a funding period of 57.7 years. Under this scenario, STRS Ohio would be required to present a plan to the legislature to reduce its funding period to 30 years or less. Segal projects the board’s decision to reduce future cost-of-living increases will improve the system’s funded ratio to about 70.8% with a funding period of about 20 years if all economic and demographic assumptions are met. This would meet the benchmarks in the board’s funding policy, as well as the state of Ohio’s funding target.

As noted in the March issue of Board News, the changes to STRS Ohio’s actuarial assumptions followed the five-year experience study conducted by Segal Consulting. The experience review measures the system’s economic and demographic assumptions versus the actual experience over the past five years. Based on this review, Segal recommended adjustments to assumptions about expected investment returns, mortality, inflation, salary growth, payroll growth and teacher retirements, disability inceptions and terminations. The assumption changes with the most significant financial impact were: (1) Reducing the investment rate of return to recognize projections for modest global economic growth and lower expected returns for capital markets; (2) Adopting new mortality assumptions that reflect members are living longer and STRS Ohio is paying benefits for a longer period of time than expected; and (3) Reducing the payroll growth assumption to recognize there will be less money coming into the fund through member and employer contributions than expected.

Assumption Changes Have Negative Impact on Health Care Program Solvency

The Retirement Board has been weighing STRS Ohio staff proposals to improve the solvency of the retirement system’s Health Care Fund. The Jan. 1, 2017, valuation of the Health Care Fund showed a balance of $3.22 billion and an estimated solvency period of 22 years. The board learned at its April meeting that actuarial assumption changes adopted by the board in March had a negative impact, reducing the solvency period to an estimated 18 years. The primary factors for this change were increasing health care cost (trend) projections and a lower assumed rate of return on investments.

The Health Care Fund is currently funded through premiums charged to enrollees, government reimbursements and investment earnings on these funds. With no new sources of revenue for the health care program, the Retirement Board is looking at options to keep the Health Care Fund solvent until funding from the employer contributions can be returned. With the new assumptions in place, staff proposals discussed last month will need further revisions to meet the board’s funding objectives. The board directed staff to work on new options that have at least a 30-year solvency period. Under the plans presented thus far, costs for all participants are expected to increase — more so for non-Medicare enrollees — as health care program costs continue to grow. Health care coverage payouts during fiscal year 2016 totaled $677 million, an average of more than $1.8 million per day.

Proposed Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2018 Calls for 2.8% Increase Over Current Year to Meet Board’s Investment Initiatives

The Finance Department proposed system budgets for the 2018 fiscal year (July 1, 2017–June 30, 2018) during the April meeting. The proposed operating budget totals $99.6 million, an increase of 2.8% over the fiscal 2017 budget and an increase of 0.7% over the fiscal year 2009 budget. Investment items account for all of the increase, as administrative departments budgets reflect a slight decrease from the current year. The budget increases in the investment area reflect changes in costs for custodial banking fees; payroll and staffing; and quotation and analytic services. The staffing component will expand STRS Ohio’s internal investment capabilities and recognize that STRS Ohio’s model of managing more than 70% of the system’s assets internally is cost effective. CEM Benchmarking analysis estimates STRS Ohio’s use of internal management saves about $100 million annually for the retirement system (based on median external management costs of STRS Ohio’s peer group of similar-sized retirement systems).

The proposed fiscal 2018 budget reflects 544 full-time equivalent associates, down from 556 in the current year. Other cost containment measures include spending less on printing and mailing costs as more members opt for online services. The proposed capital budget for fiscal 2018 totals $3.3 million, a 1.7% increase from the current year’s budget.

Retirements Approved

The Retirement Board approved 61 active members and 79 inactive members for service retirement benefits.

Other STRS Ohio News

STRS Ohio Retains Top Spot for CEM Service Level While Reducing Costs

CEM Benchmarking released its annual Pension Administration Benchmarking report for fiscal 2016 activity and STRS Ohio again received the very top service level score among 52 participating pension systems, primarily in the United States and Canada. STRS Ohio’s service level increased to 94 from 93. This increase was driven by new satisfaction surveying of online activities and faster than usual average speed of answer in the call center. STRS Ohio earned the highest service level score for Pension Payments, Call Center, One-on-One Counseling, Pension Estimates and Disaster Recovery. This is the 19th year STRS Ohio has participated in the benchmarking study and the ninth time the system received the top score.

While the service level was at the top, the administrative cost per active member and annuitant decreased to $107 from $110. This continues a trend of reduced administrative costs. The reduction in administrative costs had been primarily driven by staff reduction that reflects the increased usage of online applications and a reduction in retirements, counseling sessions and purchasable service activity.

