HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 4310
City of Palo Alto (ID # 4310)
Finance Committee Staff Report
Report Type: Action Items Meeting Date: 12/3/2013
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Council Priority: City Finances
Summary Title: CalPERS Annual Valuation Reports for the City’s
Miscellaneous and Safety Pension Plans
Title: CalPERS Annual Valuation Reports for the City’s Miscellaneous and
Safety Pension Plans as of June 30, 2012
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Administrative Services
Recommendation
Staff recommends that Finance Committee accept this report which summarizes and transmits
the CalPERS Annual Valuation Reports for the City’s Miscellaneous and Safety Pension Plans as
of June 30, 2012.
Background
After salary, pension cost is the largest cost factor in the salary and fringe expense category,
with annual pension contribution rates determined by the California Public Employees’
Retirement System (CalPERS). Staff is continuously in close contact with CalPERS actuarial staff
to stay up to date with all pending changes that may impact the City. Since the City’s last annual
valuations the CalPERS Board approved several actuarial policy and assumption changes, which
this report discusses below.
The City of Palo Alto provides a defined pension benefit to its employees through CalPERS,
which manages and administers the program. Pursuant to CalPERS rules, City employees vest in
the pension program after 5 years of service. During the last few years, the City has reduced
the pension benefit level. Effective July 17, 2010, the City implemented the second tier pension
plans for Miscellaneous and Safety employees, and as of January 1, 2013 the Public Employees’
City of Palo Alto Page 2
Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) was implemented for new members in the miscellaneous (2%@62)
and safety (2.7%@57) groups. Due to the nature of the CalPERS valuation process and the
associated delay, the City will not realize PEPRA (Tier Three) savings in provided rates until the
June 30, 2013 valuation, which is scheduled for release in fall 2014.
The CalPERS program maintains two trust accounts: 1) for public safety employees (fire and
police); and 2) for miscellaneous employees (all other non -safety personnel such as field
personnel, administrative support, and management). The employee share of pension costs is
9% for public safety employees and 7% or 8%, depending on the specific employee ’s pension
formula, for miscellaneous employees.
The following chart outlines the dif ferent pension benefits provided to City employees by
pension calculation formula. Classic employees are employees who were members of CalPERS
at another agency or members of another California Retirement System prior to joining the City
of Palo Alto.
City of Palo Alto Page 3
Tier Formula Eff. Date
Miscellaneous
Employees Tier 1 2.7% @ 55 Hired on or pre July 16, 2010
Tier 2 2% @ 60 Hired on or after July 17, 2010
Classic Employees
Tier 3 2% @ 62 Hired on or after Jan 1, 2013
Safety Employees Tier 1, Fire 3% @ 50 Prior to June 8, 2012
Tier 1, Police 3% @ 50 Prior to December 6, 2012
Tier 2, Fire 3% @ 55 Hired on or after June 8, 2012
Tier 2, Police 3% @ 55 On or after December 6, 2012
Classic Employees
Tier 3 2.7% @ 57 Hired on or after Jan 1, 2013
Current Pension Formulas
Discussion
CalPERS prepares annual actuarial analyses to determines the City’s pension liability and annual
required contributions for the two trusts. The actuarial valuation s are based on current
employees’ accrued benefit, former employees that are vested but have yet to retire, and
retired employees as of June 30, 2012. Staff received the actuarial valuations as of June 30,
2012 in October in early November 2013. The CalPERS actuarial valuations by practice are
completed two years in arrears.
The chart and table below reflect the rates paid for 2007/2008 through 2013/2014, the new
rate for 2014/15, and the projected rates for 2015/16 through 2019/20. Projected rates are
from the CalPERS actuarial valuations (Attachment A and B) and will be incorporated in the
Long Range Financial Forecast, which is scheduled for Finance Committee discussion on
December 17, 2013. The table further details the annual percentage point increases for both
plans. For the Miscellaneous Plan, from 2009/2010 to 2019/2020, the pension contribution
rate is projected to nearly double from 17.10% to 33.40%. For the same period, the pension
contribution rate for the Safety Plan is projected to more than double from 23.94% to 52.2%. It
is important to note that these contribution rates do not take any third tier savings or any
mortality rate assumption changes into account. As of October 28, 2013, the City currently has
City of Palo Alto Page 4
119 Miscellaneous employees in the Tier 2 formula, 28 in the Tier 3 formula, and 2 Safety
employees in the Tier 2 formula.
2007/2008 2008/2009 2009/2010 2010/2011 2011/2012 2012/2013 2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016 2016/2017 2017/2018 2018/2018 2019/2020
Misc (1)17.40%17.00%17.10%17.56%21.73%22.97%24.60%26.12%27.60%29.00%30.50%31.90%33.40%
Change -0.40%0.10%0.46%4.17%1.25%1.63%1.52%1.48%1.40%1.50%1.40%1.50%
Safety (2)23.61%24.51%23.94%24.70%30.13%31.05%33.44%39.53%42.10%44.60%47.20%49.70%52.20%
Change 0.90%-0.57%0.76%5.43%0.92%2.39%6.09%2.57%2.50%2.60%2.50%2.50%
Employer's PERS Rates
15.00%
20.00%
25.00%
30.00%
35.00%
40.00%
45.00%
50.00%
55.00%
Employer's Share PERS Rates
Miscellaneous Safety
Valuation Policy and Actuarial Assumption Changes affecting Pension Contribution Rates
During the last year, the CalPERS Board made several actuarial assumption changes. The Board
approved lowering the discount rate from 7.75% to 7.5%, reducing the smoothing period from
15 to 5 years, and closing the 30 year amortization period. Additionally, at a recent two-day
study session, the Board has discussed potential investment portfolio composition changes and
mortality assumption changes.
Discount Rate
In March 2012 the CalPERS Board reduced the discount rate from 7.75% to 7.5%, and
subsequently approved a two-year phase in of the associated rate increases. At the recent two-
day study session, the Board also discussed further reducing the discount rate from 7.5% to
City of Palo Alto Page 5
7.25% as part of the composition of the investment portfolio. Based on the preferred Board
choices for the composition of the investment portfolio, it is currently not believed that the
Board will further reduce the discount rate in the next year.
The June 30, 2011 valuation included an Analysis of the Discount Rate Sensitivity, which gives a
dynamic look at the 2014/2015 employer contribution rates under two different discount rate
scenarios. Illustrated in the table below are the employer contribution rates for 2014/2015
assuming discount rates that are 1% higher and 1% lower than the current valuation discount of
7.50%. This provides an indication of the possible required employer contribution rates if a
much higher investment return of 8.50% or much lower investment return of 6.50% over the
long-term is achieved. For example, for the Miscellaneous Plan, if CalPERS were to increase the
discount rate assumption to 8.50%, the employer contribution for 2014-2015 would drop from
26.12% to 15.33%. With a one percentage point decrease in the discount rate, the employer
contribution rate would increase from 26.12% to 37.90%. Further information and analysis can
be found on pages 27 of the Miscellaneous and Safety Plan Valuations. The following chart
shows the two discount rate scenarios as compared to our current 7.5 0% discount rate for both
plans.
As of June 30, 2012
Miscellaneous
Employees
6.50% Discount
Rate (-1.00%)
7.50% Discount
Rate (Assumed)
8.50% Discount
Rate (+1.00%)
Employer Normal Cost 14.55%10.28%8.00%
Unfunded Rate payment 23.35%15.84%8.33%
Total 37.90%26.12%15.33%
As of June 30, 2012
Safety Employees
6.50% Discount
Rate (-1.00%)
7.50% Discount
Rate (Assumed)
8.50% Discount
Rate (+1.00%)
Employer Normal Cost 25.71%18.87%13.60%
Unfunded Rate payment 33.44%20.65%9.32%
Total 59.14%39.53%22.92%
2014 - 2015 Employer Contribution Rates
Smoothing and Amortization Policies
In April 2013, the CalPERS Board approved a recommendation to change the CalPERS
amortization and rate smoothing policies. Beginning with the June 30, 2013 valuations that set
the 2015/2016 rates, CalPERS will employ an amortization policy that will ensure that the
unfunded liability of the pension plans are paid off in a 30 year period given today’s actuarial
City of Palo Alto Page 6
and discount rate assumptions. The reduction of the smoothing period from 15 years to 5 years
provides that any actuarial and discount rate assumptions as well as gains and losses are
accounted for in the pension contribution rates within five years. CalPERS believes that these
new policies will provide less volatility in extreme years where significant gains or losses are
realized, helps faster improve the funded status, adds additional transparency to me mber
agencies’ future contribution requirements, and suppresses assumption changes through
automatic smoothing. While higher contributions will be seen in the short term, fluctuations in
long-term contributions (25 + years) will be greatly reduced while s till achieving a better funded
status. These valuation policy changes have no impact on the normal cost, but impact the
payment towards the unfunded liability.
Mortality Assumptions
While mortality assumption changes have not been included in the City’s current valuations,
CalPERS staff presented possible mortality rate assumption changes at a CalPERS Board Study
Session in November, which documented that retirees are living longer and collect their
pensions longer. It is expected that CalPERS will approve mortality rate assumption changes for
the valuation as of June 30, 2013. At the annual CalPERS Educational Forum in San Jose in
November, CalPERS staff noted that the City can expect a 3% increase in pension rates due to
mortality assumption changes. In accordance with the five-year smoothing policy, the 3%
increase will be phased in over five years starting in 2016 -2017 with an annual increase of 0.6%.
In the forthcoming 2014-2024 Long Range Financial Forecast, staff intends to model this
increase in the pension contribution rates. The following chart illustrates the increased
contribution percentages including the 5-year ramp up and ramp-down periods due to the
mortality assumption changes within the 30 year amortization period.
City of Palo Alto Page 7
City of Palo Alto Page 8
CalPERS Pension Contribution Projections
As outlined in the table below, compared to the June 30, 2011 valuation, projected annual
increases for FY 2014-2015 and FY 2015-2016 have decreased for the City’s Miscellaneous Plan.
The rates for miscellaneous employees were projected to increase by 1.80% from 2013-2014 to
2014/2015 and by 0.5% from 2014-2015 to 2015/2016 per the June 30, 2011 valuation, but are
now projected to increase by 1.5% from 2013-2014 to 2014/2015 and by 1.5% from 2014-2015
to 2015/2016 per the June 30, 2012 valuation . The changes in the projected contribution rates
result in a decrease of the projected 2014-2015 contribution rates for the Miscellaneous Plan
by 0.3% and an increase of the projected 2015-2016 contribution rate by 0.7% from the prior
valuation.
Miscellaneous Plan Projected Contribution Rate Changes
Fiscal Years
June 30, 2011
Valuation
June 30, 2012
Valuation
Change in Projected
Contribution Rates
2013-2014 24.6% N/A
2014-2015 26.4% 26.1% -0.3%
2015-2016 26.9% 27.6% +0.7%
Comparing the same valuation reports for the Safety Plan, the pension contribution rates were
projected to increase by 2.50% from 2013-2014 to 2014/2015 and by 0.7% from 2014-2015 to
2015/2016 per the June 30, 2011 valuation, but are now projected to increase by 6.1% from
2013-2014 to 2014/2015 and by 2.6% from 2014-2015 to 2015/2016 per the June 30, 2012
valuation. The changes in the projected contribution rates result in an increase of the projected
2014-2015 contribution rates for the Safety Plan by 3.6% and an increase of the projected
2015-2016 contribution rate by 5.5% from the prior valuation.
Safety Plan Projected Contribution Rate Changes
Fiscal Years
June 30, 2011
Valuation
June 30, 2012
Valuation
Change in Contribution
Rates
2013-2014 33.4% N/A
2014-2015 35.9% 39.5% +3.6%
2015-2016 36.6% 42.1% +5.5%
The major drivers of these rate changes are the reduction in the discount rate from 7.75% to
7.50%, the actuarial policy and assumption changes we discussed previously and the 0 percent
City of Palo Alto Page 9
return realized by CalPERS in fiscal year 2012 offset with the 12.5% investment return as of June
30, 2013. The 12.5% investment return was factored into the contribution rate projects starting
with FY 2015-2016.
City of Palo Alto Page 10
Pension Plans Funding Status
The pension liability and current funding status for miscellaneous and safety (See pg. 6 of
Miscellaneous and Safety Valuations for further detail) plans are shown below. As can be seen,
the City’s funded status for the Miscellaneous Plan dropped by 4.70% from 69.50% to 64.80%
and for the Safety Plan by 6.0% from 71.80% to 65.80% primarily due to the lackluster
performance of CalPers investments for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2012 and actuarial
assumption and policy changes which increased the unfu nded liability. The funding status for
both Miscellaneous and Safety will greatly benefit from the 12.5 percent return experienced in
fiscal year 2013. For detail, please refer to pages 6 of the attached valuations.
CalPERS Valuation Data
A summary of valuation data as of the June 30, 2012 reporting date is shown below. As
compared with June 30, 2011 data, the Miscellaneous Plan grew in almost every category, from
number of enrolled employees to average annual covered payroll amounts, while the Safety
plan figures dropped in comparable categories. The difference in the data between the
Miscellaneous and Safety Plans is most likely that the City experienced a higher turnover in
employees who are members in the Miscellaneous Plan between the two valuation d ates.
June 30, 2011 June 30, 2012 June 30, 2011 June 30, 2012
Active Members 765 794 185 180
Average Annual Covered Pay 78,821$ 79,233$ 123,105$ 116,221$
Transferred Members (to other agency)294 288 62 59
Average Annual Covered Pay 107,846$ 105,875$ 113,883$ 108,463$
Terminated Members (yet to retire)305 321 34 31
Average Annual Covered Pay 59,389$ 62,330$ 76,073$ 73,686$
Retired Members and Benefeciaries 941 960 390 398
Average Annual Covered Pay 29,501$ 30,175$ 41,301$ 46,860$
Miscellaneous Safety
CalPERS Valuation Data
Resource Impact
City of Palo Alto Page 11
The CalPERS projected rates outlined on page 2 of this report incorporate the actuarial
valuation policy changes. Staff will include these projected rates as well as contribution rate
changes related to the forthcoming mortality rate assumption changes in the forthcoming
2014-2024 Long Range Financial Forecast scheduled to be presented to Finance Committee on
December 17th, 2013.
Attachments:
Attachment A: Miscellaneous Plan Annual valuation Report June 30, 2012 (PDF)
Attachment B: Safety Plan Annual Valuation Report June 30, 2012 (PDF)
California Public Employees’ Retirement System
Actuarial Office
P.O. Box 942701
Sacramento, CA 94229-2701
TTY: (916) 795-3240
(888) 225-7377 phone • (916) 795-2744 fax
www.calpers.ca.gov
October 2013
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO (CalPERS ID: 6373437857)
Annual Valuation Report as of June 30, 2012
Dear Employer,
As an attachment to this letter, you will find a copy of the June 30, 2012 actuarial valuation
report of your pension plan. Your 2012 actuarial valuation report contains important actuarial
information about your pension plan at CalPERS. Your CalPERS staff actuary, whose signature
appears in the Actuarial Certification Section on page 1, is available to discuss the report with you
after October 31, 2013.
Future Contribution Rates
The exhibit below displays the Minimum Employer Contribution Rate for fiscal year 2014-15 and a
projected contribution rate for 2015-16, before any cost sharing. The projected rate for 2015-16
is based on the most recent information available, including an estimate of the investment return
for fiscal year 2012-13, namely 12 percent, and the impact of the new smoothing methods
adopted by the CalPERS Board in April 2013 that will impact employer rates for the first time in
fiscal year 2015-16. For a projection of employer rates beyond 2015-16, please refer to the
“Analysis of Future Investment Return Scenarios” in the “Risk Analysis” section, which includes
rate projections through 2019-20 under a variety of investment return scenarios. Please disregard
any projections that we may have provided you in the past.
Fiscal Year Employer Contribution Rate
2014-15 26.122%
2015-16 27.6% (projected)
Member contributions other than cost sharing, (whether paid by the employer or the employee)
are in addition to the above rates. The employer contribution rates in this report do not
reflect any cost sharing arrangement you may have with your employees.
The estimate for 2015-16 also assumes that there are no future contract amendments and no
liability gains or losses (such as larger than expected pay increases, more retirements than
expected, etc.). This is a very important assumption because these gains and losses do occur and
can have a significant impact on your contribution rate. Even for the largest plans, such gains
and losses often cause a change in the employer’s contribution rate of one or two percent of
payroll and may be even larger in some less common instances. These gains and losses cannot
be predicted in advance so the projected employer contribution rates are just estimates. Your
actual rate for 2015-16 will be provided in next year’s report.
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
(CalPERS ID: 6373437857)
Annual Valuation Report as of June 30, 2012
Page 2
Changes since the Prior Year’s Valuation
On January 1, 2013, the Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) took effect. The
impact of most of the PEPRA changes will first show up in the rates and the benefit provision
listings of the June 30, 2013 valuation for the 2015-16 rates. For more information on PEPRA,
please refer to the CalPERS website.
On April 17, 2013, the CalPERS Board of Administration approved a recommendation to change
the CalPERS amortization and rate smoothing policies. Beginning with the June 30, 2013
valuations that set the 2015-16 rates, CalPERS will no longer use an actuarial value of assets and
will employ an amortization and smoothing policy that will pay for all gains and losses over a
fixed 30-year period with the increases or decreases in the rate spread directly over a 5-year
period. The impact of this new actuarial methodology is reflected in the “Analysis of Future
Investment Return Scenarios” subsection of the “Risk Analysis” section of your report.
A review of the preferred asset allocation mix for CalPERS investment portfolio will be performed
in late 2013, which could influence future discount rates. In addition, CalPERS will review
economic and demographic assumptions, including mortality rate improvements that are likely to
increase employer contribution rates in future years. The “Analysis of Future Investment Return
Scenarios” subsection does not reflect the impact of assumption changes that we expect will
also impact future rates.
Besides the above noted changes, there may also be changes specific to your plan such as
contract amendments and funding changes.
Further descriptions of general changes are included in the “Highlights and Executive Summary”
section and in Appendix A, “Actuarial Methods and Assumptions.” The effect of the changes on
your rate is included in the “Reconciliation of Required Employer Contributions.”
We understand that you might have a number of questions about these results. While we are
very interested in discussing these results with your agency, in the interest of allowing us to give
every public agency their results, we ask that you wait until after October 31 to contact us with
actuarial questions. If you have other questions, you may call the Customer Contact Center at
(888)-CalPERS or (888-225-7377).
Sincerely,
ALAN MILLIGAN
Chief Actuary
ACTUARIAL VALUATION
as of June 30, 2012
for the
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN
of the
CITY OF PALO ALTO
(CalPERS ID: 6373437857)
REQUIRED CONTRIBUTIONS
FOR FISCAL YEAR
July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2015
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACTUARIAL CERTIFICATION 1
HIGHLIGHTS AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Introduction 5
Purpose of the Report 5
Required Employer Contribution 6
Plan’s Funded Status 6
Cost 7
Changes Since the Prior Year’s Valuation 8
Subsequent Events 8
ASSETS
Reconciliation of the Market Value of Assets 11
Development of the Actuarial Value of Assets 11
Asset Allocation 12
CalPERS History of Investment Returns 13
LIABILITIES AND RATES
Development of Accrued and Unfunded Liabilities 17
(Gain) / Loss Analysis 06/30/11 - 06/30/12 18
Schedule of Amortization Bases 19
Reconciliation of Required Employer Contributions 20
Employer Contribution Rate History 21
Funding History 21
RISK ANALYSIS
Volatility Ratios 25
Projected Rates 26
Analysis of Future Investment Return Scenarios 26
Analysis of Discount Rate Sensitivity 27
Hypothetical Termination Liability 28
GASB STATEMENT NO. 27
Information for compliance with GASB Statement No. 27 31
PLAN’S MAJOR BENEFIT PROVISIONS
Plan’s Major Benefit Options 35
APPENDIX A – ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS A1 - A17
APPENDIX B – PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS B1 - B8
APPENDIX C – PARTICIPANT DATA
Summary of Valuation Data C-1
Active Members C-2
Transferred and Terminated Members C-3
Retired Members and Beneficiaries C-4
APPENDIX D – GLOSSARY OF ACTUARIAL TERMS D1 – D3
(CY) FIN PROCESS CONTROL ID: 413234 (PY) FIN PROCESS CONTROL ID: 393073 REPORT ID: 72281
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 1
ACTUARIAL CERTIFICATION
To the best of our knowledge, this report is complete and accurate and contains sufficient information to
disclose, fully and fairly, the funded condition of the MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO.
This valuation is based on the member and financial data as of June 30, 2012 provided by the various
CalPERS databases and the benefits under this plan with CalPERS as of the date this report was produced.
It is our opinion that the valuation has been performed in accordance with generally accepted actuarial
principles, in accordance with standards of practice prescribed by the Actuarial Standards Board, and that
the assumptions and methods are internally consistent and reasonable for this plan, as prescribed by the
CalPERS Board of Administration according to provisions set forth in the California Public Employees’
Retirement Law.
The undersigned is an actuary for CalPERS, who is a member of the American Academy of Actuaries and the
Society of Actuaries and meets the Qualification Standards of the American Academy of Actuaries to render
the actuarial opinion contained herein.