March 17, 2017

Retirement Board Adopts New Actuarial Assumptions — Including Lower Investment Return; Will Consider Benefit Plan Design Changes in April

At its March meeting, the State Teachers Retirement Board voted to approve changes to the actuarial assumptions used to calculate pension liabilities. The vote follows the five-year experience review conducted this winter by the board’s actuarial consultant, Segal Consulting. The experience review measures the system’s economic and demographic assumptions versus the actual experience over the past five years. Based on this review, Segal recommended adjustments to assumptions about expected investment returns, mortality, inflation, salary growth, payroll growth and teacher retirements, disability inceptions and terminations. In total, the new assumptions outlined below have a negative overall impact on the system’s funding. When applied to the July 1, 2016, valuation of the pension fund, the new assumptions would add about $6.5 billion to STRS Ohio’s accrued liabilities (benefits earned by active and retired members).

The most common ways to express the system’s financial condition are through the funded ratio and the funding period. The funded ratio is the actuarial value of assets compared to accrued liabilities. The gap between the assets on hand and what is owed in benefits is called the “unfunded liability.” The funding period is the amount of time needed to pay off, or amortize, the system’s unfunded liability, assuming current contribution rates. When measured with the new actuarial assumptions in place, STRS Ohio’s funded ratio drops to 62.4% from 69.6%, and the funding period increased to 59.5 years from 26.6 years. The funding period falls outside of the state of Ohio’s 30-year funding target, and will require STRS Ohio to present a plan to reduce its funding period to 30 years or less.

Following is a summary of the key changes to the assumptions and how each impacts the system’s funding:

Reducing the expected investment return to 7.45% from 7.75% — assets are not expected to grow as fast as needed to pay benefits. Financial impact: adds about $3.2 billion to liabilities.
Change to updated generational mortality tables — recognizes that STRS Ohio members are living longer and STRS Ohio is paying benefits for a longer period of time than expected — and this trend is expected to continue in the future. Financial impact: adds about $4.1 billion to liabilities.
Reducing the inflation assumption to 2.5% from 2.75% — impacts expected investment return and individual salary increases.
Reducing salary growth scale for merit and seniority, as well as for inflation — reflects that individual teacher salary increases were lower than expected. Financial impact: reduces liabilities by about $1.3 billion.
Reducing overall payroll growth to 3% from 3.5% — lengthens the funding period by recognizing that there will be less money coming into the fund through member and employer contributions than expected.

Board to Continue Discussion on Benefit Plan Design Changes

When adopting the assumption changes, the board recognized that benefit plan design changes are now necessary to preserve the fiscal integrity of the pension fund. Models of possible plan design changes indicate the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is the most effective means possible to preserve the fiscal integrity of the fund because it by far has the biggest impact on liabilities. The COLA has a significant financial impact because it affects active and retired members of the retirement system. Substitute Senate Bill 342, passed in 2012, gives the Retirement Board authority to set the COLA. The board can choose to indefinitely suspend or reduce the COLA and can vote to restore the COLA when the pension fund is healthy enough to do so. Discussion on potential benefit plan design changes will continue at the April meeting, when a vote on these changes is likely.

Board Selects New Asset Mix for Pension Fund

Following the completion of the five-year asset-liability study conducted by the Retirement Board’s investment consultant, Callan Associates, the board selected a new asset mix for the system’s total fund with a lower risk-return portfolio. The new asset mix is designed to provide lower volatility with a slightly lower expected rate of return. The asset mix includes investments that will be easier to convert to cash when benefit payments are due each month. The new asset mix targets are shown below.

Callan projects the new asset mix to earn a return of 6.84% over the next 10 years, but said returns could be higher over a longer time horizon.

The asset-liability study began in August to help the Retirement Board determine reasonable risk and return expectations. These studies are typically conducted every three to five years to acknowledge change and uncertainty in the capital markets and to confirm an investment policy to meet return and risk objectives in relation to funding, accounting and policy goals. STRS Ohio’s Investment staff will begin to develop acceptable target ranges for each asset class and will incorporate the newly approved asset mix target in its Investment Plan before implementing the changes.

STRS Ohio’s New Asset Mix Targets

Broad U.S. equity: 28%
Broad international equity: 23%
Broad U.S. fixed income: 21%
Real estate: 10%
Private equity: 7%
Opportunistic/diversified: 10%
Liquidity reserve: 1%

Click here to view a table that shows STRS Ohio's current and new asset mix targets .