DAVID CLEMENT, ASA, MAAA, EA
Senior Pension Actuary, CalPERS
HIGHLIGHTS AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
PURPOSE OF THE REPORT
REQUIRED EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION
PLAN’S FUNDED STATUS
COST
CHANGES SINCE THE PRIOR YEAR’S VALUATION
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 5
Introduction
This report presents the results of the June 30, 2012 actuarial valuation of the MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF
THE CITY OF PALO ALTO of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS). This actuarial
valuation sets the fiscal year 2014-15 required employer contribution rates.
On January 1, 2013, the Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) took effect. The impact of
most of the PEPRA changes will first show up in the rates and the benefit provision listings of the June 30,
2013 valuation, which sets the 2015-16 contribution rates. For more information on PEPRA, please refer to
the CalPERS website.
On April 17, 2013, the CalPERS Board of Administration approved a recommendation to change the CalPERS
amortization and smoothing policies. Prior to this change, CalPERS employed an amortization and smoothing
policy, which spread investment returns over a 15-year period while experience gains and losses were
amortized over a rolling 30-year period. Effective with the June 30, 2013 valuations, CalPERS will no longer
use an actuarial value of assets and will employ an amortization and smoothing policy that will spread rate
increases or decreases over a 5-year period, and will amortize all experience gains and losses over a fixed
30-year period.
The new amortization and smoothing policy will be used for the first time in the June 30, 2013 actuarial
valuations. These valuations will be performed in the fall of 2014 and will set employer contribution rates for
the fiscal year 2015-16.
As stewards of the System, CalPERS must ensure that the pension fund is sustainable over multiple
generations. Our strategic plan calls for us to take an integrated view of our assets and liabilities and to take
steps designed to achieve a fully funded plan. A review of the preferred asset allocation mix for CalPERS
investment portfolio will be performed in late 2013, which could influence future discount rates. In addition,
CalPERS will review economic and demographic assumptions, including mortality rate improvements that are
likely to increase employer contribution rates in future years.
Purpose of the Report
The actuarial valuation was prepared by the CalPERS Actuarial Office using data as of June 30, 2012. The
purpose of the report is to:
Set forth the actuarial assets and accrued liabilities of this plan as of June 30, 2012;
Determine the required employer contribution rate for the fiscal year July 1, 2014 through June 30,
2015;
Provide actuarial information as of June 30, 2012 to the CalPERS Board of Administration and other
interested parties, and to;
Provide pension information as of June 30, 2012 to be used in financial reports subject to Governmental
Accounting Standards Board (GASB) Statement Number 27 for a Single Employer Defined Benefit
Pension Plan.
California Actuarial Advisory Panel Recommendations
This report includes all the basic disclosure elements as described in the Model Disclosure Elements for
Actuarial Valuation Reports recommended in 2011 by the California Actuarial Advisory Panel (CAAP), with
the exception of including the original base amounts of the various components of the unfunded liability in
the Schedule of Amortization Bases shown on page 19.
Additionally, this report includes the following “Enhanced Risk Disclosures” also recommended by the CAAP
in the Model Disclosure Elements document:
A “Deterministic Stress Test,” projecting future results under different investment income
scenarios
A “Sensitivity Analysis,” showing the impact on current valuation results using a 1% plus or minus
change in the discount rate.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 6
The use of this report for any other purposes may be inappropriate. In particular, this report does not
contain information applicable to alternative benefit costs. The employer should contact their actuary before
disseminating any portion of this report for any reason that is not explicitly described above.
Required Employer Contribution
Fiscal Year Fiscal Year
2013-14 2014-15
Actuarially Determined Employer Contributions
1. Contribution in Projected Dollars
a) Total Normal Cost $ 12,060,985 $ 12,477,785
b) Employee Contribution1 5,234,882 5,408,805
c) Employer Normal Cost [(1a) – (1b)] 6,826,103 7,068,980
d) Unfunded Contribution 9,382,872 10,888,594
e) Required Employer Contribution [(1c) + (1d)] $ 16,208,975 $ 17,957,574
Projected Annual Payroll for Contribution Year $ 65,889,016 $ 68,744,341
2. Contribution as a Percentage of Payroll
a) Total Normal Cost 18.305% 18.151%
b) Employee Contribution1 7.945% 7.868%
c) Employer Normal Cost [(2a) – (2b)] 10.360% 10.283%
d) Unfunded Rate 14.240% 15.839%
e) Required Employer Rate [(2c) + (2d)] 24.600% 26.122%
Minimum Employer Contribution Rate2 24.600% 26.122%
Annual Lump Sum Prepayment Option3 $ 15,633,324 $ 17,319,822
1This is the percentage specified in the Public Employees Retirement Law, net of any reduction from the use
of a modified formula or other factors. Employee cost sharing is not shown in this report.
2The Minimum Employer Contribution Rate under PEPRA is the greater of the required employer rate or the
employer normal cost.
3Payment must be received by CalPERS before the first payroll reported to CalPERS of the new fiscal year
and after June 30. If there is contractual cost sharing or other change, this amount will change.
Plan’s Funded Status
June 30, 2011 June 30, 2012
1. Present Value of Projected Benefits $ 638,375,787 $ 662,770,685
2. Entry Age Normal Accrued Liability 552,715,631 576,182,013
3. Actuarial Value of Assets (AVA) 434,985,547 447,819,353
4. Unfunded Liability (AVA Basis) [(2) – (3)] $ 117,730,084 $ 128,362,660
5. Funded Ratio (AVA Basis) [(3) / (2)] 78.7% 77.7%
6. Market Value of Assets (MVA) $ 384,056,704 $ 373,592,926
7. Unfunded Liability (MVA Basis) [(2) – (6)] $ 168,658,927 $ 202,589,087
8. Funded Ratio (MVA Basis) [(6) / (2)] 69.5% 64.8%
Superfunded Status No No
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 7
Cost
Actuarial Cost Estimates in General
What will this pension plan cost? Unfortunately, there is no simple answer. There are two major reasons for
the complexity of the answer. First, actuarial calculations, including the ones in this report, are based on a
number of assumptions about the future. These assumptions can be divided into two categories.
Demographic assumptions include the percentage of employees that will terminate, die, become
disabled, and retire in each future year.
Economic assumptions include future salary increases for each active employee, and the
assumption with the greatest impact, future asset returns at CalPERS for each year into the future
until the last dollar is paid to current members of your plan.
While CalPERS has set these assumptions to reflect our best estimate of the real future of your plan, it must
be understood that these assumptions are very long-term predictors and will surely not be realized in any
one year. For example, while the asset earnings at CalPERS have averaged more than the assumed return of
7.5 percent for the past twenty year period ending June 30, 2013, returns for each fiscal year ranged from
negative -24 percent to +21.7 percent.
Second, the very nature of actuarial funding produces the answer to the question of plan cost as the sum of
two separate pieces.
The Normal Cost (i.e., the future annual premiums in the absence of surplus or unfunded liability)
expressed as a percentage of total active payroll.
The Past Service Cost or Accrued Liability (i.e., the current value of the benefit for all credited past
service of current members) which is expressed as a lump sum dollar amount.
The cost is the sum of a percent of future pay and a lump sum dollar amount (the sum of an apple and an
orange if you will). To communicate the total cost, either the Normal Cost (i.e., future percent of payroll)
must be converted to a lump sum dollar amount (in which case the total cost is the present value of
benefits), or the Past Service Cost (i.e., the lump sum) must be converted to a percent of payroll (in which
case the total cost is expressed as the employer’s rate, part of which is permanent and part temporary).
Converting the Past Service Cost lump sum to a percent of payroll requires a specific amortization pe riod,
and the employer rate will vary depending on the amortization period chosen.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 8
Changes since the Prior Year’s Valuation
Benefits
The standard actuarial practice at CalPERS is to recognize mandated legislative benefit changes in the first
annual valuation following the effective date of the legislation. Voluntary benefit changes by plan
amendment are generally included in the first valuation that is prepared after the amendment becomes
effective even if the valuation date is prior to the effective date of the amendment.
This valuation generally reflects plan changes by amendments effective before the date of the report. Please
refer to Appendix B for a summary of the plan provisions used in this valuation. The effect of any mandated
benefit changes or plan amendments on the unfunded liability is shown in the “(Gain)/Loss Analysis” and
the effect on your employer contribution rate is shown in the “Reconciliation of Required Employer
Contributions.” It should be noted that no change in liability or rate is shown for any plan changes, which
were already included in the prior year’s valuation.
Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA)
On January 1, 2013, the Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) took effect, requiring that a
public employer’s contribution to a defined benefit plan, in combination with employee contributions to that
defined benefit plan, shall not be less than the normal cost rate. Beginning July 1, 2013, this means that
some plans with surplus will be paying more than they otherwise would. For more information on PEPRA,
please refer to the CalPERS website.
Subsequent Events
Actuarial Methods and Assumptions
On April 17, 2013, the CalPERS Board of Administration approved a recommendation to change the CalPER S
amortization and smoothing policies. Beginning with the June 30, 2013 valuations that set the 2015-16
rates, CalPERS will no longer use an actuarial value of assets and will employ an amortization and rate
smoothing policy that will pay for all gains and losses over a fixed 30-year period with the increases or
decreases in the rate spread directly over a 5-year period. The impact of this new actuarial methodology is
reflected in the “Expected Rate Increases” subsection of the “Risk analysis” section of your report.
Not reflected in the “Expected Rate Increases” subsection of the “Risk analysis” section is the impact of
assumption changes that we expect will also, impact future rates. A review of the preferred asset allocation
mix for CalPERS investment portfolio will be performed in late 2013, which could influence future discount
rates. In addition, CalPERS will review economic and demographic assumptions, including mortality rate
improvements that are likely to increase employer contribution rates in future years.
ASSETS
RECONCILIATION OF THE MARKET VALUE OF ASSETS
DEVELOPMENT OF THE ACTUARIAL VALUE OF ASSETS
ASSET ALLOCATION
CALPERS HISTORY OF INVESTMENT RETURNS
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 11
Reconciliation of the Market Value of Assets
1. Market Value of Assets as of 6/30/11 Including Receivables $ 384,056,704
2. Receivables for Service Buybacks as of 6/30/11 881,754
3. Market Value of Assets as of 6/30/11 383,174,950
4. Employer Contributions 13,889,639
5. Employee Contributions 5,604,711
6. Benefit Payments to Retirees and Beneficiaries (28,196,814)
7. Refunds (314,836)
8. Lump Sum Payments 0
9. Transfers and Miscellaneous Adjustments (2,281,822)
10. Investment Return (743,691)
11. Market Value of Assets as of 6/30/12 $ 371,132,137
12. Receivables for Service Buybacks as of 6/30/12 2,460,789
13. Market Value of Assets as of 6/30/12 Including Receivables $ 373,592,926
Development of the Actuarial Value of Assets
1. Actuarial Value of Assets as of 6/30/11 Used For Rate Setting Purposes $ 434,985,547
2. Receivables for Service Buybacks as of 6/30/11 881,754
3. Actuarial Value of Assets as of 6/30/11 434,103,793
4. Employer Contributions 13,889,639
5. Employee Contributions 5,604,711
6. Benefit Payments to Retirees and Beneficiaries (28,196,814)
7. Refunds (314,836)
8. Lump Sum Payments 0
9. Transfers and Miscellaneous Adjustments (2,281,822)
10. Expected Investment Income at 7.5%
32,141,727
11. Expected Actuarial Value of Assets $ 454,946,398
12. Market Value of Assets as of 6/30/12 $ 371,132,137
13. Preliminary Actuarial Value of Assets [(11) + ((12) – (11)) / 15] 449,358,781
14. Maximum Actuarial Value of Assets (120% of (12)) 445,358,564
15. Minimum Actuarial Value of Assets (80% of (12)) 296,905,710
16. Actuarial Value of Assets {Lesser of [(14), Greater of ((13), (15))]} 445,358,564
17. Actuarial Value to Market Value Ratio 119.9%
18. Receivables for Service Buybacks as of 6/30/12 2,460,789
19. Actuarial Value of Assets as of 6/30/12 Used for Rate Setting Purposes $ 447,819,353
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 12
Asset Allocation
CalPERS adheres to an Asset Allocation Strategy which establishes asset class allocation policy targets and
ranges, and manages those asset class allocations within their policy ranges. CalPERS recognizes that over
90 percent of the variation in investment returns of a well-diversified pool of assets can typically be
attributed to asset allocation decisions. In December 2010 the Board approved the policy asset class targets
and ranges listed below. These policy asset allocation targets and ranges are expressed as a percentage of
total assets and were expected to be implemented over a period of one to two years beginning July 1, 2011
and reviewed again in December 2013.
The asset allocation and market value of assets shown below reflect the values of the Public Employees
Retirement Fund (PERF) in its entirety as of June 30, 2012. The assets for CITY OF PALO ALTO
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN are part of the Public Employees Retirement Fund (PERF) and are invested
accordingly.
(A)
Asset Class
(B)
Market Value
($ Billion)
(C)
Policy Target
Allocation
(D)
Policy Target
Range
1) Public Equity 113.0 50.0% +/- 7%
2) Private Equity 33.9 14.0% +/- 4%
3) Fixed Income 42.6 17.0% +/- 5%
4) Cash Equivalents 7.5 4.0% +/- 5%
5) Real Assets 24.8 11.0% +/- 3%
6) Inflation Assets 7.0 4.0% +/- 3%
7) Absolute Return Strategy (ARS) 5.1 0.0% N/A
Total Fund $233.9 100.0% N/A
Public Equity
48.3%
Private Equity
14.5%
Income
18.2%
3.2%
Liquidity
Real Assets
10.6%
3.0%
Inflation
ARS
2.2%
Asset Allocation at 6/30/2012
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 13
CalPERS History of Investment Returns
The following is a chart with historical annual returns of the Public Employees Retirement Fund for each
fiscal year ending on June 30. Beginning in 2002, the figures are reported as gross of fees.
-25.0%
-20.0%
-15.0%
-10.0%
-5.0%
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
12
.
5
%
14
.
5
%
2.0
%
16
.
3
%
15
.
3
%
20
.
1
%
19
.
5
%
12
.
5
%
10
.
5
%
-7.2
%
-6.1
%
3.7
%
16
.
6
%
12
.
3
%
11
.
8
%
19
.
1
%
-5.1
%
-24
.
0
%
13
.
3
%
21
.
7
%
0.1
%
LIABILITIES AND RATES
DEVELOPMENT OF ACCRUED AND UNFUNDED LIABILITIES
(GAIN) / LOSS ANALYSIS 06/30/11 - 06/30/12
SCHEDULE OF AMORTIZATION BASES
RECONCILIATION OF REQUIRED EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS
EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION RATE HISTORY
FUNDING HISTORY
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 17
Development of Accrued and Unfunded Liabilities
1. Present Value of Projected Benefits
a) Active Members $ 286,454,324
b) Transferred Members 22,425,098
c) Terminated Members 13,066,934
d) Members and Beneficiaries Receiving Payments 340,824,329
e) Total $ 662,770,685
2. Present Value of Future Employer Normal Costs $ 47,640,387
3. Present Value of Future Employee Contributions $ 38,948,285
4. Entry Age Normal Accrued Liability
a) Active Members [(1a) - (2) - (3)] $ 199,865,652
b) Transferred Members (1b) 22,425,098
c) Terminated Members (1c) 13,066,934
d) Members and Beneficiaries Receiving Payments (1d) 340,824,329
e) Total $ 576,182,013
5. Actuarial Value of Assets (AVA) $ 447,819,353
6. Unfunded Accrued Liability (AVA Basis) [(4e) – (5)] $ 128,362,660
7. Funded Ratio (AVA Basis) [(5) / (4e)] 77.7%
8. Market Value of Assets (MVA) $ 373,592,926
9. Unfunded Liability (MVA Basis) [(4e) - (8)] $ 202,589,087
10. Funded Ratio (MVA Basis) [(8) / (4e)] 64.8%
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 18
(Gain) /Loss Analysis 6/30/11 – 6/30/12
To calculate the cost requirements of the plan, assumptions are made about future events that affect the
amount and timing of benefits to be paid and assets to be accumulated. Each year actual experience is
compared to the expected experience based on the actuarial assumptions. This results in actuarial gains or
losses, as shown below.
A Total (Gain)/Loss for the Year
1. Unfunded Accrued Liability (UAL) as of 6/30/11 $ 117,730,084
2. Expected Payment on the UAL during 2011/2012 7,091,345
3. Interest through 6/30/12 [.075 x (A1) - ((1.075)½ - 1) x (A2)] 8,568,638
4. Expected UAL before all other changes [(A1) - (A2) + (A3)] 119,207,377
5. Change due to plan changes 0
6. Change due to assumption change 0
7. Expected UAL after all other changes [(A4) + (A5) + (A6)] 119,207,377
8. Actual UAL as of 6/30/12 128,362,660
9. Total (Gain)/Loss for 2011/2012 [(A8) - (A7)] $ 9,155,283
B Contribution (Gain)/Loss for the Year
1. Expected Contribution (Employer and Employee) $ 18,427,063
2. Interest on Expected Contributions 678,523
3. Actual Contributions 19,494,350
4. Interest on Actual Contributions 717,822
5. Expected Contributions with Interest [(B1) + (B2)] 19,105,586
6. Actual Contributions with Interest [(B3) + (B4)] 20,212,172
7. Contribution (Gain)/Loss [(B5) - (B6)] $ (1,106,586)
C Asset (Gain)/Loss for the Year
1. Actuarial Value of Assets as of 6/30/11 Including Receivables $ 434,985,547
2. Receivables as of 6/30/11 881,754
3. Actuarial Value of Assets as of 6/30/11 434,103,793
4. Contributions Received 19,494,350
5. Benefits and Refunds Paid (28,511,650)
6. Transfers and miscellaneous adjustments (2,281,822)
7. Expected Int. [.075 x (C3) + ((1.075)½ - 1) x ((C4) + (C5) + (C6))] 32,141,727
8. Expected Assets as of 6/30/12 [(C3) + (C4) + (C5) + (C6) + (C7)] 454,946,398
9. Receivables as of 6/30/12 2,460,789
10. Expected Assets Including Receivables 457,407,187
11. Actual Actuarial Value of Assets as of 6/30/12 447,819,353
12. Asset (Gain)/Loss [(C10) - (C11)] $ 9,587,834
D Liability (Gain)/Loss for the Year
1. Total (Gain)/Loss (A9) $ 9,155,283
2. Contribution (Gain)/Loss (B7) (1,106,586)
3. Asset (Gain)/Loss (C12) 9,587,834
4. Liability (Gain)/Loss [(D1) - (D2) - (D3)] $ 674,035
Development of the (Gain)/Loss Balance as of 6/30/12
1. (Gain)/Loss Balance as of 6/30/11 $ 13,754,393
2. Payment Made on the Balance during 2011/2012 825,965
3. Interest through 6/30/12 [.075 x (1) - ((1.075)1/2 - 1) x (2)] 1,001,166
4. Scheduled (Gain)/Loss Balance as of 6/30/12 [(1) - (2) + (3)] $ 13,929,594
5. (Gain)/Loss for Fiscal Year ending 6/30/12 [(A9) above] 9,155,283
6. Final (Gain)/Loss Balance as of 6/30/12 [(4) + (5)] $ 23,084,877
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 19
Schedule of Amortization Bases
There is a two-year lag between the Valuation Date and the Contribution Fiscal Year.
The assets, liabilities and funded status of the plan are measured as of the valuation date; June 30, 2012.
The employer contribution rate determined by the valuation is for the fiscal year beginning two years after the valuation date; fiscal year 2014-15.
This two-year lag is necessary due to the amount of time needed to extract and test the membership and financial data, and due to the need to provide public agencies
with their employer contribution rates well in advance of the start of the fiscal year.
The Unfunded Liability is used to determine the employer contribution and therefore must be rolled forward two years from the valuation date to the first day of the
fiscal year for which the contribution is being determined. The Unfunded Liability is rolled forward each year by subtracting the expected Payment on the Unfunded
Liability for the fiscal year and adjusting for interest. The Expected Payment on the Unfunded Liability for a fiscal year is equal to the Expected Employer Contribution for
the fiscal year minus the Expected Normal Cost for the year. The Employer Contribution Rate for the first fiscal year is dete rmined by the actuarial valuation two years
ago and the rate for the second year is from the actuarial valuation one year ago. The Normal Cost Rate for each of the two fiscal years is assumed to be the same as
the rate determined by the current valuation. All expected dollar amounts are determined by multiplying the rate by the expected payroll for the applicable fiscal year,
based on payroll as of the valuation date.