Board Considers Pathways to Improve Solvency of the Health Care Fund

The board continued its discussion on various plans designed to extend the life of the Health Care Fund. The most recent valuation projects the fund to remain solvent for 22 years; however, there is no dedicated source of revenue for the fund, since all of the employer contribution is directed to the pension fund.

The board has narrowed its focus to four potential plans — or pathways — that would extend the solvency for the health care program to 35 years or more, with the hope that some funding from the employer contribution could eventually be used for health care. The pathways under consideration would continue to provide a higher premium subsidy percentage for Medicare enrollees than for non-Medicare enrollees. This is consistent with the board’s strategic plan goal to establish Medicare as the health care program’s cornerstone. The board reviewed projected monthly premiums and lifetime costs under each of the pathways being considered and saw that costs for all participants are expected to increase — more so for non-Medicare enrollees — as health care program costs continue to grow. In April, the board is expected to approve a pathway to improve the fund solvency.

Retirement Board Election Materials to Mail in April for Contributing Member Seat on the Board; Retiree Candidates Unopposed

The 2017 Retirement Board election packet will mail on April 3 and will include information about the two candidates — Sean Patrick Brennan and Carol L. Correthers — who are running for the one contributing member seat on the board that is up for election this year. The election packet will also include instructions for casting votes online, by phone and by mail. Those eligible to vote in this election include all STRS Ohio contributing members, individuals who have contributions on deposit at STRS Ohio and disability benefit recipients. The deadline for voting is May 1. STRS Ohio will announce the results of the election following certification of the election results by the board of tellers on May 6.

Robert Stein and Rita J. Walters were the only two retired members who filed enough completed petitions for the 2017 election for the two retiree seats on the board. Since they are unopposed, in accordance with Ohio statute, no retiree election needs to be held. The term for Stein and Walters begins Sept. 1, 2017, and runs through Aug. 31, 2021.

Retirements Approved

The Retirement Board approved 98 active members and 76 inactive members for service retirement benefits.

STRS April Board News

Posted: April 22, 2016

Board Approves Health Care Program Changes for 2017; Long-Term Health Care Funding Discussions to Continue

At its April meeting, the State Teachers Retirement Board approved changes for the 2017 health care program that are designed to help reduce STRS Ohio’s long-term plan costs and extend the solvency of the health care fund. Due to increasing claims costs and the lack of a dedicated source of funding, STRS Ohio is facing significant health care funding challenges. The approved changes do not provide a long-term funding solution for the health care fund. The changes are projected to extend the solvency of the health care fund by two to three years beyond the projected 15-year solvency period reported last month in Segal Consulting’s annual actuarial valuation.

The board is exploring long-term funding solutions for the health care program that would allow STRS Ohio to continue a health care program that is of value to members. Throughout the discussion of possible options, STRS Ohio will use its website, newsletters and eUPDATE email news service to keep members informed.

Following reviews that took place during its February and March meetings, the Retirement Board approved the changes outlined below to the STRS Ohio Health Care Program for 2017:

Plan design changes for 2017:

The Alere disease management program for non-Medicare enrollees will be discontinued.
Emergency room copays will increase to $75 from $65 for Medicare plan enrollees.
Medical Mutual non-Medicare enrollees residing outside of Ohio will move to a Basic Plan administered by Aetna.
Urgent care copays will increase to $40 from $35 for all plans.
Health care plans offered by HealthSpan will be discontinued.
Coverage for proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) will be discontinued for non-Medicare enrollees.
Preferred network for retail pharmacies will be adopted and copays at non-preferred network pharmacies will increase by $10.
Diabetic prescriptions copay will increase to the full copay from a one-half copay.
Specialty drugs coinsurance percentage will increase to 13% from 10%, and the per prescription maximum will increase to $550 from $500.

Eligibility changes for 2017:

Medicare Part B premium reimbursements for survivors and beneficiaries who were age 65 by 2008 will be discontinued.
Coverage for sponsored dependents of unmarried retired teachers will no longer be offered. This does not include incapacitated adult children.
Premiums for dependent children will be changed to a per child premium.

Subsidy changes for 2017:

The subsidy multiplier for non-Medicare benefit recipients will be reduced to 1.8% per year of service from 2.1%.
The Medicare Part B premium reimbursement will be phased out over a three-year period, beginning in 2017.

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STRS NEWS

August Board News

Board Elects Price to Fill Contributing Member Seat

STRS Ohio’s Total Fund Returns 9.57% for Fiscal 2018; Active Management Adds $350 Million in Value

Board Continues Discussion on Plan Management Policy for Health Care Fund

Fiscal 2018 Operating Expenses Total $637,000 Less Than Budgeted Amount

Retirements Approved