Amounts for Fiscal 2014-15
Reason for Base
Date
Established
Amorti-
zation
Period
Balance
6/30/12
Expected
Payment
2012-13
Balance
6/30/13
Expected
Payment
2013-14
Balance
6/30/14
Scheduled
Payment for
2014-15
Payment as
Percent-age of
Payroll
ASSUMPTION CHANGE 06/30/03 11 $18,364,968 $1,874,825 $17,798,481 $1,924,538 $17,137,964 $1,982,274 2.884%
METHOD CHANGE 06/30/04 12 $(1,365,344) $(131,949) $(1,330,937) $(135,457) $(1,290,312) $(139,521) (0.203%)
BENEFIT CHANGE 06/30/05 12 $30,248,624 $2,923,265 $29,486,365 $3,000,992 $28,586,348 $3,091,022 4.496%
ASSUMPTION CHANGE 06/30/09 17 $26,751,098 $2,093,142 $26,587,215 $2,149,437 $26,352,672 $2,213,920 3.221%
SPECIAL (GAIN)/LOSS 06/30/09 27 $16,015,369 $980,506 $16,199,911 $1,007,314 $16,370,499 $1,037,533 1.509%
SPECIAL (GAIN)/LOSS 06/30/10 28 $1,315,869 $79,203 $1,332,440 $81,378 $1,347,998 $83,819 0.122%
ASSUMPTION CHANGE 06/30/11 19 $11,168,947 $(235,409) $12,250,695 $924,993 $12,210,444 $952,744 1.386%
SPECIAL (GAIN)/LOSS 06/30/11 29 $(51,933) $0 $(55,828) $(3,353) $(56,539) $(3,453) (0.005%)
PAYMENT (GAIN)/LOSS 06/30/12 30 $2,830,185 $(116,249) $3,162,978 $434,709 $2,949,485 $177,118 0.258%
(GAIN)/LOSS 06/30/12 30 $23,084,877 $838,491 $23,946,877 $847,010 $24,864,694 $1,493,138 2.172%
TOTAL $128,362,660 $8,305,825 $129,378,197 $10,231,561 $128,473,253 $10,888,594 15.839%
The special (gain)/loss bases were established using the temporary modification recognized in the 2009, 2010 and 2011 annual valuations. Unlike the gain/loss occurring
in previous and subsequent years, the gain/loss recognized in the 2009, 2010, and 2011 annual valuations will be amortized over fixed and declining 30-year periods so
that these annual gain/losses will be fully paid off in 30 years. The gain/loss recognized in 2012 and later valuations will be combined with the gain/loss from 2008 and
earlier valuations.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 20
Reconciliation of Required Employer Contributions
Percentage
of
Projected
Payroll
Estimated $
Based on
Projected
Payroll
1. Contribution for 7/1/13 – 6/30/14 24.600% $ 16,208,975
2. Effect of changes since the prior year annual valuation
a) Effect of unexpected changes in demographics and financial results 1.522% 1,046,189
b) Effect of plan changes 0.000% 0
c) Effect of changes in Assumptions 0.000% 0
d) Effect of change in payroll - 702,410
e) Effect of elimination of amortization base 0.000% 0
f) Effect of changes due to Fresh Start 0.000% 0
g) Net effect of the changes above [Sum of (a) through (f)] 1.522% 1,748,599
3. Contribution for 7/1/14 – 6/30/15 [(1)+(2g)] 26.122% 17,957,574
The contribution actually paid (item 1) may be different if a prepayment of unfunded actuarial liability is
made or a plan change became effective after the prior year’s actuarial valuation was performed.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 21
Employer Contribution Rate History
The table below provides a recent history of the employer contribution rates for your plan, as determined by the
annual actuarial valuation. It does not account for prepayments or benefit changes made in the middle of the
year.
[required_by_valuation] Required By Valuation
Fiscal
Year
Employer
Normal Cost Unfunded Rate
Total Employer
Contribution Rate
2010 - 2011 10.087% 7.468% 17.555%
2011 - 2012 10.100% 11.625% 21.725%
2012 - 2013 10.171% 12.799% 22.970%
2013 - 2014 10.360% 14.240% 24.600%
2014 - 2015 10.283% 15.839% 26.122%
Funding History
The Funding History below shows the recent history of the actuarial accrued liability, the market value of assets,
the actuarial value of assets, funded ratios and the annual covered payroll. The Actuarial Value of Assets is used
to establish funding requirements and the funded ratio on this basis represents the progress toward fully funding
future benefits for current plan participants. The funded ratio based on the Market Value of Assets is an indicator
of the short-term solvency of the plan.
[funding_history]
Valuation
Date
Accrued
Liability
Actuarial
Value of
Assets (AVA)
Market Value
of
Assets (MVA)
Funded
Ratio
AVA MVA
Annual
Covered
Payroll
06/30/08 $ 443,337,130 $ 379,836,875 $ 385,304,560 85.7% 86.9% $ 63,933,506
06/30/09 499,199,907 398,764,606 288,524,538 79.9% 57.8% 65,602,083
06/30/10 521,269,469 416,810,087 323,971,012 80.0% 62.2% 62,496,037
06/30/11 552,715,631 434,985,547 384,056,704 78.7% 69.5% 60,297,783
06/30/12 576,182,013 447,819,353 373,592,926 77.7% 64.8% 62,910,810
RISK ANALYSIS
VOLATILITY RATIOS
PROJECTED RATES
ANALYSIS OF FUTURE INVESTMENT RETURN SCENARIOS
ANALYSIS OF DISCOUNT RATE SENSITIVITY
HYPOTHETICAL TERMINATION LIABILITY
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 25
Volatility Ratios
The actuarial calculations supplied in this communication are based on a number of assumptions about very long-
term demographic and economic behavior. Unless these assumptions (terminations, deaths, disabilities,
retirements, salary growth, and investment return) are exactly realized each year, ther e will be differences on a
year-to-year basis. The year-to-year differences between actual experience and the assumptions are called
actuarial gains and losses and serve to lower or raise the employer’s rates from one year to the next. Therefore,
the rates will inevitably fluctuate, especially due to the ups and downs of investment returns.
Asset Volatility Ratio (AVR)
Plans that have higher asset to payroll ratios produce more volatile employer rates due to investment return. For
example, a plan with an asset to payroll ratio of 8 may experience twice the contribution volatility due to
investment return volatility, than a plan with an asset to payroll ratio of 4. Below we have shown your asset
volatility ratio, a measure of the plan’s current rate volatility. It should be noted that this ratio is a measure of the
current situation. It increases over time but generally tends to stabilize as the plan matures.
Liability Volatility Ratio
Plans that have higher liability to payroll ratios produce more volatile employer rates due to investment return and
changes in liability. For example, a plan with a liability to payroll ratio of 8 is expected to have twice the
contribution volatility of a plan with a liability to payroll ratio of 4. The liability volatility ratio is also included in the
table below. It should be noted that this ratio indicates a longer-term potential for contribution volatility and the
asset volatility ratio, described above, will tend to move closer to this ratio as the plan matures.
Rate Volatility As of June 30, 2012
1. Market Value of Assets without Receivables $ 371,132,137
2. Payroll 62,910,810
3. Asset Volatility Ratio (AVR = 1. / 2.) 5.9
4. Accrued Liability $ 576,182,013
5. Liability Volatility Ratio (4. / 2.) 9.2
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 26
Projected Rates
On April 17, 2013, the CalPERS Board of Administration approved a recommendation to change the CalPERS
amortization and smoothing policies. Beginning with the June 30, 2013 valuations that will set the 2015-16 rates,
CalPERS will employ an amortization and rate smoothing policy that will pay for all gains and losses over a fixed
30-year period with the increases or decreases in the rate spread directly over a 5 -year period. The table below
shows projected employer contribution rates (before cost sharing) for the next five Fiscal Years, assuming
CalPERS earns 12% for fiscal year 2012-13 and 7.50 percent every fiscal year thereafter, and
assuming that all other actuarial assumptions will be realized and that no further changes to assumptions,
contributions, benefits, or funding will occur between now and the beginning of the fiscal year 2015-16.
Consequently, these projections do not take into account potential rate increases from likely future
assumption changes. Nor do they take into account the positive impact PEPRA is expected to gradually have on
the normal cost.
New Rate Projected Future Employer Contribution Rates
2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20
Contribution Rates: 26.122% 27.6% 29.0% 30.5% 31.9% 33.4%
Analysis of Future Investment Return Scenarios
In July 2013, the investment return for fiscal year 2012-13 was announced to be 12.5 percent. Note that this
return is before administrative expenses and also does not reflect final investment return information for real
estate and private equities. The final return information for these two asset classes is expected to be available later
in October. For purposes of projecting future employer rates, we are assuming a 12 percent investment return for
fiscal year 2012-13.
The investment return realized during a fiscal year first affects the contribution rate for the fiscal year 2 years later .
Specifically, the investment return for 2012-13 will first be reflected in the June 30, 2013 actuarial valuation that
will be used to set the 2015-16 employer contribution rates, the 2013-14 investment return will first be reflected in
the June 30, 2014 actuarial valuation that will be used to set the 2016-17 employer contribution rates and so forth.
Based on a 12 percent investment return for fiscal year 2012-13 and the April 17, 2013 CalPERS Board-
approved amortization and rate smoothing method change, and assuming that all other actuarial
assumptions will be realized, and that no further changes to assumptions, contributions, benefits, or funding will
occur between now and the beginning of the fiscal year 2015-16, the effect on the 2015-16 Employer Rate is as
follows: (Note that this estimated rate does not reflect additional assumption changes as discussed in the
“Subsequent Events” section.)
Estimated 2015-16 Employer Rate Estimated Increase in Employer Rate between
2014-15 and 2015-16
27.6% 1.5%
As part of this report, a sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the effects of various investment returns
during fiscal years 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 on the 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 employer rates. Once
again, the projected rate increases assume that all other actuarial assumptions will be realized and that no further
changes to assumptions, contributions, benefits, or funding will occur.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 27
Five different investment return scenarios were selected.
The first scenario is what one would expect if the markets were to give us a 5th percentile return from
July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2016. The 5th percentile return corresponds to a -4.1 percent return for
each of the 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 fiscal years.
The second scenario is what one would expect if the markets were to give us a 25th percentile return
from July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2016. The 25th percentile return corresponds to a 2.6 percent return
for each of the 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 fiscal years.
The third scenario assumed the return for 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 would be our assumed 7.5
percent investment return which represents about a 49th percentile event.
The fourth scenario is what one would expect if the markets were to give us a 75th percentile return from
July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2016. The 75th percentile return corresponds to a 11.9 percent return for
each of the 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 fiscal years.
Finally, the last scenario is what one would expect if the markets were to give us a 95th percentile return
from July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2016. The 95th percentile return corresponds to a 18.5 percent
return for each of the 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 fiscal years.
The table below shows the estimated projected contribution rates and the estimated increases for your plan under
the five different scenarios.
2013-16 Investment
Return Scenario
Estimated Employer Rate Estimated Change in
Employer Rate
between 2015-16
and 2018-19 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
-4.1% (5th percentile) 30.1% 33.5% 37.8% 10.2%
2.6% (25th percentile) 29.5% 31.8% 34.5% 6.9%
7.5% 29.0% 30.5% 31.9% 4.3%
11.9%(75th percentile) 28.6% 29.3% 29.5% 1.9%
18.5%(95th percentile) 28.0% 27.4% 25.5% -2.1%
Analysis of Discount Rate Sensitivity
The following analysis looks at the 2014-15 employer contribution rates under two different discount rate
scenarios. Shown below are the employer contribution rates assuming discount rates that are 1 percent lower and
1 percent higher than the current valuation discount rate. This analysis gives an indication of the potential required
employer contribution rates if the PERF were to realize investment returns of 6.50 percent or 8.50 percent over the
long-term.
This type of analysis gives the reader a sense of the long-term risk to the employer contribution rates.
2014-15 Employer Contribution Rate
As of June 30, 2012 6.50% Discount Rate
(-1%) 7.50% Discount Rate
(assumed rate) 8.50% Discount Rate
(+1%)
Employer Normal Cost 14.549% 10.283% 7.002%
Unfunded Rate Payment 23.352% 15.839% 8.329%
Total 37.901% 26.122% 15.331%
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 28
Hypothetical Termination Liability
Below is an estimate of the financial position of your plan if you had terminated your contract with CalPERS as of
June 30, 2012 using the discount rates shown below. Your plan liability on a termination basis is calculated
differently compared to the plan’s ongoing funding liability. In December 2012, the CalPERS Board adopted a more
conservative investment policy and asset allocation strategy for the Terminated Agency Pool. Since the Terminated
Agency Pool has limited funding sources, expected benefit payments are secured by risk-free assets. With this
change, CalPERS increased benefit security for members while limiting its funding risk. This asset allocation has a
lower expected rate of return than the PERF. Consequently, the lower discount rate for the Terminated Agency
pool results in higher liabilities for terminated plans.
In order to terminate your plan, you must first contact our Retirement Services Contract Unit to initiate a
Resolution of Intent to Terminate. The completed Resolution will allow your plan actuary to give you a preliminary
termination valuation with a more up-to-date estimate of your plan liabilities. CalPERS advises you to consult with
your plan actuary before beginning this process.
[estimated_termination_liability]
Valuation
Date
Hypothetical
Termination
Liability1
Market Value
of Assets
(MVA)
Unfunded
Termination
Liability
Termination
Funded
Ratio
Termination
Liability
Discount
Rate2
06/30/11 $ 770,280,910 $ 384,056,704 $ 386,224,206 49.9% 4.82%
06/30/12 1,018,052,435 373,592,926 644,459,509 36.7% 2.98%
1 The hypothetical liabilities calculated above include a 7 percent mortality contingency load in accordance with
Board policy. Other actuarial assumptions, such as wage and inflation assumptions, can be found in appendix A.
2 The discount rate assumption used for termination valuations is a weighted average of the 10 and 30-year US
Treasury yields in effect on the valuation date that equal the duration of the pension liabilities. For purposes of this
hypothetical termination liability estimate, the discount rate used, 2.98 percent, is the yield on the 30-year US
Treasury Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities (STRIPS) as of June 30, 2012. In last
year’s report the May 2012 rate of 2.87 percent was inadvertently shown rather than the June rate of 2.98
percent. Please note, as of June 30, 2013 the 30-year STRIPS yield was 3.72 percent.
GASB STATEMENT NO. 27
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 31
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN of the CITY OF PALO ALTO
Information for Compliance with GASB Statement No. 27
Disclosure under GASB 27 follows. However, note that effective for financial statements for fiscal
years beginning after June 15, 2014, GASB 68 replaces GASB 27. GASB 68 will require additional
reporting. CalPERS is planning to provide GASB 68 disclosure information upon request for an
additional fee. We urge you to start discussions with your auditors on how to implement GASB 68.
Under GASB 27, an employer reports an annual pension cost (APC) equal to the annual required contribution
(ARC) plus an adjustment for the cumulative difference between the APC and the employer’s actual pl an
contributions for the year. The cumulative difference is called the net pension obligation (NPO). The ARC for the
period July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014 has been determined by an actuarial valuation of the plan as of June 30,
2012. The unadjusted GASB compliant contribution rate for the indicated period is 26.122 percent of payroll. In
order to calculate the dollar value of the ARC for inclusion in financial statements prepared as of June 30, 2014,
this contribution rate, less any employee cost sharing, as modified by any amendments for the year, would be
multiplied by the payroll of covered employees that was actually paid during the period July 1, 2013 to June 30,
2014. The employer and the employer’s auditor are responsible for determining the NPO and the APC.
A summary of principal assumptions and methods used to determine the ARC is shown below.
Retirement Program
Valuation Date June 30, 2012
Actuarial Cost Method Entry Age Normal Cost Method
Amortization Method Level Percent of Payroll
Average Remaining Period 19 Years as of the Valuation Date
Asset Valuation Method 15 Year Smoothed Market
Actuarial Assumptions
Discount Rate 7.50% (net of administrative expenses)
Projected Salary Increases 3.30% to 14.20% depending on Age, Service, and type of employment
Inflation 2.75%
Payroll Growth 3.00%
Individual Salary Growth A merit scale varying by duration of employment coupled with an assumed
annual inflation growth of 2.75% and an annual production growth of 0.25%.
Initial unfunded liabilities are amortized over a closed period that depends on the plan’s date of entry into
CalPERS. Subsequent plan amendments are amortized as a level percentage of pay over a closed 20-year period.
Gains and losses that occur in the operation of the plan are amortized over a 30-year rolling period, which results
in an amortization of about 6 percent of unamortized gains and losses each year. If the plan’s accrued liability
exceeds the actuarial value of plan assets, then the amortization payment on the total unfunded liability may not
be lower than the payment calculated over a 30-year amortization period. More detailed information on
assumptions and methods is provided in Appendix A of this report. Appendix B contains a description of benefits
included in the valuation.
The Schedule of Funding Progress below shows the recent history of the actuarial accrued liability, actuarial value
of assets, their relationship and the relationship of the unfunded actuarial accrued liability to payroll.
Valuation
Date
Accrued
Liability
(a)
Actuarial Value
of Assets (AVA)
(b)
Unfunded
Liability (UL)
(a)-(b)
Funded Ratios Annual
Covered
Payroll
(c)
UL As a
% of
Payroll
[(a)-(b)]/(c) (AVA)
(b)/(a)
Market
Value
06/30/08 $ 443,337,130 $ 379,836,875 $ 63,500,255 85.7% 86.9% $ 63,933,506 99.3%
06/30/09 499,199,907 398,764,606 100,435,301 79.9% 57.8% 65,602,083 153.1%
06/30/10 521,269,469 416,810,087 104,459,382 80.0% 62.2% 62,496,037 167.1%
06/30/11 552,715,631 434,985,547 117,730,084 78.7% 69.5% 60,297,783 195.2%
06/30/12 576,182,013 447,819,353 128,362,660 77.7% 64.8% 62,910,810 204.0%
PLAN’S MAJOR BENEFIT PROVISIONS
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Plan’s Major Benefit Options
Shown below is a summary of the major optional benefits for which your agency has contracted. A description of principal standard and optional plan provisions
is in the following section of this Appendix.
Contract Package
Receiving Active Active Active
Benefit Provision
Benefit Formula 2.0% @ 55 2.7% @ 55 2.0% @ 60
Social Security Coverage No No No
Full/Modified Full Full Full
Final Average Compensation Period 12 mos. 12 mos. 12 mos.
Sick Leave Credit No No No
Non-Industrial Disability Standard Standard Standard
Industrial Disability No No No
Pre-Retirement Death Benefits
Optional Settlement 2W No No No
1959 Survivor Benefit Level Level 1 Level 1 Level 1
Special No No No
Alternate (firefighters) No No No
Post-Retirement Death Benefits
Lump Sum $500 $500 $500 $500
Survivor Allowance (PRSA) No No No No
COLA 2% 2% 2% 2%
Contractual Employee Cost Sharing
Page 35
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Plan’s Major Benefit Options
Shown below is a summary of the major optional benefits for which your agency has contracted. A description of principal standard and optional plan provisions
is in the following section of this Appendix.
Contract Package
Benefit Provision
Benefit Formula
Social Security Coverage
Full/Modified
Final Average Compensation Period
Sick Leave Credit
Non-Industrial Disability
Industrial Disability
Pre-Retirement Death Benefits
Optional Settlement 2W
1959 Survivor Benefit Level
Special
Alternate (firefighters)
Post-Retirement Death Benefits
Lump Sum
Survivor Allowance (PRSA)
COLA
Page 36
APPENDICES
APPENDIX A – ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
APPENDIX B – PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
APPENDIX C – SUMMARY OF PARTICIPANT DATA
APPENDIX D – GLOSSARY OF ACTUARIAL TERMS
APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
ACTUARIAL DATA
ACTUARIAL METHODS
ACTUARIAL ASSUMPTIONS
MISCELLANEOUS
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-1
Actuarial Data
As stated in the Actuarial Certification, the data, which serves as the basis of this valuation, has been
obtained from the various CalPERS databases. We have reviewed the valuation data and believe that it is
reasonable and appropriate in aggregate. We are unaware of any potential data issues that would have a
material effect on the results of this valuation, except that data does not always contain the latest salary
information for former members now in reciprocal systems and does not recognize the potential for
unusually large salary deviation in certain cases such as elected officials. Therefore, salary information in
these cases may not be accurate. These situations are relatively infrequent, however, and when they do
occur, they generally do not have a material impact on the employer contribution rates.
Actuarial Methods
Funding Method
The actuarial funding method used for the Retirement Program is the Entry Age Normal Cost Method. Under
this method, projected benefits are determined for all members and the associated liabilities are spread in a
manner that produces level annual cost as a percent of pay in each year from the age of hire (entry age) to
the assumed retirement age. The cost allocated to the current fiscal year is called the normal cost.
The actuarial accrued liability for active members is then calculated as the portion of the total cost of the
plan allocated to prior years. The actuarial accrued liability for members currently receiving benefits, for
active members beyond the assumed retirement age, and for members entitled to deferred benefits, is
equal to the present value of the benefits expected to be paid. No normal costs are applicable for these
participants.
The excess of the total actuarial accrued liability over the actuarial value of plan assets is called the
unfunded actuarial accrued liability. Funding requirements are determined by adding the normal cost and an
amortization of the unfunded liability as a level percentage of assumed future payrolls. All changes in
liability due to plan amendments, changes in actuarial assumptions, or changes in actuarial methodology are
amortized separately over a 20-year period. All new gains or losses are tracked and amortized over a rolling
30-year period. If a plan’s accrued liability exceeds the actuarial value of assets, the annual contribution
with respect to the total unfunded liability may not be less than the amount produced by a 30 -year
amortization of the unfunded liability.
Additional contributions will be required for any plan or pool if their cash flows hamper adequate funding
progress by preventing the expected funded status on a market value of assets basis to either:
Increase by at least 15% by June 30, 2043; or
Reach a level of 75% funded by June 30, 2043
The necessary additional contribution will be obtained by changing the amortization period of the gains and
losses, except for those occurring in the fiscal years 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011 to a period,
which will result in the satisfaction of the above criteria. CalPERS actuaries will reassess the criteria above
when performing each future valuation to determine whether or not additional contributions are necessary.
An exception to the funding rules above is used whenever the application of such rules results in
inconsistencies. In these cases, a “fresh start” approach is used. This simply means that the current
unfunded actuarial liability is projected and amortized over a set number of years. As mentioned above, if
the annual contribution on the total unfunded liability was less than the amount produced by a 30-year
amortization of the unfunded liability, the plan actuary would implement a 30-year fresh start. However, in
the case of a 30-year fresh start, just the unfunded liability not already in the (gain)/loss base (which is
already amortized over 30 years), will go into the new fresh start base. In addition, a fresh start is needed
in the following situations:
1) When a positive payment would be required on a negative unfunded actuarial lia bility (or
conversely a negative payment on a positive unfunded actuarial liability); or
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-2
2) When there are excess assets, rather than an unfunded liability. In this situation, a 30-year fresh
start is used, unless a longer fresh start is needed to avoid a negative total rate.
It should be noted that the actuary may choose to use a fresh start under other circumstances. In all cases,
the fresh start period is set by the actuary at what is deemed appropriate; however, the period will not be
less than five years, nor greater than 30 years.
Asset Valuation Method
In order to dampen the effect of short-term market value fluctuations on employer contribution rates, the
following asset smoothing technique is used. First, an Expected Value of Assets is computed by bringing
forward the prior year’s Actuarial Value of Assets and the contributions received and benefits paid during the
year at the assumed actuarial rate of return. The Actuarial Value of Assets is then computed as the
Expected Value of Assets plus one-fifteenth of the difference between the actual Market Value of Assets and
the Expected Value of Assets, as of the valuation date. However, in no case will the Actuarial Value of
Assets be less than 80% or greater than 120% of the actual Market Value of Assets.
In June 2009, the CalPERS Board adopted changes to the asset smoothing method in order to phase in over
a three-year period the impact of the negative -24 percent investment loss experienced by CalPERS in fiscal
year 2008-2009. The following changes were adopted:
Increase the corridor limits for the actuarial value of assets from 80 percent/120 percent of market
value to 60 percent/140 percent of market value on June 30, 2009
Reduce the corridor limits for the actuarial value of assets to 70 percent/130 percent of market
value on June 30, 2010
Return to the 80 percent/120 percent of market value corridor limits for the actuarial value of
assets on June 30, 2011 and thereafter
On April 17, 2013, the CalPERS Board of Administration approved a recommendation to change
the CalPERS amortization and rate smoothing policies. Beginning with the June 30, 2013
valuations that set the 2015-16 rates, CalPERS will employ an amortization and smoothing
policy that will pay for all gains and losses over a fixed 30-year period with the increases or
decreases in the rate spread directly over a 5-year period. Details of the agenda item can be
found on our website CalPERS On-Line:
http://www.calpers.ca.gov/index.jsp?bc=/about/committee-meetings/archives/pension-201304.xml
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-3
Actuarial Assumptions
Economic Assumptions
Discount Rate
7.5% compounded annually (net of expenses). This assumption is used for all plans.
Termination Liability Discount Rate
The discount rate used for termination valuation is a weighted average of the 10 and 30-year US
Treasury yields in effect on the valuation date that equal the duration of the pension liabilities. For
purposes of this hypothetical termination liability estimate, the discount rate used, 2.98 percent, is
the yield on the 30-year US Treasury Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of
Securities (STRIPS) as of June 30, 2012. Please note, as of June 30, 2013 the 30-year STRIPS yield
was 3.72 percent.
Salary Growth
Annual increases vary by category, entry age, and duration of service. A sample of assumed
increases are shown below.
Public Agency Miscellaneous
Duration of Service (Entry Age 20) (Entry Age 30) (Entry Age 40)
0 0.1420 0.1240 0.0980
1 0.1190 0.1050 0.0850
2 0.1010 0.0910 0.0750
3 0.0880 0.0800 0.0670
4 0.0780 0.0710 0.0610
5 0.0700 0.0650 0.0560
10 0.0480 0.0460 0.0410
15 0.0430 0.0410 0.0360
20 0.0390 0.0370 0.0330
25 0.0360 0.0360 0.0330
30 0.0360 0.0360 0.0330
Public Agency Fire
Duration of Service (Entry Age 20) (Entry Age 30) (Entry Age 40)
0 0.1050 0.1050 0.1020
1 0.0950 0.0940 0.0850
2 0.0870 0.0830 0.0700
3 0.0800 0.0750 0.0600
4 0.0740 0.0680 0.0510
5 0.0690 0.0620 0.0450
10 0.0510 0.0460 0.0350
15 0.0410 0.0390 0.0340
20 0.0370 0.0360 0.0330
25 0.0350 0.0350 0.0330
30 0.0350 0.0350 0.0330
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-4
Salary Growth (continued)
Public Agency Police
Duration of Service (Entry Age 20) (Entry Age 30) (Entry Age 40)
0 0.1090 0.1090 0.1090
1 0.0930 0.0930 0.0930
2 0.0810 0.0810 0.0780
3 0.0720 0.0700 0.0640
4 0.0650 0.0610 0.0550
5 0.0590 0.0550 0.0480
10 0.0450 0.0420 0.0340
15 0.0410 0.0390 0.0330
20 0.0370 0.0360 0.0330
25 0.0350 0.0340 0.0330
30 0.0350 0.0340 0.0330
Public Agency County Peace Officers
Duration of Service (Entry Age 20) (Entry Age 30) (Entry Age 40)
0 0.1290 0.1290 0.1290
1 0.1090 0.1060 0.1030
2 0.0940 0.0890 0.0840
3 0.0820 0.0770 0.0710
4 0.0730 0.0670 0.0610
5 0.0660 0.0600 0.0530
10 0.0460 0.0420 0.0380
15 0.0410 0.0380 0.0360
20 0.0370 0.0360 0.0340
25 0.0350 0.0340 0.0330
30 0.0350 0.0340 0.0330
Schools
Duration of Service (Entry Age 20) (Entry Age 30) (Entry Age 40)
0 0.1080 0.0960 0.0820
1 0.0940 0.0850 0.0740
2 0.0840 0.0770 0.0670
3 0.0750 0.0700 0.0620
4 0.0690 0.0640 0.0570
5 0.0630 0.0600 0.0530
10 0.0450 0.0440 0.0410
15 0.0390 0.0380 0.0350
20 0.0360 0.0350 0.0320
25 0.0340 0.0340 0.0320
30 0.0340 0.0340 0.0320
The Miscellaneous salary scale is used for Local Prosecutors.
The Police salary scale is used for Other Safety, Local Sheriff, and School Police.
Overall Payroll Growth
3.00 percent compounded annually (used in projecting the payroll over which the unfunded liability
is amortized). This assumption is used for all plans.
Inflation
2.75 percent compounded annually. This assumption is used for all plans.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-5
Non-valued Potential Additional Liabilities
The potential liability loss for a cost-of-living increase exceeding the 2.75 percent inflation
assumption, and any potential liability loss from future member service purchases are not reflected
in the valuation.
Miscellaneous Loading Factors
Credit for Unused Sick Leave
Total years of service is increased by 1 percent for those plans that have accepted the provision
providing Credit for Unused Sick Leave.
Conversion of Employer Paid Member Contributions (EPMC)
Total years of service is increased by the Employee Contribution Rate for those plans with the
provision providing for the Conversion of Employer Paid Member Contributions (EPMC) during the
final compensation period.
Norris Decision (Best Factors)
Employees hired prior to July 1, 1982 have projected benefit amounts increased in order to reflect
the use of “Best Factors” in the calculation of optional benefit forms. This is due to a 1983
Supreme Court decision, known as the Norris decision, which required males and females to be
treated equally in the determination of benefit amounts. Consequently, anyone already employed
at that time is given the best possible conversion factor when optional benefits are determined. No
loading is necessary for employees hired after July 1, 1982.
Termination Liability
The termination liabilities include a 7 percent contingency load. This load is for unforeseen
improvements in mortality.
Demographic Assumptions
Pre-Retirement Mortality
Non-Industrial Death Rates vary by age and gender. Industrial Death rates vary by age. See
sample rates in table below. The non-industrial death rates are used for all plans. The industrial
death rates are used for Safety Plans (except for Local Prosecutor safety members where the
corresponding Miscellaneous Plan does not have the Industrial Death Benefit).
Non-Industrial Death Industrial Death
(Not Job-Related) (Job-Related)
Age Male Female Male and Female
20 0.00047 0.00016 0.00003
25 0.00050 0.00026 0.00007
30 0.00053 0.00036 0.00010
35 0.00067 0.00046 0.00012
40 0.00087 0.00065 0.00013
45 0.00120 0.00093 0.00014
50 0.00176 0.00126 0.00015
55 0.00260 0.00176 0.00016
60 0.00395 0.00266 0.00017
65 0.00608 0.00419 0.00018
70 0.00914 0.00649 0.00019
75 0.01220 0.00878 0.00020
80 0.01527 0.01108 0.00021
Miscellaneous Plans usually have Industrial Death rates set to zero unless the agency has specifically
contracted for Industrial Death benefits. If so, each Non-Industrial Death rate shown above will be
split into two components; 99 percent will become the Non-Industrial Death rate and 1 percent will
become the Industrial Death rate.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-6
Post-Retirement Mortality
Rates vary by age, type of retirement and gender. See sample rates in table below. These rates are
used for all plans.
Healthy Recipients
Non-Industrially Disabled Industrially Disabled
(Not Job-Related) (Job-Related)
Age Male Female Male Female Male Female
50 0.00239 0.00125 0.01632 0.01245 0.00443 0.00356
55 0.00474 0.00243 0.01936 0.01580 0.00563 0.00546
60 0.00720 0.00431 0.02293 0.01628 0.00777 0.00798
65 0.01069 0.00775 0.03174 0.01969 0.01388 0.01184
70 0.01675 0.01244 0.03870 0.03019 0.02236 0.01716
75 0.03080 0.02071 0.06001 0.03915 0.03585 0.02665
80 0.05270 0.03749 0.08388 0.05555 0.06926 0.04528
85 0.09775 0.07005 0.14035 0.09577 0.11799 0.08017
90 0.16747 0.12404 0.21554 0.14949 0.16575 0.13775
95 0.25659 0.21556 0.31025 0.23055 0.26108 0.23331
100 0.34551 0.31876 0.45905 0.37662 0.40918 0.35165
105 0.58527 0.56093 0.67923 0.61523 0.64127 0.60135
110 1.00000 1.00000 1.00000 1.00000 1.00000 1.00000
The mortality assumptions are based on mortality rates resulting from the most recent CalPERS
Experience Study adopted by the CalPERS Board, first used in the June 30, 2009 valuation. For
purposes of the post-retirement mortality rates, those revised rates include 5 years of projected on-
going mortality improvement using Scale AA published by the Society of Actuaries until June 30, 2010.
There is no margin for future mortality improvement beyond the valuation date. The mortality
assumption will be reviewed with the next experience study expected to be completed for the June 30,
2013 valuation to determine an appropriate margin to be used.
Marital Status
For active members, a percentage who are married upon retirement is assumed according to
member category as shown in the following table.
Member Category Percent Married
Miscellaneous Member 85%
Local Police 90%
Local Fire 90%
Other Local Safety 90%
School Police 90%
Age of Spouse
It is assumed that female spouses are 3 years younger than male spouses are. This assumption is
used for all plans.
Terminated Members
It is assumed that terminated members refund immediately if non-vested. Terminated members
who are vested are assumed to follow the same service retirement pattern as active members but
with a load to reflect the expected higher rates of retirement, especially at lower ages. The
following table shows the load factors that are applied to the service retirement assumption for
active members to obtain the service retirement pattern for separated vested members:
Age Load Factor
50 450%
51 250%
52 through 56 200%
57 through 60 150%
61 through 64 125%
65 and above 100% (no change)
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-7
Termination with Refund
Rates vary by entry age and service for Miscellaneous Plans. Rates vary by service for Safety Plans.
See sample rates in tables below.
Public Agency Miscellaneous
Duration of
Service Entry Age 20 Entry Age 25 Entry Age 30 Entry Age 35 Entry Age 40 Entry Age 45
0 0.1742 0.1674 0.1606 0.1537 0.1468 0.1400
1 0.1545 0.1477 0.1409 0.1339 0.1271 0.1203
2 0.1348 0.1280 0.1212 0.1142 0.1074 0.1006
3 0.1151 0.1083 0.1015 0.0945 0.0877 0.0809
4 0.0954 0.0886 0.0818 0.0748 0.0680 0.0612
5 0.0212 0.0193 0.0174 0.0155 0.0136 0.0116
10 0.0138 0.0121 0.0104 0.0088 0.0071 0.0055
15 0.0060 0.0051 0.0042 0.0032 0.0023 0.0014
20 0.0037 0.0029 0.0021 0.0013 0.0005 0.0001
25 0.0017 0.0011 0.0005 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001
30 0.0005 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001
35 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001
Public Agency Safety
Duration of Service Fire Police County Peace Officer
0 0.0710 0.1013 0.0997
1 0.0554 0.0636 0.0782
2 0.0398 0.0271 0.0566
3 0.0242 0.0258 0.0437
4 0.0218 0.0245 0.0414
5 0.0029 0.0086 0.0145
10 0.0009 0.0053 0.0089
15 0.0006 0.0027 0.0045
20 0.0005 0.0017 0.0020
25 0.0003 0.0012 0.0009
30 0.0003 0.0009 0.0006
35 0.0003 0.0009 0.0006
The Police Termination and Refund rates are also used for Public Agency Local Prosecutors, Other Safety,
Local Sheriff and School Police.
Schools
Duration of
Service Entry Age 20 Entry Age 25 Entry Age 30 Entry Age 35 Entry Age 40 Entry Age 45
0 0.1730 0.1627 0.1525 0.1422 0.1319 0.1217
1 0.1585 0.1482 0.1379 0.1277 0.1174 0.1071
2 0.1440 0.1336 0.1234 0.1131 0.1028 0.0926
3 0.1295 0.1192 0.1089 0.0987 0.0884 0.0781
4 0.1149 0.1046 0.0944 0.0841 0.0738 0.0636
5 0.0278 0.0249 0.0221 0.0192 0.0164 0.0135
10 0.0172 0.0147 0.0122 0.0098 0.0074 0.0049
15 0.0115 0.0094 0.0074 0.0053 0.0032 0.0011
20 0.0073 0.0055 0.0038 0.0020 0.0002 0.0002
25 0.0037 0.0023 0.0010 0.0002 0.0002 0.0002
30 0.0015 0.0003 0.0002 0.0002 0.0002 0.0002
35 0.0002 0.0002 0.0002 0.0002 0.0002 0.0002
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-8
Termination with Vested Benefits
Rates vary by entry age and service for Miscellaneous Plans. Rates vary by service for Safety Plans.
See sample rates in tables below.
Public Agency Miscellaneous
Duration of
Service Entry Age 20 Entry Age 25 Entry Age 30 Entry Age 35 Entry Age 40
5 0.0656 0.0597 0.0537 0.0477 0.0418
10 0.0530 0.0466 0.0403 0.0339 0.0000
15 0.0443 0.0373 0.0305 0.0000 0.0000
20 0.0333 0.0261 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
25 0.0212 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
30 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
35 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
Public Agency Safety
Duration of
Service Fire Police
County Peace
Officer
5 0.0162 0.0163 0.0265
10 0.0061 0.0126 0.0204
15 0.0058 0.0082 0.0130
20 0.0053 0.0065 0.0074
25 0.0047 0.0058 0.0043
30 0.0045 0.0056 0.0030
35 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
When a member is eligible to retire, the termination with vested benefits probability is set to
zero.
After termination with vested benefits, a miscellaneous member is assumed to retire at age 59
and a safety member at age 54.
The Police Termination with vested benefits rates are also used for Public Agency Local
Prosecutors, Other Safety, Local Sheriff and School Police.
Schools
Duration of
Service Entry Age 20 Entry Age 25 Entry Age 30 Entry Age 35 Entry Age 40
5 0.0816 0.0733 0.0649 0.0566 0.0482
10 0.0629 0.0540 0.0450 0.0359 0.0000
15 0.0537 0.0440 0.0344 0.0000 0.0000
20 0.0420 0.0317 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
25 0.0291 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
30 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
35 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-9
Non-Industrial (Not Job-Related) Disability
Rates vary by age and gender for Miscellaneous Plans. Rates vary by age and category for Safety
Plans.
Miscellaneous Fire Police County Peace Officer Schools
Age Male Female Male and Female Male and Female Male and Female Male Female
20 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001
25 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001
30 0.0002 0.0002 0.0001 0.0002 0.0001 0.0002 0.0001
35 0.0006 0.0009 0.0001 0.0003 0.0004 0.0006 0.0004
40 0.0015 0.0016 0.0001 0.0004 0.0007 0.0014 0.0009
45 0.0025 0.0024 0.0002 0.0005 0.0013 0.0028 0.0017
50 0.0033 0.0031 0.0005 0.0008 0.0018 0.0044 0.0030
55 0.0037 0.0031 0.0010 0.0013 0.0010 0.0049 0.0034
60 0.0038 0.0025 0.0015 0.0020 0.0006 0.0043 0.0024
The Miscellaneous Non-Industrial Disability rates are used for Local Prosecutors.
The Police Non-Industrial Disability rates are also used for Other Safety, Local Sheriff and
School Police.
Industrial (Job-Related) Disability
Rates vary by age and category.
Age Fire Police County Peace Officer
20 0.0002 0.0007 0.0003
25 0.0012 0.0032 0.0015
30 0.0025 0.0064 0.0031
35 0.0037 0.0097 0.0046
40 0.0049 0.0129 0.0063
45 0.0061 0.0161 0.0078
50 0.0074 0.0192 0.0101
55 0.0721 0.0668 0.0173
60 0.0721 0.0668 0.0173
The Police Industrial Disability rates are also used for Local Sheriff and Other Safety.
Fifty Percent of the Police Industrial Disability rates are used for School Police.
One Percent of the Police Industrial Disability rates are used for Local Prosecutors.
Normally, rates are zero for Miscellaneous Plans unless the agency has specifically contracted
for Industrial Disability benefits. If so, each miscellaneous non-industrial disability rate will be
split into two components: 50 percent will become the Non-Industrial Disability rate and 50
percent will become the Industrial Disability rate.
Service Retirement
Retirement rates vary by age, service, and formula, except for the safety ½ @ 55 and 2% @ 55
formulas, where retirement rates vary by age only.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-10
Service Retirement
Public Agency Miscellaneous 1.5% @ 65
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.008 0.011 0.013 0.015 0.017 0.019
51 0.007 0.010 0.012 0.013 0.015 0.017
52 0.010 0.014 0.017 0.019 0.021 0.024
53 0.008 0.012 0.015 0.017 0.019 0.022
54 0.012 0.016 0.019 0.022 0.025 0.028
55 0.018 0.025 0.031 0.035 0.038 0.043
56 0.015 0.021 0.025 0.029 0.032 0.036
57 0.020 0.028 0.033 0.038 0.043 0.048
58 0.024 0.033 0.040 0.046 0.052 0.058
59 0.028 0.039 0.048 0.054 0.060 0.067
60 0.049 0.069 0.083 0.094 0.105 0.118
61 0.062 0.087 0.106 0.120 0.133 0.150
62 0.104 0.146 0.177 0.200 0.223 0.251
63 0.099 0.139 0.169 0.191 0.213 0.239
64 0.097 0.136 0.165 0.186 0.209 0.233
65 0.140 0.197 0.240 0.271 0.302 0.339
66 0.092 0.130 0.157 0.177 0.198 0.222
67 0.129 0.181 0.220 0.249 0.277 0.311
68 0.092 0.129 0.156 0.177 0.197 0.221
69 0.092 0.130 0.158 0.178 0.199 0.224
70 0.103 0.144 0.175 0.198 0.221 0.248
Public Agency Miscellaneous 2% @ 60
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.011 0.015 0.018 0.021 0.023 0.026
51 0.009 0.013 0.016 0.018 0.020 0.023
52 0.013 0.018 0.022 0.025 0.028 0.031
53 0.011 0.016 0.019 0.022 0.025 0.028
54 0.015 0.021 0.025 0.028 0.032 0.036
55 0.023 0.032 0.039 0.044 0.049 0.055
56 0.019 0.027 0.032 0.037 0.041 0.046
57 0.025 0.035 0.042 0.048 0.054 0.060
58 0.030 0.042 0.051 0.058 0.065 0.073
59 0.035 0.049 0.060 0.068 0.076 0.085
60 0.062 0.087 0.105 0.119 0.133 0.149
61 0.079 0.110 0.134 0.152 0.169 0.190
62 0.132 0.186 0.225 0.255 0.284 0.319
63 0.126 0.178 0.216 0.244 0.272 0.305
64 0.122 0.171 0.207 0.234 0.262 0.293
65 0.173 0.243 0.296 0.334 0.373 0.418
66 0.114 0.160 0.194 0.219 0.245 0.274
67 0.159 0.223 0.271 0.307 0.342 0.384
68 0.113 0.159 0.193 0.218 0.243 0.273
69 0.114 0.161 0.195 0.220 0.246 0.276
70 0.127 0.178 0.216 0.244 0.273 0.306
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-11
Service Retirement
Public Agency Miscellaneous 2% @ 55
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.015 0.020 0.024 0.029 0.033 0.039
51 0.013 0.016 0.020 0.024 0.027 0.033
52 0.014 0.018 0.022 0.027 0.030 0.036
53 0.017 0.022 0.027 0.032 0.037 0.043
54 0.027 0.034 0.041 0.049 0.056 0.067
55 0.050 0.064 0.078 0.094 0.107 0.127
56 0.045 0.057 0.069 0.083 0.095 0.113
57 0.048 0.061 0.074 0.090 0.102 0.122
58 0.052 0.066 0.080 0.097 0.110 0.131
59 0.060 0.076 0.092 0.111 0.127 0.151
60 0.072 0.092 0.112 0.134 0.153 0.182
61 0.089 0.113 0.137 0.165 0.188 0.224
62 0.128 0.162 0.197 0.237 0.270 0.322
63 0.129 0.164 0.199 0.239 0.273 0.325
64 0.116 0.148 0.180 0.216 0.247 0.294
65 0.174 0.221 0.269 0.323 0.369 0.439
66 0.135 0.171 0.208 0.250 0.285 0.340
67 0.133 0.169 0.206 0.247 0.282 0.336
68 0.118 0.150 0.182 0.219 0.250 0.297
69 0.116 0.147 0.179 0.215 0.246 0.293
70 0.138 0.176 0.214 0.257 0.293 0.349
Public Agency Miscellaneous 2.5% @ 55
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.026 0.033 0.040 0.048 0.055 0.062
51 0.021 0.026 0.032 0.038 0.043 0.049
52 0.021 0.026 0.032 0.038 0.043 0.049
53 0.026 0.033 0.040 0.048 0.055 0.062
54 0.043 0.054 0.066 0.078 0.089 0.101
55 0.088 0.112 0.136 0.160 0.184 0.208
56 0.055 0.070 0.085 0.100 0.115 0.130
57 0.061 0.077 0.094 0.110 0.127 0.143
58 0.072 0.091 0.111 0.130 0.150 0.169
59 0.083 0.105 0.128 0.150 0.173 0.195
60 0.088 0.112 0.136 0.160 0.184 0.208
61 0.083 0.105 0.128 0.150 0.173 0.195
62 0.121 0.154 0.187 0.220 0.253 0.286
63 0.105 0.133 0.162 0.190 0.219 0.247
64 0.105 0.133 0.162 0.190 0.219 0.247
65 0.143 0.182 0.221 0.260 0.299 0.338
66 0.105 0.133 0.162 0.190 0.219 0.247
67 0.105 0.133 0.162 0.190 0.219 0.247
68 0.105 0.133 0.162 0.190 0.219 0.247
69 0.105 0.133 0.162 0.190 0.219 0.247
70 0.125 0.160 0.194 0.228 0.262 0.296
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-12
Service Retirement
Public Agency Miscellaneous 2.7% @ 55
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.028 0.035 0.043 0.050 0.058 0.065
51 0.022 0.028 0.034 0.040 0.046 0.052
52 0.022 0.028 0.034 0.040 0.046 0.052
53 0.028 0.035 0.043 0.050 0.058 0.065
54 0.044 0.056 0.068 0.080 0.092 0.104
55 0.091 0.116 0.140 0.165 0.190 0.215
56 0.061 0.077 0.094 0.110 0.127 0.143
57 0.063 0.081 0.098 0.115 0.132 0.150
58 0.074 0.095 0.115 0.135 0.155 0.176
59 0.083 0.105 0.128 0.150 0.173 0.195
60 0.088 0.112 0.136 0.160 0.184 0.208
61 0.085 0.109 0.132 0.155 0.178 0.202
62 0.124 0.158 0.191 0.225 0.259 0.293
63 0.107 0.137 0.166 0.195 0.224 0.254
64 0.107 0.137 0.166 0.195 0.224 0.254
65 0.146 0.186 0.225 0.265 0.305 0.345
66 0.107 0.137 0.166 0.195 0.224 0.254
67 0.107 0.137 0.166 0.195 0.224 0.254
68 0.107 0.137 0.166 0.195 0.224 0.254
69 0.107 0.137 0.166 0.195 0.224 0.254
70 0.129 0.164 0.199 0.234 0.269 0.304
Public Agency Miscellaneous 3% @ 60
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.026 0.033 0.040 0.048 0.055 0.062
51 0.021 0.026 0.032 0.038 0.043 0.049
52 0.019 0.025 0.030 0.035 0.040 0.046
53 0.025 0.032 0.038 0.045 0.052 0.059
54 0.039 0.049 0.060 0.070 0.081 0.091
55 0.083 0.105 0.128 0.150 0.173 0.195
56 0.055 0.070 0.085 0.100 0.115 0.130
57 0.061 0.077 0.094 0.110 0.127 0.143
58 0.072 0.091 0.111 0.130 0.150 0.169
59 0.080 0.102 0.123 0.145 0.167 0.189
60 0.094 0.119 0.145 0.170 0.196 0.221
61 0.088 0.112 0.136 0.160 0.184 0.208
62 0.127 0.161 0.196 0.230 0.265 0.299
63 0.110 0.140 0.170 0.200 0.230 0.260
64 0.110 0.140 0.170 0.200 0.230 0.260
65 0.149 0.189 0.230 0.270 0.311 0.351
66 0.110 0.140 0.170 0.200 0.230 0.260
67 0.110 0.140 0.170 0.200 0.230 0.260
68 0.110 0.140 0.170 0.200 0.230 0.260
69 0.110 0.140 0.170 0.200 0.230 0.260
70 0.132 0.168 0.204 0.240 0.276 0.312
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-13
Service Retirement
Public Agency Fire ½ @ 55 and 2% @ 55
Age
50
51
52
53
54
55
Rate
0.01588
0.00000
0.03442
0.01990
0.04132
0.07513
Age
56
57
58
59
60
Rate
0.11079
0.00000
0.09499
0.04409
1.00000
Public Agency Police ½ @ 55 and 2% @ 55
Age
50
51
52
53
54
55
Rate
0.02552
0.00000
0.01637
0.02717
0.00949
0.16674
Age
56
57
58
59
60
Rate
0.06921
0.05113
0.07241
0.07043
1.00000
Public Agency Police 2%@ 50
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.014 0.014 0.014 0.014 0.025 0.045
51 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.023 0.040
52 0.026 0.026 0.026 0.026 0.048 0.086
53 0.052 0.052 0.052 0.052 0.096 0.171
54 0.070 0.070 0.070 0.070 0.128 0.227
55 0.090 0.090 0.090 0.090 0.165 0.293
56 0.064 0.064 0.064 0.064 0.117 0.208
57 0.071 0.071 0.071 0.071 0.130 0.232
58 0.063 0.063 0.063 0.063 0.115 0.205
59 0.140 0.140 0.140 0.140 0.174 0.254
60 0.140 0.140 0.140 0.140 0.172 0.251
61 0.140 0.140 0.140 0.140 0.172 0.251
62 0.140 0.140 0.140 0.140 0.172 0.251
63 0.140 0.140 0.140 0.140 0.172 0.251
64 0.140 0.140 0.140 0.140 0.172 0.251
65 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
These rates also apply to Local Prosecutors, Local Sheriff, School Police and Other Safety.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-14
Service Retirement
Public Agency Fire 2%@50
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.007 0.007 0.007 0.007 0.010 0.015
51 0.008 0.008 0.008 0.008 0.013 0.019
52 0.017 0.017 0.017 0.017 0.027 0.040
53 0.047 0.047 0.047 0.047 0.072 0.107
54 0.064 0.064 0.064 0.064 0.098 0.147
55 0.087 0.087 0.087 0.087 0.134 0.200
56 0.078 0.078 0.078 0.078 0.120 0.180
57 0.090 0.090 0.090 0.090 0.139 0.208
58 0.079 0.079 0.079 0.079 0.122 0.182
59 0.073 0.073 0.073 0.073 0.112 0.168
60 0.114 0.114 0.114 0.114 0.175 0.262
61 0.114 0.114 0.114 0.114 0.175 0.262
62 0.114 0.114 0.114 0.114 0.175 0.262
63 0.114 0.114 0.114 0.114 0.175 0.262
64 0.114 0.114 0.114 0.114 0.175 0.262
65 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
Public Agency Police 3%@ 55
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.019 0.019 0.019 0.019 0.040 0.060
51 0.024 0.024 0.024 0.024 0.049 0.074
52 0.024 0.024 0.024 0.024 0.051 0.077
53 0.059 0.059 0.059 0.059 0.121 0.183
54 0.069 0.069 0.069 0.069 0.142 0.215
55 0.116 0.116 0.116 0.116 0.240 0.363
56 0.076 0.076 0.076 0.076 0.156 0.236
57 0.058 0.058 0.058 0.058 0.120 0.181
58 0.076 0.076 0.076 0.076 0.157 0.237
59 0.094 0.094 0.094 0.094 0.193 0.292
60 0.141 0.141 0.141 0.141 0.290 0.438
61 0.094 0.094 0.094 0.094 0.193 0.292
62 0.118 0.118 0.118 0.118 0.241 0.365
63 0.094 0.094 0.094 0.094 0.193 0.292
64 0.094 0.094 0.094 0.094 0.193 0.292
65 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
These rates also apply to Local Prosecutors, Local Sheriff, School Police and Other Safety.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-15
Service Retirement
Public Agency Fire 3%@55
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.018 0.028 0.033
51 0.008 0.008 0.008 0.012 0.019 0.022
52 0.018 0.018 0.018 0.027 0.042 0.050
53 0.043 0.043 0.043 0.062 0.098 0.114
54 0.057 0.057 0.057 0.083 0.131 0.152
55 0.092 0.092 0.092 0.134 0.211 0.246
56 0.081 0.081 0.081 0.118 0.187 0.218
57 0.100 0.100 0.100 0.146 0.230 0.268
58 0.081 0.081 0.081 0.119 0.187 0.219
59 0.078 0.078 0.078 0.113 0.178 0.208
60 0.117 0.117 0.117 0.170 0.267 0.312
61 0.078 0.078 0.078 0.113 0.178 0.208
62 0.098 0.098 0.098 0.141 0.223 0.260
63 0.078 0.078 0.078 0.113 0.178 0.208
64 0.078 0.078 0.078 0.113 0.178 0.208
65 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
Public Agency Police 3%@ 50
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.070 0.070 0.070 0.131 0.193 0.249
51 0.050 0.050 0.050 0.095 0.139 0.180
52 0.061 0.061 0.061 0.116 0.171 0.220
53 0.069 0.069 0.069 0.130 0.192 0.247
54 0.071 0.071 0.071 0.134 0.197 0.255
55 0.090 0.090 0.090 0.170 0.250 0.322
56 0.069 0.069 0.069 0.130 0.191 0.247
57 0.080 0.080 0.080 0.152 0.223 0.288
58 0.087 0.087 0.087 0.164 0.242 0.312
59 0.090 0.090 0.090 0.170 0.251 0.323
60 0.135 0.135 0.135 0.255 0.377 0.485
61 0.090 0.090 0.090 0.170 0.251 0.323
62 0.113 0.113 0.113 0.213 0.314 0.404
63 0.090 0.090 0.090 0.170 0.251 0.323
64 0.090 0.090 0.090 0.170 0.251 0.323
65 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
These rates also apply to Local Prosecutors, Local Sheriff, School Police and Other Safety.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-16
Service Retirement
Public Agency Fire 3%@50
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.034 0.034 0.034 0.048 0.068 0.080
51 0.046 0.046 0.046 0.065 0.092 0.109
52 0.069 0.069 0.069 0.097 0.138 0.163
53 0.084 0.084 0.084 0.117 0.166 0.197
54 0.103 0.103 0.103 0.143 0.204 0.241
55 0.127 0.127 0.127 0.177 0.252 0.298
56 0.121 0.121 0.121 0.169 0.241 0.285
57 0.101 0.101 0.101 0.141 0.201 0.238
58 0.118 0.118 0.118 0.165 0.235 0.279
59 0.100 0.100 0.100 0.140 0.199 0.236
60 0.150 0.150 0.150 0.210 0.299 0.354
61 0.100 0.100 0.100 0.140 0.199 0.236
62 0.125 0.125 0.125 0.175 0.249 0.295
63 0.100 0.100 0.100 0.140 0.199 0.236
64 0.100 0.100 0.100 0.140 0.199 0.236
65 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
Schools 2%@ 55
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.005 0.009 0.013 0.015 0.016 0.018
51 0.005 0.010 0.014 0.017 0.019 0.021
52 0.006 0.012 0.017 0.020 0.022 0.025
53 0.007 0.014 0.019 0.023 0.026 0.029
54 0.012 0.024 0.033 0.039 0.044 0.049
55 0.024 0.048 0.067 0.079 0.088 0.099
56 0.020 0.039 0.055 0.065 0.072 0.081
57 0.021 0.042 0.059 0.070 0.078 0.087
58 0.025 0.050 0.070 0.083 0.092 0.103
59 0.029 0.057 0.080 0.095 0.105 0.118
60 0.037 0.073 0.102 0.121 0.134 0.150
61 0.046 0.090 0.126 0.149 0.166 0.186
62 0.076 0.151 0.212 0.250 0.278 0.311
63 0.069 0.136 0.191 0.225 0.251 0.281
64 0.067 0.133 0.185 0.219 0.244 0.273
65 0.091 0.180 0.251 0.297 0.331 0.370
66 0.072 0.143 0.200 0.237 0.264 0.295
67 0.067 0.132 0.185 0.218 0.243 0.272
68 0.060 0.118 0.165 0.195 0.217 0.243
69 0.067 0.133 0.187 0.220 0.246 0.275
70 0.066 0.131 0.183 0.216 0.241 0.270
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-17
Miscellaneous
Superfunded Status
Prior to enactment of the Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) that became effective January 1,
2013, a plan in superfunded status (actuarial value of assets exceeding present value of benefits) would
normally pay a zero employer contribution rate while also being permitted to use its superfunded assets to
pay its employees’ normal member contributions.
However, Section 7522.52(a) of PEPRA states, “In any fiscal year a public employer’s contribution to a
defined benefit plan, in combination with employee contributions to that defined benefit plan, shall not be
less than the total normal cost rate…” This means that not only must employers pay their employer normal
cost regardless of plan surplus, but also, employers may no longer use superfunded assets to pay employee
normal member contributions.
Internal Revenue Code Section 415
The limitations on benefits imposed by Internal Revenue Code Section 415 are taken into account in this
valuation. Each year the impact of any changes in this limitation since the prior valuation is included and
amortized as part of the actuarial gain or loss base. This results in lower contributions for those employers
contributing to the Replacement Benefit Fund and protects CalPERS from prefunding ex pected benefits in
excess of limits imposed by federal tax law.
Internal Revenue Code Section 401(a)(17)
The limitations on compensation imposed by Internal Revenue Code Section 401(a)(17) are taken into
account in this valuation. Each year, the impact of any changes in the compensation limitation since the
prior valuation is included and amortized as part of the actuarial gain or loss base.
PEPRA Assumptions
The Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) mandated new benefit formulas and new
member contributions for new members (as defined by PEPRA) hired after January 1, 2013. For non-pooled
plans, these new members will first be reflected in the June 30, 2013 non-pooled plan valuations. New
members in pooled plans will first be reflected in the new Miscellaneous and Safety risk pools created by the
CalPERS Board in November 2012 in response to the passage of PEPRA, also beginning with the June 30,
2013 valuation. Different assumptions for these new PEPRA members will be disclosed in the 2013
valuation.
APPENDIX B
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX B
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-1
The following is a description of the principal plan provisions used in calculating costs and liabilities. We have
indicated whether a plan provision is standard or optional. Standard benefits are applicable to all members while
optional benefits vary among employers. Optional benefits that apply to a single period of time, such as Golden
Handshakes, have not been included. Many of the statements in this summary are general in nature, and are
intended to provide an easily understood summary of the complex Public Employees’ Retirement Law. The law itself
governs in all situations.
PEPRA Benefit Changes
The Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) requires new benefits and member contributions for new
members as defined by PEPRA, that are hired after January 1, 2013. For non-pooled plans, these members will first
be reflected in June 30, 2013 non-pooled plan valuations. Members in pooled plans will be reflected in the new
Miscellaneous and Safety risk pools created by the CalPERS Board in November 2012 in respons e to the passage of
PEPRA, beginning with the June 30, 2013 valuation.
Service Retirement
Eligibility
A classic CalPERS member becomes eligible for Service Retirement upon attainment of age 50 with at least 5 years of
credited service (total service across all CalPERS employers, and with certain other Retirement Systems with which
CalPERS has reciprocity agreements). For employees hired into a plan with the 1.5% at 65 formula, eligibility for
service retirement is age 55 with at least 5 years of service.
Benefit
The Service Retirement benefit is a monthly allowance equal to the product of the benefit factor, years of service,
and final compensation.
The benefit factor depends on the benefit formula specified in your agency’s contract. The table below shows
the factors for each of the available formulas. Factors vary by the member’s age at retirement. Listed are the
factors for retirement at whole year ages:
Miscellaneous Plan Formulas
Retirement Age 1.5% at 65 2% at 60 2% at 55 2.5% at 55 2.7% at 55 3% at 60
50 0.5000% 1.092% 1.426% 2.0% 2.0% 2.0%
51 0.5667% 1.156% 1.522% 2.1% 2.14% 2.1%
52 0.6334% 1.224% 1.628% 2.2% 2.28% 2.2%
53 0.7000% 1.296% 1.742% 2.3% 2.42% 2.3%
54 0.7667% 1.376% 1.866% 2.4% 2.56% 2.4%
55 0.8334% 1.460% 2.0% 2.5% 2.7% 2.5%
56 0.9000% 1.552% 2.052% 2.5% 2.7% 2.6%
57 0.9667% 1.650% 2.104% 2.5% 2.7% 2.7%
58 1.0334% 1.758% 2.156% 2.5% 2.7% 2.8%
59 1.1000% 1.874% 2.210% 2.5% 2.7% 2.9%
60 1.1667% 2.0% 2.262% 2.5% 2.7% 3.0%
61 1.2334% 2.134% 2.314% 2.5% 2.7% 3.0%
62 1.3000% 2.272% 2.366% 2.5% 2.7% 3.0%
63 1.3667% 2.418% 2.418% 2.5% 2.7% 3.0%
64 1.4334% 2.418% 2.418% 2.5% 2.7% 3.0%
65 & Up 1.5000% 2.418% 2.418% 2.5% 2.7% 3.0%
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX B
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-2
Safety Plan Formulas
Retirement
Age ½ at 55 * 2% at 55 2% at 50 3% at 55 3% at 50
50 1.783% 1.426% 2.0% 2.40% 3.0%
51 1.903% 1.522% 2.14% 2.52% 3.0%
52 2.035% 1.628% 2.28% 2.64% 3.0%
53 2.178% 1.742% 2.42% 2.76% 3.0%
54 2.333% 1.866% 2.56% 2.88% 3.0%
55 & Up 2.5% 2.0% 2.7% 3.0% 3.0%
* For this formula, the benefit factor also varies by entry age. The factors shown are for members with an entry age
of 35 or greater. If entry age is less than 35, then the age 55 benefit factor is 50% divided by the difference between
age 55 and entry age. The benefit factor for ages prior to age 55 is the same proportion of the age 55 benefit factor
as in the above table.
The years of service is the amount credited by CalPERS to a member while he or she is employed in this group
(or for other periods that are recognized under the employer’s contract with CalPERS). For a member who has
earned service with multiple CalPERS employers, the benefit from each employer is calculated separately
according to each employer’s contract, and then added together for the total allowance. An agency may contract
for an optional benefit where any unused sick leave accumulated at the time of retirement will be converted to
credited service at a rate of 0.004 years of service for each day of sick leave.
The final compensation is the monthly average of the member’s highest 36 or 12 consecutive months’ full-time
equivalent monthly pay (no matter which CalPERS employer paid this compensation). The standard benefit is 36
months. Employers have the option of providing a final compensation equal to the highest 12 consecutive
months. Final compensation must be defined by the highest 36 consecutive months’ pay under the 1.5% at 65
formula.
Employees must be covered by Social Security with the 1.5% at 65 formula. Social Security is optional for all
other benefit formulas. For employees covered by Social Security, the Modified formula is the standard benefit.
Under this type of formula, the final compensation is offset by $133.33 (or by one third if the final co mpensation
is less than $400). Employers may contract for the Full benefit with Social Security that will eliminate the offset
applicable to the final compensation. For employees not covered by Social Security, the Full benefit is paid with
no offsets. Auxiliary organizations of the CSUC system may elect reduced contribution rates, in which case the
offset is $317 if members are not covered by Social Security or $513 if members are covered by Social Security.
The Miscellaneous Service Retirement benefit is not capped. The Safety Service Retirement benefit is capped at
90 percent of final compensation.
Vested Deferred Retirement
Eligibility for Deferred Status
A CalPERS member becomes eligible for a deferred vested retirement benefit when he or she leaves employment,
keeps his or her contribution account balance on deposit with CalPERS, and has earned at least 5 years of credited
service (total service across all CalPERS employers, and with certain other Retirement Systems with which CalPERS
has reciprocity agreements).
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX B
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-3
Eligibility to Start Receiving Benefits
The CalPERS member becomes eligible to receive the deferred retirement benefit upon satisfying the eligibility
requirements for Deferred Status and upon attainment of age 50 (55 for employees hired into a 1.5% @ 65 plan).
Benefit
The vested deferred retirement benefit is the same as the Service Retirement benefit, where the benefit factor is
based on the member’s age at allowance commencement. For members who have earned service with multiple
CalPERS employers, the benefit from each employer is calculated separately according to each employer’s contract,
and then added together for the total allowance.
Non-Industrial (Non-Job Related) Disability Retirement
Eligibility
A CalPERS member is eligible for Non-Industrial Disability Retirement if he or she becomes disabled and has at least
5 years of credited service (total service across all CalPERS employers, and with certain other Retirement Systems
with which CalPERS has reciprocity agreements). There is no special age requirement. Disabled means the member is
unable to perform his or her job because of an illness or injury, which is expected to be permanent or to last
indefinitely. The illness or injury does not have to be job related. A CalPERS member must be actively employed by
any CalPERS employer at the time of disability in order to be eligible for this benefit.
Standard Benefit
The standard Non-Industrial Disability Retirement benefit is a monthly allowance equal to 1.8 percent of final
compensation, multiplied by service, which is determined as follows:
Service is CalPERS credited service, for members with less than 10 years of service or greater than 18.518 years
of service; or
Service is CalPERS credited service plus the additional number of years that the member would have worked
until age 60, for members with at least 10 years but not more than 18.518 years of service. The maximum
benefit in this case is 33 1/3 percent of Final Compensation.
Improved Benefit
Employers have the option of providing the improved Non-Industrial Disability Retirement benefit. This benefit
provides a monthly allowance equal to 30% of final compensation for the first 5 years of service, plus 1% for each
additional year of service to a maximum of 50% of final compensation.
Members who are eligible for a larger service retirement benefit may choose to receive that benefit in lieu of a
disability benefit. Members eligible to retire, and who have attained the normal retirement age determined by their
service retirement benefit formula, will receive the same dollar amount for disability retirement as that payable for
service retirement. For members who have earned service with multiple CalPERS employers, the benefit attributed to
each employer is the total disability allowance multiplied by the ratio of service with a particular employer to the total
CalPERS service.
Industrial (Job Related) Disability Retirement
All safety members have this benefit. For miscellaneous members, employers have the option of providing this
benefit. An employer may choose to provide the Increased benefit option or the Improved benefit option.
Eligibility
An employee is eligible for Industrial Disability Retirement if he or she becomes disabled while working, where
disabled means the member is unable to perform the duties of the job because of a work-related illness or injury,
which is, expected to be permanent or to last indefinitely. A CalPERS member who has left active employment within
this group is not eligible for this benefit, except to the extent described below.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX B
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-4
Standard Benefit
The standard Industrial Disability Retirement benefit is a monthly allowance equal to 50 percent of final
compensation.
Increased Benefit (75 percent of Final Compensation)
The increased Industrial Disability Retirement benefit is a monthly allowance equal to 75 percent final compensation
for total disability.
Improved Benefit (50 percent to 90 percent of Final Compensation)
The improved Industrial Disability Retirement benefit is a monthly allowance equal to the Workman’s Compensation
Appeals Board permanent disability rate percentage (if 50 percent or greater, with a maximum of 90 percent) times
the final compensation.
For a CalPERS member not actively employed in this group who became disabled while employed by some other
CalPERS employer, the benefit is a return of accumulated member contributions with respect to employment in this
group. With the standard or increased benefit, a member may also choose to receive the annuitization of the
accumulated member contributions.
If a member is eligible for Service Retirement and if the Service Retirement benefit is more than the Industrial
Disability Retirement benefit, the member may choose to receive the larger benefit.
Post-Retirement Death Benefit
Standard Lump Sum Payment
Upon the death of a retiree, a one-time lump sum payment of $500 will be made to the retiree’s designated
survivor(s), or to the retiree’s estate.
Improved Lump Sum Payment
Employers have the option of providing an improved lump sum death benefit of $600, $2,000, $3,000, $4,000 or
$5,000.
Form of Payment for Retirement Allowance
Standard Form of Payment
Generally, the retirement allowance is paid to the retiree in the form of an annuity for as long as he or she is alive.
The retiree may choose to provide for a portion of his or her allowance to be paid to any designated beneficiary after
the retiree’s death. CalPERS provides for a variety of such benefit options, which the retiree pays for by taking a
reduction in his or her retirement allowance. Such reduction takes into account the amount to be provided to the
beneficiary and the probable duration of payments (based on the ages of the member and beneficiary) m ade
subsequent to the member’s death.
Improved Form of Payment (Post Retirement Survivor Allowance)
Employers have the option to contract for the post retirement survivor allowance.
For retirement allowances with respect to service subject to the modified formula, 25 percent of the retirement
allowance will automatically be continued to certain statutory beneficiaries upon the death of the retiree, without a
reduction in the retiree’s allowance. For retirement allowances with respect to service subject to the full or
supplemental formula, 50 percent of the retirement allowance will automatically be continued to certain statutory
beneficiaries upon the death of the retiree, without a reduction in the retiree’s allowance. This additional benefit is
often referred to as post retirement survivor allowance (PRSA) or simply as survivor continuance.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX B
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-5
In other words, 25 percent or 50 percent of the allowance, the continuance portion, is paid to the retiree for as long
as he or she is alive, and that same amount is continued to the retiree’s spouse (or if no eligible spouse, to
unmarried children until they attain age 18; or, if no eligible children, to a qualifying dependent parent) for the rest
of his or her lifetime. This benefit will not be discontinued in the event the spouse remarries.
The remaining 75 percent or 50 percent of the retirement allowance, which may be referred to as the option portion
of the benefit, is paid to the retiree as an annuity for as long as he or she is alive. Or, the retiree may choose to
provide for some of this option portion to be paid to any designated beneficiary after the retiree’s death. Benefit
options applicable to the option portion are the same as those offered with the standard form. The reduction is
calculated in the same manner but is applied only to the option portion.
Pre-Retirement Death Benefits
Basic Death Benefit
This is a standard benefit.
Eligibility
An employee’s beneficiary (or estate) may receive the Basic Death benefit if the member dies while actively
employed. A CalPERS member must be actively employed with the CalPERS employer providing this benefit to be
eligible for this benefit. A member’s survivor who is eligible for any other pre-retirement death benefit may choose to
receive that death benefit instead of this Basic Death benefit.
Benefit
The Basic Death Benefit is a lump sum in the amount of the member’s accumulated contributions, where interest is
currently credited at 7.5 percent per year, plus a lump sum in the amount of one month's salary for each completed
year of current service, up to a maximum of six months' salary. For purposes of this benefit, one month's salary is
defined as the member's average monthly full-time rate of compensation during the 12 months preceding death.
1957 Survivor Benefit
This is a standard benefit.
Eligibility
An employee’s eligible survivor(s) may receive the 1957 Survivor benefit if the member dies while actively employed,
has attained at least age 50, and has at least 5 years of credited service (total service across all CalPERS employers
and with certain other Retirement Systems with which CalPERS has reciprocity agreements). A CalPERS member
must be actively employed with the CalPERS employer providing this benefit to be eligible for this benefit. An eligible
survivor means the surviving spouse to whom the member was married at least one year before death or, if there is
no eligible spouse, to the member's unmarried children under age 18. A member’s survivor who is eligible for any
other pre-retirement death benefit may choose to receive that death benefit instead of this 1957 Survivor ben efit.
Benefit
The 1957 Survivor benefit is a monthly allowance equal to one-half of the unmodified Service Retirement benefit that
the member would have been entitled to receive if the member had retired on the date of his or her death. If the
benefit is payable to the spouse, the benefit is discontinued upon the death of the spouse. If the benefit is payable to
a dependent child, the benefit will be discontinued upon death or attainment of age 18, unless the child is disabled.
The total amount paid will be at least equal to the Basic Death benefit.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX B
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-6
Optional Settlement 2W Death Benefit
This is an optional benefit.
Eligibility
An employee’s eligible survivor may receive the Optional Settlement 2W Death benefit if the member dies while
actively employed, has attained at least age 50, and has at least 5 years of credited service (total service across all
CalPERS employers and with certain other Retirement Systems with which CalPERS has reciprocity agreements). A
CalPERS member who is no longer actively employed with any CalPERS employer is not eligible for this benefit. An
eligible survivor means the surviving spouse to whom the member was married at least one year before death. A
member’s survivor who is eligible for any other pre-retirement death benefit may choose to receive that death benefit
instead of this Optional Settlement 2W Death benefit.
Benefit
The Optional Settlement 2W Death benefit is a monthly allowance equal to the Service Retirement benefit that the
member would have received had the member retired on the date of his or her death and elected Optional
Settlement 2W. (A retiree who elects Optional Settlement 2W receives an allowance that has been reduced so that it
will continue to be paid after his or her death to a surviving beneficiary.) The allowance is payable as long as the
surviving spouse lives, at which time it is continued to any unmarried children under age 18, if applicable. The total
amount paid will be at least equal to the Basic Death Benefit.
Special Death Benefit
This is a standard benefit for safety members. An employer may elect to provide this benefit for miscellaneous
members.
Eligibility
An employee’s eligible survivor(s) may receive the Special Death benefit if the member dies while actively employed
and the death is job-related. A CalPERS member who is no longer actively employed with any CalPERS employer is
not eligible for this benefit. An eligible survivor means the surviving spouse to whom the member was married prior
to the onset of the injury or illness that resulted in death. If there is no eligible spouse, an eligible survivor means the
member's unmarried children under age 22. An eligible survivor who chooses to receive this benefit will not receive
any other death benefit.
Benefit
The Special Death benefit is a monthly allowance equal to 50% of final compensation, and will be increased
whenever the compensation paid to active employees is increased but ceasing to increase when the member would
have attained age 50. The allowance is payable to the surviving spouse until death at which time the allowance is
continued to any unmarried children under age 22. There is a guarantee that the total amount paid will at least equal
the Basic Death Benefit.
If the member’s death is the result of an accident or injury caused by external violence or physical force incurred in
the performance of the member’s duty, and there are eligible surviving children (eligible means unmarried children
under age 22) in addition to an eligible spouse, then an additional monthly allowance is paid equal to the
following:
if 1 eligible child: 12.5% of final compensation
if 2 eligible children: 20.0% of final compensation
if 3 or more eligible children: 25.0% of final compensation
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX B
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-7
Alternate Death Benefit for Local Fire Members
This is an optional benefit available only to local fire members.
Eligibility
An employee’s eligible survivor(s) may receive the Alternate Death benefit in lieu of the Basic Death Benefit or the
1957 Survivor Benefit if the member dies while actively employed and has at least 20 years of total CalPERS service.
A CalPERS member who is no longer actively employed with any CalPERS employer is not eligible for this benefit. An
eligible survivor means the surviving spouse to whom the member was married prior to the onset of the injury or
illness that resulted in death. If there is no eligible spouse, an eligible survivor means the member's unmarried
children under age 18.
Benefit
The Alternate Death benefit is a monthly allowance equal to the Service Retirement benefit that the member would
have received had the member retired on the date of his or her death and elected Optional Settlement 2W. (A retiree
who elects Optional Settlement 2W receives an allowance that has been reduced so that it will continue to be paid
after his or her death to a surviving beneficiary.) If the member has not yet attained age 50, the benefit is equal to
that which would be payable if the member had retired at age 50, based on service credited at the time of death.
The allowance is payable as long as the surviving spouse lives, at which time it is continued to any unmarried
children under age 18, if applicable. The total amount paid will be at least equal to the Basic Death Benefit.
Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA)
Standard Benefit
Beginning the second calendar year after the year of retirement, retirement and survivor allowances will be annually
adjusted on a compound basis by 2 percent.
Improved Benefit
Employers have the option of providing any of these improved cost-of-living adjustments by contracting for any one
of these Class 1 optional benefits. An improved COLA is not available in conjunction with the 1.5% at 65 formula.
Beginning the second calendar year after the year of retirement, retirement and survivor allowances will be annually
adjusted on a compound basis by either 3 percent, 4 percent or 5 percent. However, the cumulative adjustment may
not be greater than the cumulative change in the Consumer Price Index since the date of retirement.
Purchasing Power Protection Allowance (PPPA)
Retirement and survivor allowances are protected against inflation by PPPA. PPPA benefits are cost-of-living
adjustments that are intended to maintain an individual’s allowance at 80 percent of the initial allowance at
retirement adjusted for inflation since retirement. The PPPA benefit will be coordinated with other cost-of-living
adjustments provided under the plan.
Employee Contributions
Each employee contributes toward his or her retirement based upon the retirement formula. The standard employee
contribution is as described below.
The percent contributed below the monthly compensation breakpoint is 0 percent.
The monthly compensation breakpoint is $0 for full and supplemental formula members and $133.33 for
employees covered by the modified formula.
The percent contributed above the monthly compensation breakpoint depends upon the benefit formula, as
shown in the table below.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX B
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-8
Benefit Formula Percent Contributed above the
Breakpoint
Miscellaneous, 1.5% at 65 2%
Miscellaneous, 2% at 60 7%
Miscellaneous, 2% at 55 7%
Miscellaneous, 2.5% at 55 8%
Miscellaneous, 2.7% at 55 8%
Miscellaneous, 3% at 60 8%
Safety, 1/2 at 55 Varies by entry age
Safety, 2% at 55 7%
Safety, 2% at 50 9%
Safety, 3% at 55 9%
Safety, 3% at 50 9%
The employer may choose to “pick-up” these contributions for the employees (Employer Paid Member Contributions
or EPMC). An employer may also include Employee Cost Sharing in the contract, where employees contribute an
additional percentage of compensation based on any optional benefit for which a contract amendment was made on
or after January 1, 1979.
Auxiliary organizations of the CSUC system may elect reduced contribution rates, in which case the offset is $317 and
the contribution rate is 6 percent if members are not covered by Social Security. If members are covered by Social
Security, the offset is $513 and the contribution rate is 5 percent.
Refund of Employee Contributions
If the member’s service with the employer ends, and if the member does not satisfy the eligibility conditions for any
of the retirement benefits above, the member may elect to receive a refund of his or her employee contributions,
which are credited annually with 6 percent interest.
1959 Survivor Benefit
This is a pre-retirement death benefit available only to members not covered by Social Security. Any agency joining
CalPERS subsequent to 1993 was required to provide this benefit if the members were n ot covered by Social
Security. The benefit is optional for agencies joining CalPERS prior to 1994. Levels 1, 2 and 3 are now closed. Any
new agency or any agency wishing to add this benefit or increase the current level must choose the 4th or Indexed
Level.
This benefit is not included in the results presented in this valuation. More information on this benefit is available on
the CalPERS website at www.calpers.ca.gov.
APPENDIX C
PARTICIPANT DATA
SUMMARY OF VALUATION DATA
ACTIVE MEMBERS
TRANSFERRED AND TERMINATED MEMBERS
RETIRED MEMBERS AND BENEFICIARIES
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX C
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PARTICIPANT DATA
C-1
Summary of Valuation Data
June 30, 2011 June 30, 2012
1. Active Members
a) Counts 765 794
b) Average Attained Age
45.40 45.88
c) Average Entry Age to Rate Plan 34.90 35.18
d) Average Years of Service 10.50 10.70
e) Average Annual Covered Pay $ 78,821 $ 79,233
f) Annual Covered Payroll 60,297,783 62,910,810
g) Projected Annual Payroll for Contribution Year 65,889,016 68,744,341
h) Present Value of Future Payroll 484,783,561 496,755,984
2. Transferred Members
a) Counts 294 288
b) Average Attained Age 46.14 46.23
c) Average Years of Service 3.59 3.49
d) Average Annual Covered Pay $ 107,846 $ 105,875
3. Terminated Members
a) Counts 305 321
b) Average Attained Age 46.66 46.83
c) Average Years of Service 3.47 3.47
d) Average Annual Covered Pay $ 59,389 $ 62,330
4. Retired Members and Beneficiaries
a) Counts 941 960
b) Average Attained Age 67.91 68.24
c) Average Annual Benefits $ 29,501 $ 30,175
5. Active to Retired Ratio [(1a) / (4a)] 0.81 0.83
Counts of members included in the valuation are counts of the records processed by the valuation. Multiple
records may exist for those who have service in more than one valuation group. This does not result in
double counting of liabilities.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX C
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PARTICIPANT DATA
C-2
Active Members
Counts of members included in the valuation are counts of the records processed by the valuation. Multiple records
may exist for those who have service in more than one valuation group. This does not result in double counting of
liabilities.
Distribution of Active Members by Age and Service
Years of Service at Valuation Date
Attained
Age 0-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-25 25+ Total
15-24 9 0 0 0 0 0 9
25-29 46 2 1 0 0 0 49
30-34 52 29 12 1 0 0 94
35-39 32 25 20 7 1 0 85
40-44 40 20 30 14 6 0 110
45-49 34 18 28 27 19 12 138
50-54 31 17 38 29 21 20 156
55-59 20 19 11 21 7 13 91
60-64 9 6 12 9 10 1 47
65 and over 1 3 3 2 3 3 15
All Ages 274 139 155 110 67 49 794
Distribution of Average Annual Salaries by Age and Service
Years of Service at Valuation Date
Attained
Age 0-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-25 25+ Average
15-24 $49,528 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $49,528
25-29 60,758 74,060 54,891 0 0 0 61,181
30-34 67,664 72,839 79,649 78,616 0 0 70,907
35-39 68,842 74,439 78,749 88,654 78,478 0 74,564
40-44 79,619 82,932 86,252 93,351 87,884 0 84,229
45-49 78,424 82,839 76,543 82,849 82,400 100,517 81,953
50-54 77,436 83,540 87,340 81,768 89,752 96,716 85,449
55-59 81,468 83,353 81,984 84,326 77,889 87,503 83,170
60-64 82,432 73,270 95,380 77,570 89,776 132,219 86,259
65 and over 6,600 42,655 70,091 75,213 77,511 69,594 62,438
All Ages $71,502 $78,005 $83,174 $83,943 $85,548 $94,266 $79,233
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX C
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PARTICIPANT DATA
C-3
Transferred and Terminated Members
Distribution of Transfers to Other CalPERS Plans by Age and Service
Years of Service at Valuation Date
Attained
Age 0-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-25 25+ Total
Average
Salary
15-24 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 $53,573
25-29 13 0 0 0 0 0 13 94,614
30-34 31 1 0 0 0 0 32 94,369
35-39 32 3 0 0 0 0 35 104,623
40-44 32 8 0 1 0 0 41 99,092
45-49 41 15 1 1 1 0 59 110,488
50-54 36 8 6 1 0 0 51 113,832
55-59 23 6 3 2 1 0 35 110,754
60-64 5 6 1 0 0 0 12 107,871
65 and over 4 3 1 0 0 1 9 107,654
All Ages 218 50 12 5 2 1 288 105,875
Distribution of Terminated Participants with Funds on Deposit by Age and Service
Years of Service at Valuation Date
Attained
Age 0-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-25 25+ Total
Average
Salary
15-24 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 $62,303
25-29 11 1 0 0 0 0 12 56,353
30-34 31 3 0 0 0 0 34 60,782
35-39 32 6 0 0 0 0 38 58,154
40-44 35 10 3 0 0 0 48 68,398
45-49 44 13 5 0 1 0 63 59,969
50-54 35 12 5 4 0 0 56 66,621
55-59 24 5 2 1 0 1 33 63,902
60-64 17 5 3 1 0 0 26 57,558
65 and over 8 0 1 0 0 0 9 59,272
All Ages 239 55 19 6 1 1 321 62,330
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX C
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PARTICIPANT DATA
C-4
Retired Members and Beneficiaries
Distribution of Retirees and Beneficiaries by Age and Retirement Type*
Attained
Age
Service
Retirement
Non-
Industrial
Disability
Industrial
Disability
Non-
Industrial
Death
Industrial
Death
Death
After
Retirement Total
Under 30 0 0 0 0 0 3 3
30-34 0 0 1 0 0 1 2
35-39 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
40-44 0 2 1 0 0 0 3
45-49 0 5 2 0 0 1 8
50-54 37 9 1 0 0 1 48
55-59 122 8 1 0 0 4 135
60-64 166 11 1 0 0 14 192
65-69 184 12 2 0 0 11 209
70-74 112 7 2 0 0 13 134
75-79 68 3 1 0 0 6 78
80-84 49 5 0 0 0 20 74
85 and Over 51 1 0 0 0 21 73
All Ages 789 63 13 0 0 95 960
Distribution of Average Annual Amounts for Retirees and Beneficiaries by Age
and Retirement Type*
Attained
Age
Service
Retirement
Non-
Industrial
Disability
Industrial
Disability
Non-
Industrial
Death
Industrial
Death
Death
After
Retirement Average
Under 30 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $11,856 $11,856
30-34 0 0 237 0 0 10,689 5,463
35-39 0 0 272 0 0 0 272
40-44 0 11,177 234 0 0 0 7,529
45-49 0 10,916 606 0 0 6,184 7,747
50-54 30,217 12,157 1,491 0 0 25,542 26,135
55-59 44,066 12,452 10,680 0 0 16,820 41,138
60-64 38,699 17,216 1,991 0 0 30,487 36,678
65-69 31,644 14,420 8,733 0 0 18,823 29,761
70-74 28,972 17,586 1,725 0 0 24,221 27,510
75-79 28,003 22,934 3,935 0 0 21,052 26,965
80-84 21,171 15,577 0 0 0 23,601 21,450
85 and Over 19,562 14,535 0 0 0 17,953 19,031
All Ages $32,858 $14,805 $3,151 $0 $0 $21,783 $30,175
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX C
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PARTICIPANT DATA
C-5
Retired Members and Beneficiaries (continued)
Distribution of Retirees and Beneficiaries by Years Retired and Retirement Type*
Years
Retired
Service
Retirement
Non-
Industrial
Disability
Industrial
Disability
Non-
Industrial
Death
Industrial
Death
Death
After
Retirement Total
Under 5 Yrs 298 9 4 0 0 32 343
5-9 193 12 3 0 0 24 232
10-14 133 10 4 0 0 14 161
15-19 72 16 2 0 0 9 99
20-24 49 11 0 0 0 11 71
25-29 23 2 0 0 0 4 29
30 and Over 21 3 0 0 0 1 25
All Years 789 63 13 0 0 95 960
Distribution of Average Annual Amounts for Retirees and Beneficiaries by Years Retired and
Retirement Type*
Years
Retired
Service
Retirement
Non-
Industrial
Disability
Industrial
Disability
Non-
Industrial
Death
Industrial
Death
Death
After
Retirement Average
Under 5 Yrs $43,799 $9,761 $257 $0 $0 $28,224 $40,945
5-9 32,390 16,162 9,379 0 0 20,661 30,040
10-14 26,953 18,824 2,009 0 0 21,803 25,380
15-19 19,166 19,104 1,884 0 0 16,293 18,546
20-24 18,606 9,162 0 0 0 14,908 16,570
25-29 18,704 8,377 0 0 0 12,222 17,098
30 and Over 14,987 13,152 0 0 0 5,564 14,390
All Years $32,858 $14,805 $3,151 $0 $0 $21,783 $30,175
* Counts of members do not include alternate payees receiving benefits while the member is still working.
Therefore, the total counts may not match information on page 25 of the report. Multiple records may exist for
those who have service in more than one coverage group. This does not result in double counting of liabilities.
APPENDIX D
GLOSSARY OF ACTUARIAL TERMS
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX D
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
GLOSSARY OF ACTUARIAL TERMS
D-1
Glossary of Actuarial Terms
Accrued Liability (also called Actuarial Accrued Liability or Entry Age Normal Accrued Liability)
The total dollars needed as of the valuation date to fund all benefits earned in the past for current members.
Actuarial Assumptions
Assumptions made about certain events that will affect pension costs. Assumptions generally can be broken
down into two categories: demographic and economic. Demographic assumptions include such things as
mortality, disability and retirement rates. Economic assumptions include discount rate, salary growth and
inflation.
Actuarial Methods
Procedures employed by actuaries to achieve certain funding goals of a pension plan. Actuarial methods include
funding method, setting the length of time to fund the Accrued Liability and determining the Actuarial Value of
Assets.
Actuarial Valuation
The determination, as of a valuation date, of the Normal Cost, Accrued liability, Actuarial Value of Assets and
related actuarial present values for a pension plan. These valuations are performed annually or when an
employer is contemplating a change to their plan provisions.
Actuarial Value of Assets
The Actuarial Value of Assets used for funding purposes is obtained through an asset smoothing technique
where investment gains and losses are partially recognized in the year they are incurred, with the remainder
recognized in subsequent years.
This method helps to dampen large fluctuations in the employer contribution rate.
Amortization Bases
Separate payment schedules for different portions of the Unfunded Liability. The total Unfunded Liability of a
Risk Pool or non-pooled plan can be segregated by "cause,” creating “bases” and each such base will be
separately amortized and paid for over a specific period of time. However, all bases are amortized using
investment and payroll assumptions from the current valuation. This can be likened to a home having a first
mortgage of 24 years remaining payments and a second mortgage that has 10 years remaining payments. Each
base or each mortgage note has its own terms (payment period, principal, etc.)
Generally, in an actuarial valuation, the separate bases consist of changes in unfunded liability due to contract
amendments, actuarial assumption changes, actuarial methodology changes, and or gains and losses. Payment
periods are determined by Board policy and vary based on the cause of the change.
Amortization Period
The number of years required to pay off an Amortization Base.
Annual Required Contributions (ARC)
The employer's periodic required annual contributions to a defined benefit pension plan as set forth in GASB
Statement No. 27, calculated in accordance with the plan assumptions. The ARC is determined by multiplying the
employer contribution rate by the payroll reported to CalPERS for the applicable fiscal year. However, if this
contribution is fully prepaid in a lump sum, then the dollar value of the ARC is equal to the Lump Sum
Prepayment.
Classic Member (under PEPRA)
A classic member is a member who joined CalPERS prior to January, 1, 2013 and who is not defined as a new
member under PEPRA. (See definition of new member below)
Discount Rate Assumption
The actuarial assumption that was called “investment return” in earlier CalPERS reports or “actuarial interest
rate” in Section 20014 of the California Public Employees’ Retirement Law (PERL).
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX D
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
GLOSSARY OF ACTUARIAL TERMS
D-2
Entry Age
The earliest age at which a plan member begins to accrue benefits under a defined benefit pension plan. In
most cases, this is the age of the member on their date of hire.
Entry Age Normal Cost Method
An actuarial cost method designed to fund a member's total plan benefit over the course of his or her career.
This method is designed to yield a rate expressed as a level percentage of payroll.
(The assumed retirement age less the entry age is the amount of time required to fund a member’s total benefit.
Generally, the older a member on the date of hire, the greater the entry age normal cost. This is mainly because
there is less time to earn investment income to fund the future benefits.)
Fresh Start
A Fresh Start is when multiple amortization bases are collapsed to one base and amortized together over a new
funding period.
Funded Status
A measure of how well funded, or how "on track" a plan or risk pool is with respect to assets verses accrued
liabilities. A ratio greater than 100% means the plan or risk pool has more assets than liabilities and a ratio less
than 100% means liabilities are greater than assets. A funded ratio based on the Actuarial Value of Assets
indicates the progress toward fully funding the plan using the actuarial cost methods and assumptions. A funded
ratio based on the Market Value of Assets indicates the short-term solvency of the plan.
GASB 27
Statement No. 27 of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board. The accounting standard governing a state
or local governmental employer’s accounting for pensions.
GASB 68
Statement No. 68 of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board. The accounting standard governing a state
or local governmental employer’s accounting and financial reporting for pensions. GASB 68 replaces GASB 27
effective the first fiscal year beginning after June 15, 2014.
New Member (under PEPRA)
A new member includes an individual who becomes a member of a public retirement system for the
first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who was not a member of another public retirement
system prior to that date, and who is not subject to reciprocity with another public retirement
system.
Normal Cost
The annual cost of service accrual for the upcoming fiscal year for active employees. The normal cost should be
viewed as the long term contribution rate.
Pension Actuary
A business professional that is authorized by the Society of Actuaries, and the American Academy of Actuaries to
perform the calculations necessary to properly fund a pension plan.
PEPRA
The California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013
Prepayment Contribution
A payment made by the employer to reduce or eliminate the year’s required employer contribution.
Present Value of Benefits (PVB)
The total dollars needed as of the valuation date to fund all benefits earned in the past or expected to be earned
in the future for current members.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX D
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
GLOSSARY OF ACTUARIAL TERMS
D-3
Rolling Amortization Period
An amortization period that remains the same each year, rather than declining.
Superfunded
A condition existing when a plan’s Actuarial Value of Assets exceeds its Present Value of Benefits. Prior to the
passage of PEPRA, when this condition existed on a given valuation date for a given plan, employee
contributions for the rate year covered by that valuation could be waived.
Unfunded Liability
When a plan or pool’s Actuarial Value of Assets is less than its Accrued Liability, the difference is the plan or
pool’s Unfunded Liability. If the Unfunded Liability is positive, the plan or pool will have to pay contributions
exceeding the Normal Cost.
California Public Employees’ Retirement System
Actuarial Office
P.O. Box 942701
Sacramento, CA 94229-2701
TTY: (916) 795-3240
(888) 225-7377 phone • (916) 795-2744 fax
www.calpers.ca.gov
October 2013
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO (CalPERS ID: 6373437857)
Annual Valuation Report as of June 30, 2012
Dear Employer,
As an attachment to this letter, you will find a copy of the June 30, 2012 actuarial valuation
report of your pension plan. Your 2012 actuarial valuation report contains important actuarial
information about your pension plan at CalPERS. Your CalPERS staff actuary, whose signature
appears in the Actuarial Certification Section on page 1, is available to discuss the report with you
after October 31, 2013.
Future Contribution Rates
The exhibit below displays the Minimum Employer Contribution Rate for fiscal year 2014-15 and a
projected contribution rate for 2015-16, before any cost sharing. The projected rate for 2015-16
is based on the most recent information available, including an estimate of the investment return
for fiscal year 2012-13, namely 12 percent, and the impact of the new smoothing methods
adopted by the CalPERS Board in April 2013 that will impact employer rates for the first time in
fiscal year 2015-16. For a projection of employer rates beyond 2015-16, please refer to the
“Analysis of Future Investment Return Scenarios” in the “Risk Analysis” section, which includes
rate projections through 2019-20 under a variety of investment return scenarios. Please disregard
any projections that we may have provided you in the past.
Fiscal Year Employer Contribution Rate
2014-15 39.528%
2015-16 42.1% (projected)
Member contributions other than cost sharing, (whether paid by the employer or the employee)
are in addition to the above rates. The employer contribution rates in this report do not
reflect any cost sharing arrangement you may have with your employees.
The estimate for 2015-16 also assumes that there are no future contract amendments and no
liability gains or losses (such as larger than expected pay increases, more retirements than
expected, etc.). This is a very important assumption because these gains and losses do occur and
can have a significant impact on your contribution rate. Even for the largest plans, such gains
and losses often cause a change in the employer’s contribution rate of one or two percent of
payroll and may be even larger in some less common instances. These gains and losses cannot
be predicted in advance so the projected employer contribution rates are just estimates. Your
actual rate for 2015-16 will be provided in next year’s report.
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
(CalPERS ID: 6373437857)
Annual Valuation Report as of June 30, 2012
Page 2
Changes since the Prior Year’s Valuation
On January 1, 2013, the Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) took effect. The
impact of most of the PEPRA changes will first show up in the rates and the benefit provision
listings of the June 30, 2013 valuation for the 2015-16 rates. For more information on PEPRA,
please refer to the CalPERS website.
On April 17, 2013, the CalPERS Board of Administration approved a recommendation to change
the CalPERS amortization and rate smoothing policies. Beginning with the June 30, 2013
valuations that set the 2015-16 rates, CalPERS will no longer use an actuarial value of assets and
will employ an amortization and smoothing policy that will pay for all gains and losses over a
fixed 30-year period with the increases or decreases in the rate spread directly over a 5-year
period. The impact of this new actuarial methodology is reflected in the “Analysis of Future
Investment Return Scenarios” subsection of the “Risk Analysis” section of your report.
A review of the preferred asset allocation mix for CalPERS investment portfolio will be performed
in late 2013, which could influence future discount rates. In addition, CalPERS will review
economic and demographic assumptions, including mortality rate improvements that are likely to
increase employer contribution rates in future years. The “Analysis of Future Investment Return
Scenarios” subsection does not reflect the impact of assumption changes that we expect will
also impact future rates.
Besides the above noted changes, there may also be changes specific to your plan such as
contract amendments and funding changes.
Further descriptions of general changes are included in the “Highlights and Executive Summary”
section and in Appendix A, “Actuarial Methods and Assumptions.” The effect of the changes on
your rate is included in the “Reconciliation of Required Employer Contributions.”
We understand that you might have a number of questions about these results. While we are
very interested in discussing these results with your agency, in the interest of allowing us to give
every public agency their results, we ask that you wait until after October 31 to contact us with
actuarial questions. If you have other questions, you may call the Customer Contact Center at
(888)-CalPERS or (888-225-7377).
Sincerely,
ALAN MILLIGAN
Chief Actuary
ACTUARIAL VALUATION
as of June 30, 2012
for the
SAFETY PLAN
of the
CITY OF PALO ALTO
(CalPERS ID: 6373437857)
REQUIRED CONTRIBUTIONS
FOR FISCAL YEAR
July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2015
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACTUARIAL CERTIFICATION 1
HIGHLIGHTS AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Introduction 5
Purpose of the Report 5
Required Employer Contribution 6
Plan’s Funded Status 6
Cost 7
Changes Since the Prior Year’s Valuation 8
Subsequent Events 8
ASSETS
Reconciliation of the Market Value of Assets 11
Development of the Actuarial Value of Assets 11
Asset Allocation 12
CalPERS History of Investment Returns 13
LIABILITIES AND RATES
Development of Accrued and Unfunded Liabilities 17
(Gain) / Loss Analysis 06/30/11 - 06/30/12 18
Schedule of Amortization Bases 19
Reconciliation of Required Employer Contributions 20
Employer Contribution Rate History 21
Funding History 21
RISK ANALYSIS
Volatility Ratios 25
Projected Rates 26
Analysis of Future Investment Return Scenarios 26
Analysis of Discount Rate Sensitivity 27
Hypothetical Termination Liability 28
GASB STATEMENT NO. 27
Information for compliance with GASB Statement No. 27 31
PLAN’S MAJOR BENEFIT PROVISIONS
Plan’s Major Benefit Options 35
APPENDIX A – ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS A1 - A17
APPENDIX B – PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS B1 - B8
APPENDIX C – PARTICIPANT DATA
Summary of Valuation Data C-1
Active Members C-2
Transferred and Terminated Members C-3
Retired Members and Beneficiaries C-4
APPENDIX D – GLOSSARY OF ACTUARIAL TERMS D1 – D3
(CY) FIN PROCESS CONTROL ID: 413892 (PY) FIN PROCESS CONTROL ID: 393233 REPORT ID: 72525
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 1
ACTUARIAL CERTIFICATION
To the best of our knowledge, this report is complete and accurate and contains sufficient information to
disclose, fully and fairly, the funded condition of the SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO. This
valuation is based on the member and financial data as of June 30, 2012 provided by the various CalPERS
databases and the benefits under this plan with CalPERS as of the date this report was produced. It is our
opinion that the valuation has been performed in accordance with generally accepted actuarial principles, in
accordance with standards of practice prescribed by the Actuarial Standards Board, and that the
assumptions and methods are internally consistent and reasonable for this plan, as prescribed by the
CalPERS Board of Administration according to provisions set forth in the California Public Employees’
Retirement Law.
The undersigned is an actuary for CalPERS, who is a member of the American Academy of Actuaries and the
Society of Actuaries and meets the Qualification Standards of the American Academy of Actuaries to render
the actuarial opinion contained herein.
DAVID CLEMENT, ASA, MAAA, EA
Senior Pension Actuary, CalPERS
HIGHLIGHTS AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
PURPOSE OF THE REPORT
REQUIRED EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION
PLAN’S FUNDED STATUS
COST
CHANGES SINCE THE PRIOR YEAR’S VALUATION
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 5
Introduction
This report presents the results of the June 30, 2012 actuarial valuation of the SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY
OF PALO ALTO of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS). This actuarial valuation
sets the fiscal year 2014-15 required employer contribution rates.
On January 1, 2013, the Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) took effect. The impact of
most of the PEPRA changes will first show up in the rates and the benefit provision listings of the June 30,
2013 valuation, which sets the 2015-16 contribution rates. For more information on PEPRA, please refer to
the CalPERS website.
On April 17, 2013, the CalPERS Board of Administration approved a recommendation to change the CalPERS
amortization and smoothing policies. Prior to this change, CalPERS employed an amortization and smoothing
policy, which spread investment returns over a 15-year period while experience gains and losses were
amortized over a rolling 30-year period. Effective with the June 30, 2013 valuations, CalPERS will no longer
use an actuarial value of assets and will employ an amortization and smoothing policy that will spread rate
increases or decreases over a 5-year period, and will amortize all experience gains and losses over a fixed
30-year period.
The new amortization and smoothing policy will be used for the first time in the June 30, 2013 actuarial
valuations. These valuations will be performed in the fall of 2014 and will set employer contribution rates for
the fiscal year 2015-16.
As stewards of the System, CalPERS must ensure that the pension fund is sustainable over multiple
generations. Our strategic plan calls for us to take an integrated view of our assets and liabilities and to take
steps designed to achieve a fully funded plan. A review of the preferred asset allocation mix for CalPERS
investment portfolio will be performed in late 2013, which could influence future discount rates. In addition,
CalPERS will review economic and demographic assumptions, including mortality rate improvements that are
likely to increase employer contribution rates in future years.
Purpose of the Report
The actuarial valuation was prepared by the CalPERS Actuarial Office using data as of June 30, 2012. The
purpose of the report is to:
Set forth the actuarial assets and accrued liabilities of this plan as of June 30, 2012;
Determine the required employer contribution rate for the fiscal year July 1, 2014 through June 30,
2015;
Provide actuarial information as of June 30, 2012 to the CalPERS Board of Administration and other
interested parties, and to;
Provide pension information as of June 30, 2012 to be used in financial reports subject to Governmental
Accounting Standards Board (GASB) Statement Number 27 for a Single Employer Defined Benefit
Pension Plan.
California Actuarial Advisory Panel Recommendations
This report includes all the basic disclosure elements as described in the Model Disclosure Elements for
Actuarial Valuation Reports recommended in 2011 by the California Actuarial Advisory Panel (CAAP), with
the exception of including the original base amounts of the various components of the unfunded liability in
the Schedule of Amortization Bases shown on page 19.
Additionally, this report includes the following “Enhanced Risk Disclosures” also recommended by the CAAP
in the Model Disclosure Elements document:
A “Deterministic Stress Test,” projecting future results under different investment income
scenarios
A “Sensitivity Analysis,” showing the impact on current valuation results using a 1% plus or minus
change in the discount rate.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 6
The use of this report for any other purposes may be inappropriate. In particular, this report does not
contain information applicable to alternative benefit costs. The employer should contact their actuary before
disseminating any portion of this report for any reason that is not explicitly described above.
Required Employer Contribution
Fiscal Year Fiscal Year
2013-14 2014-15
Actuarially Determined Employer Contributions
1. Contribution in Projected Dollars
a) Total Normal Cost $ 6,883,043 $ 6,371,908
b) Employee Contribution1 2,239,764 2,057,371
c) Employer Normal Cost [(1a) – (1b)] 4,643,279 4,314,537
d) Unfunded Contribution 3,679,659 4,721,544
e) Required Employer Contribution [(1c) + (1d)] $ 8,322,938 $ 9,036,081
Projected Annual Payroll for Contribution Year $ 24,886,270 $ 22,859,681
2. Contribution as a Percentage of Payroll
a) Total Normal Cost 27.658% 27.874%
b) Employee Contribution1 9.000% 9.000%
c) Employer Normal Cost [(2a) – (2b)] 18.658% 18.874%
d) Unfunded Rate 14.786% 20.654%
e) Required Employer Rate [(2c) + (2d)] 33.444% 39.528%
Minimum Employer Contribution Rate2 33.444% 39.528%
Annual Lump Sum Prepayment Option3 $ 8,027,354 $ 8,715,170
1This is the percentage specified in the Public Employees Retirement Law, net of any reduction from the use
of a modified formula or other factors. Employee cost sharing is not shown in this report.
2The Minimum Employer Contribution Rate under PEPRA is the greater of the required employer rate or the
employer normal cost.
3Payment must be received by CalPERS before the first payroll reported to CalPERS of the new fiscal year
and after June 30. If there is contractual cost sharing or other change, this amount will change.
Plan’s Funded Status
June 30, 2011 June 30, 2012
1. Present Value of Projected Benefits $ 367,931,908 $ 382,313,961
2. Entry Age Normal Accrued Liability 313,183,690 327,608,300
3. Actuarial Value of Assets (AVA) 254,304,173 258,661,141
4. Unfunded Liability (AVA Basis) [(2) – (3)] $ 58,879,517 $ 68,947,159
5. Funded Ratio (AVA Basis) [(3) / (2)] 81.2% 79.0%
6. Market Value of Assets (MVA) $ 225,015,089 $ 215,605,457
7. Unfunded Liability (MVA Basis) [(2) – (6)] $ 88,168,601 $ 112,002,843
8. Funded Ratio (MVA Basis) [(6) / (2)] 71.8% 65.8%
Superfunded Status No No
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 7
Cost
Actuarial Cost Estimates in General
What will this pension plan cost? Unfortunately, there is no simple answer. There are two major reasons for
the complexity of the answer. First, actuarial calculations, including the ones in this report, are based on a
number of assumptions about the future. These assumptions can be divided into two categories.
Demographic assumptions include the percentage of employees that will terminate, die, become
disabled, and retire in each future year.
Economic assumptions include future salary increases for each active employee, and the
assumption with the greatest impact, future asset returns at CalPERS for each year into the future
until the last dollar is paid to current members of your plan.
While CalPERS has set these assumptions to reflect our best estimate of the real future of your plan, it must
be understood that these assumptions are very long-term predictors and will surely not be realized in any
one year. For example, while the asset earnings at CalPERS have averaged more than the assumed return of
7.5 percent for the past twenty year period ending June 30, 2013, returns for each fiscal year ranged from
negative -24 percent to +21.7 percent.
Second, the very nature of actuarial funding produces the answer to the question of plan cost as the sum of
two separate pieces.
The Normal Cost (i.e., the future annual premiums in the absence of surplus or unfunded liability)
expressed as a percentage of total active payroll.
The Past Service Cost or Accrued Liability (i.e., the current value of the benefit for all credited past
service of current members) which is expressed as a lump sum dollar amount.
The cost is the sum of a percent of future pay and a lump sum dollar amount (the sum of an apple and an
orange if you will). To communicate the total cost, either the Normal Cost (i.e., future percent of payroll)
must be converted to a lump sum dollar amount (in which case the total cost is the present value of
benefits), or the Past Service Cost (i.e., the lump sum) must be converted to a percent of payroll (in which
case the total cost is expressed as the employer’s rate, part of which is permanent and part temporary).
Converting the Past Service Cost lump sum to a percent of payroll requires a specific amortization pe riod,
and the employer rate will vary depending on the amortization period chosen.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 8
Changes since the Prior Year’s Valuation
Benefits
The standard actuarial practice at CalPERS is to recognize mandated legislative benefit changes in the first
annual valuation following the effective date of the legislation. Voluntary benefit changes by plan
amendment are generally included in the first valuation that is prepared after the amendment becomes
effective even if the valuation date is prior to the effective date of the amendment.
This valuation generally reflects plan changes by amendments effective before the date of the report. Please
refer to Appendix B for a summary of the plan provisions used in this valuation. The effect of any mandated
benefit changes or plan amendments on the unfunded liability is shown in the “(Gain)/Loss Analysis” and
the effect on your employer contribution rate is shown in the “Reconciliation of Required Employer
Contributions.” It should be noted that no change in liability or rate is shown for any plan changes, which
were already included in the prior year’s valuation.
Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA)
On January 1, 2013, the Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) took effect, requiring that a
public employer’s contribution to a defined benefit plan, in combination with employee contributions to that
defined benefit plan, shall not be less than the normal cost rate. Beginning July 1, 2013, this means that
some plans with surplus will be paying more than they otherwise would. For more information on PEPRA,
please refer to the CalPERS website.
Subsequent Events
Actuarial Methods and Assumptions
On April 17, 2013, the CalPERS Board of Administration approved a recommendation to change the CalPER S
amortization and smoothing policies. Beginning with the June 30, 2013 valuations that set the 2015-16
rates, CalPERS will no longer use an actuarial value of assets and will employ an amortization and rate
smoothing policy that will pay for all gains and losses over a fixed 30-year period with the increases or
decreases in the rate spread directly over a 5-year period. The impact of this new actuarial methodology is
reflected in the “Expected Rate Increases” subsection of the “Risk analysis” section of your report.
Not reflected in the “Expected Rate Increases” subsection of the “Risk analysis” section is the impact of
assumption changes that we expect will also, impact future rates. A review of the preferred asset allocation
mix for CalPERS investment portfolio will be performed in late 2013, which could influence future discount
rates. In addition, CalPERS will review economic and demographic assumptions, including mortality rate
improvements that are likely to increase employer contribution rates in future years.
ASSETS
RECONCILIATION OF THE MARKET VALUE OF ASSETS
DEVELOPMENT OF THE ACTUARIAL VALUE OF ASSETS
ASSET ALLOCATION
CALPERS HISTORY OF INVESTMENT RETURNS
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 11
Reconciliation of the Market Value of Assets
1. Market Value of Assets as of 6/30/11 Including Receivables $ 225,015,089
2. Receivables for Service Buybacks as of 6/30/11 285,646
3. Market Value of Assets as of 6/30/11 224,729,443
4. Employer Contributions 6,671,043
5. Employee Contributions 2,294,935
6. Benefit Payments to Retirees and Beneficiaries (17,584,315)
7. Refunds (91,971)
8. Lump Sum Payments 0
9. Transfers and Miscellaneous Adjustments (290,145)
10. Investment Return (450,572)
11. Market Value of Assets as of 6/30/12 $ 215,278,418
12. Receivables for Service Buybacks as of 6/30/12 327,039
13. Market Value of Assets as of 6/30/12 Including Receivables $ 215,605,457
Development of the Actuarial Value of Assets
1. Actuarial Value of Assets as of 6/30/11 Used For Rate Setting Purposes $ 254,304,173
2. Receivables for Service Buybacks as of 6/30/11 285,646
3. Actuarial Value of Assets as of 6/30/11 254,018,527
4. Employer Contributions 6,671,043
5. Employee Contributions 2,294,935
6. Benefit Payments to Retirees and Beneficiaries (17,584,315)
7. Refunds (91,971)
8. Lump Sum Payments 0
9. Transfers and Miscellaneous Adjustments (290,145)
10. Expected Investment Income at 7.5%
18,719,974
11. Expected Actuarial Value of Assets $ 263,738,048
12. Market Value of Assets as of 6/30/12 $ 215,278,418
13. Preliminary Actuarial Value of Assets [(11) + ((12) – (11)) / 15] 260,507,406
14. Maximum Actuarial Value of Assets (120% of (12)) 258,334,102
15. Minimum Actuarial Value of Assets (80% of (12)) 172,222,734
16. Actuarial Value of Assets {Lesser of [(14), Greater of ((13), (15))]} 258,334,102
17. Actuarial Value to Market Value Ratio 120.0%
18. Receivables for Service Buybacks as of 6/30/12 327,039
19. Actuarial Value of Assets as of 6/30/12 Used for Rate Setting Purposes $ 258,661,141
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 12
Asset Allocation
CalPERS adheres to an Asset Allocation Strategy which establishes asset class allocation policy targets and
ranges, and manages those asset class allocations within their policy ranges. CalPERS recognizes that over
90 percent of the variation in investment returns of a well-diversified pool of assets can typically be
attributed to asset allocation decisions. In December 2010 the Board approved the policy asset class targets
and ranges listed below. These policy asset allocation targets and ranges are expressed as a percentage of
total assets and were expected to be implemented over a period of one to two years beginning July 1, 2011
and reviewed again in December 2013.
The asset allocation and market value of assets shown below reflect the values of the Public Employees
Retirement Fund (PERF) in its entirety as of June 30, 2012. The assets for CITY OF PALO ALTO SAFETY
PLAN are part of the Public Employees Retirement Fund (PERF) and are invested accordingly.
(A)
Asset Class
(B)
Market Value
($ Billion)
(C)
Policy Target
Allocation
(D)
Policy Target
Range
1) Public Equity 113.0 50.0% +/- 7%
2) Private Equity 33.9 14.0% +/- 4%
3) Fixed Income 42.6 17.0% +/- 5%
4) Cash Equivalents 7.5 4.0% +/- 5%
5) Real Assets 24.8 11.0% +/- 3%
6) Inflation Assets 7.0 4.0% +/- 3%
7) Absolute Return Strategy (ARS) 5.1 0.0% N/A
Total Fund $233.9 100.0% N/A
Public Equity
48.3%
Private Equity
14.5%
Income
18.2%
3.2%
Liquidity
Real Assets
10.6%
3.0%
Inflation
ARS
2.2%
Asset Allocation at 6/30/2012
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 13
CalPERS History of Investment Returns
The following is a chart with historical annual returns of the Public Employees Retirement Fund for each
fiscal year ending on June 30. Beginning in 2002, the figures are reported as gross of fees.
-25.0%
-20.0%
-15.0%
-10.0%
-5.0%
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
12
.
5
%
14
.
5
%
2.0
%
16
.
3
%
15
.
3
%
20
.
1
%
19
.
5
%
12
.
5
%
10
.
5
%
-7.2
%
-6.1
%
3.7
%
16
.
6
%
12
.
3
%
11
.
8
%
19
.
1
%
-5.1
%
-24
.
0
%
13
.
3
%
21
.
7
%
0.1
%
LIABILITIES AND RATES
DEVELOPMENT OF ACCRUED AND UNFUNDED LIABILITIES
(GAIN) / LOSS ANALYSIS 06/30/11 - 06/30/12
SCHEDULE OF AMORTIZATION BASES
RECONCILIATION OF REQUIRED EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS
EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION RATE HISTORY
FUNDING HISTORY
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 17
Development of Accrued and Unfunded Liabilities
1. Present Value of Projected Benefits
a) Active Members $ 133,766,996
b) Transferred Members 8,800,259
c) Terminated Members 2,287,411
d) Members and Beneficiaries Receiving Payments 237,459,295
e) Total $ 382,313,961
2. Present Value of Future Employer Normal Costs $ 36,909,118
3. Present Value of Future Employee Contributions $ 17,796,543
4. Entry Age Normal Accrued Liability
a) Active Members [(1a) - (2) - (3)] $ 79,061,335
b) Transferred Members (1b) 8,800,259
c) Terminated Members (1c) 2,287,411
d) Members and Beneficiaries Receiving Payments (1d) 237,459,295
e) Total $ 327,608,300
5. Actuarial Value of Assets (AVA) $ 258,661,141
6. Unfunded Accrued Liability (AVA Basis) [(4e) – (5)] $ 68,947,159
7. Funded Ratio (AVA Basis) [(5) / (4e)] 79.0%
8. Market Value of Assets (MVA) $ 215,605,457
9. Unfunded Liability (MVA Basis) [(4e) - (8)] $ 112,002,843
10. Funded Ratio (MVA Basis) [(8) / (4e)] 65.8%
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 18
(Gain) /Loss Analysis 6/30/11 – 6/30/12
To calculate the cost requirements of the plan, assumptions are made about future events that affect the
amount and timing of benefits to be paid and assets to be accumulated. Each year actual experience is
compared to the expected experience based on the actuarial assumptions. This results in actuarial gains or
losses, as shown below.
A Total (Gain)/Loss for the Year
1. Unfunded Accrued Liability (UAL) as of 6/30/11 $ 58,879,517
2. Expected Payment on the UAL during 2011/2012 2,689,894
3. Interest through 6/30/12 [.075 x (A1) - ((1.075)½ - 1) x (A2)] 4,316,916
4. Expected UAL before all other changes [(A1) - (A2) + (A3)] 60,506,539
5. Change due to plan changes 0
6. Change due to assumption change 0
7. Expected UAL after all other changes [(A4) + (A5) + (A6)] 60,506,539
8. Actual UAL as of 6/30/12 68,947,159
9. Total (Gain)/Loss for 2011/2012 [(A8) - (A7)] $ 8,440,620
B Contribution (Gain)/Loss for the Year
1. Expected Contribution (Employer and Employee) $ 9,177,824
2. Interest on Expected Contributions 337,946
3. Actual Contributions 8,965,978
4. Interest on Actual Contributions 330,146
5. Expected Contributions with Interest [(B1) + (B2)] 9,515,770
6. Actual Contributions with Interest [(B3) + (B4)] 9,296,124
7. Contribution (Gain)/Loss [(B5) - (B6)] $ 219,646
C Asset (Gain)/Loss for the Year
1. Actuarial Value of Assets as of 6/30/11 Including Receivables $ 254,304,173
2. Receivables as of 6/30/11 285,646
3. Actuarial Value of Assets as of 6/30/11 254,018,527
4. Contributions Received 8,965,978
5. Benefits and Refunds Paid (17,676,286)
6. Transfers and miscellaneous adjustments (290,145)
7. Expected Int. [.075 x (C3) + ((1.075)½ - 1) x ((C4) + (C5) + (C6))] 18,719,974
8. Expected Assets as of 6/30/12 [(C3) + (C4) + (C5) + (C6) + (C7)] 263,738,048
9. Receivables as of 6/30/12 327,039
10. Expected Assets Including Receivables 264,065,087
11. Actual Actuarial Value of Assets as of 6/30/12 258,661,141
12. Asset (Gain)/Loss [(C10) - (C11)] $ 5,403,946
D Liability (Gain)/Loss for the Year
1. Total (Gain)/Loss (A9) $ 8,440,620
2. Contribution (Gain)/Loss (B7) 219,646
3. Asset (Gain)/Loss (C12) 5,403,946
4. Liability (Gain)/Loss [(D1) - (D2) - (D3)] $ 2,817,028
Development of the (Gain)/Loss Balance as of 6/30/12
1. (Gain)/Loss Balance as of 6/30/11 $ 32,281,288
2. Payment Made on the Balance during 2011/2012 1,938,523
3. Interest through 6/30/12 [.075 x (1) - ((1.075)1/2 - 1) x (2)] 2,349,716
4. Scheduled (Gain)/Loss Balance as of 6/30/12 [(1) - (2) + (3)] $ 32,692,481
5. (Gain)/Loss for Fiscal Year ending 6/30/12 [(A9) above] 8,440,620
6. Final (Gain)/Loss Balance as of 6/30/12 [(4) + (5)] $ 41,133,101
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 19
Schedule of Amortization Bases
There is a two-year lag between the Valuation Date and the Contribution Fiscal Year.
The assets, liabilities and funded status of the plan are measured as of the valuation date; June 30, 2012.
The employer contribution rate determined by the valuation is for the fiscal year beginning two years after the valuation date; fiscal year 2014-15.
This two-year lag is necessary due to the amount of time needed to extract and test the membership and financial data, and due to the need to provide public agencies
with their employer contribution rates well in advance of the start of the fiscal year.
The Unfunded Liability is used to determine the employer contribution and therefore must be rolled forward two years from the valuation date to the first day of the
fiscal year for which the contribution is being determined. The Unfunded Liability is rolled forward each year by subtracting the expected Payment on the Unfunded
Liability for the fiscal year and adjusting for interest. The Expected Payment on the Unfunded Liability for a fiscal year is equal to the Expected Employer Contribution for
the fiscal year minus the Expected Normal Cost for the year. The Employer Contribution Rate for the first fiscal year is dete rmined by the actuarial valuation two years
ago and the rate for the second year is from the actuarial valuation one year ago. The Normal Cost Rate for each of the two fiscal years is assumed to be the same as
the rate determined by the current valuation. All expected dollar amounts are determined by multiplying the rate by the expec ted payroll for the applicable fiscal year,
based on payroll as of the valuation date.
Amounts for Fiscal 2014-15
Reason for Base
Date
Established
Amorti-
zation
Period
Balance
6/30/12
Expected
Payment
2012-13
Balance
6/30/13
Expected
Payment
2013-14
Balance
6/30/14
Scheduled
Payment for
2014-15
Payment as
Percent-age of
Payroll
FRESH START 06/30/04 22 $(921,135) $(62,467) $(925,453) $(64,163) $(928,336) $(66,087) (0.289%)
BENEFIT CHANGE 06/30/05 12 $163,030 $15,755 $158,922 $16,174 $154,072 $16,660 0.073%
ASSUMPTION CHANGE 06/30/09 17 $7,681,232 $601,019 $7,634,175 $617,183 $7,566,829 $635,699 2.781%
SPECIAL (GAIN)/LOSS 06/30/09 27 $8,561,834 $524,179 $8,660,491 $538,511 $8,751,688 $554,666 2.426%
SPECIAL (GAIN)/LOSS 06/30/10 28 $4,056,496 $244,163 $4,107,580 $250,867 $4,155,544 $258,393 1.130%
ASSUMPTION CHANGE 06/30/11 19 $5,724,600 $(128,780) $6,287,467 $474,738 $6,266,808 $488,980 2.139%
SPECIAL (GAIN)/LOSS 06/30/11 29 $2,157,395 $0 $2,319,200 $139,269 $2,348,743 $143,447 0.628%
PAYMENT (GAIN)/LOSS 06/30/12 30 $390,605 $(538,174) $977,891 $(444,542) $1,512,144 $90,805 0.397%
(GAIN)/LOSS 06/30/12 30 $41,133,102 $1,967,921 $42,177,701 $1,987,915 $43,279,914 $2,598,981 11.369%
TOTAL $68,947,159 $2,623,616 $71,397,974 $3,515,952 $73,107,406 $4,721,544 20.654%
The special (gain)/loss bases were established using the temporary modification recognized in the 2009, 2010 and 2011 annual valuations. Unlike the gain/loss occurring
in previous and subsequent years, the gain/loss recognized in the 2009, 2010, and 2011 annual valuations will be amortized ov er fixed and declining 30-year periods so
that these annual gain/losses will be fully paid off in 30 years. The gain/loss recognized in 2012 and later valuations will be combined with the gain/loss from 2008 and
earlier valuations.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 20
Reconciliation of Required Employer Contributions
Percentage
of
Projected
Payroll
Estimated $
Based on
Projected
Payroll
1. Contribution for 7/1/13 – 6/30/14 33.444% $ 8,322,938
2. Effect of changes since the prior year annual valuation
a) Effect of unexpected changes in demographics and financial results 6.084% 1,390,915
b) Effect of plan changes 0.000% 0
c) Effect of changes in Assumptions 0.000% 0
d) Effect of change in payroll - (677,772)
e) Effect of elimination of amortization base 0.000% 0
f) Effect of changes due to Fresh Start 0.000% 0
g) Net effect of the changes above [Sum of (a) through (f)] 6.084% 713,143
3. Contribution for 7/1/14 – 6/30/15 [(1)+(2g)] 39.528% 9,036,081
The contribution actually paid (item 1) may be different if a prepayment of unfunded actuarial liability is
made or a plan change became effective after the prior year’s actuarial valuation was performed.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 21
Employer Contribution Rate History
The table below provides a recent history of the employer contribution rates for your plan, as determined by the
annual actuarial valuation. It does not account for prepayments or benefit changes made in the middle of the
year.
[required_by_valuation] Required By Valuation
Fiscal
Year
Employer
Normal Cost Unfunded Rate
Total Employer
Contribution Rate
2010 - 2011 16.996% 7.699% 24.695%
2011 - 2012 17.813% 12.312% 30.125%
2012 - 2013 18.015% 13.035% 31.050%
2013 - 2014 18.658% 14.786% 33.444%
2014 - 2015 18.874% 20.654% 39.528%
Funding History
The Funding History below shows the recent history of the actuarial accrued liability, the market value of assets,
the actuarial value of assets, funded ratios and the annual covered payroll. The Actuarial Value of Assets is used
to establish funding requirements and the funded ratio on this basis represents the progress toward fully funding
future benefits for current plan participants. The funded ratio based on the Market Value of Assets is an indicator
of the short-term solvency of the plan.
[funding_history]
Valuation
Date
Accrued
Liability
Actuarial
Value of
Assets (AVA)
Market Value
of
Assets (MVA)
Funded
Ratio
AVA MVA
Annual
Covered
Payroll
06/30/08 $ 258,963,682 $ 228,883,308 $ 235,054,144 88.4% 90.8% $ 22,181,324
06/30/09 280,292,862 236,274,455 172,078,263 84.3% 61.4% 22,086,992
06/30/10 293,895,452 244,413,456 190,527,731 83.2% 64.8% 23,030,400
06/30/11 313,183,690 254,304,173 225,015,089 81.2% 71.8% 22,774,462
06/30/12 327,608,300 258,661,141 215,605,457 79.0% 65.8% 20,919,846
RISK ANALYSIS
VOLATILITY RATIOS
PROJECTED RATES
ANALYSIS OF FUTURE INVESTMENT RETURN SCENARIOS
ANALYSIS OF DISCOUNT RATE SENSITIVITY
HYPOTHETICAL TERMINATION LIABILITY
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 25
Volatility Ratios
The actuarial calculations supplied in this communication are based on a number of assumptions about very long-
term demographic and economic behavior. Unless these assumptions (terminations, deaths, disabilities,
retirements, salary growth, and investment return) are exactly realized each year, there will be differences on a
year-to-year basis. The year-to-year differences between actual experience and the assumptions are called
actuarial gains and losses and serve to lower or raise the employer’s rates from one year to the next. Therefore,
the rates will inevitably fluctuate, especially due to the ups and downs of investment returns.
Asset Volatility Ratio (AVR)
Plans that have higher asset to payroll ratios produce more volatile employer rates due to investment return. For
example, a plan with an asset to payroll ratio of 8 may experience twice the contribution volatility due to
investment return volatility, than a plan with an asset to payroll ratio of 4. Below we have shown your asset
volatility ratio, a measure of the plan’s current rate volatility. It should be noted that this ratio is a measure of the
current situation. It increases over time but generally tends to stabilize as the plan matures.
Liability Volatility Ratio
Plans that have higher liability to payroll ratios produce more volatile employer rates due to investment return and
changes in liability. For example, a plan with a liability to payroll ratio of 8 is expected to have twice the
contribution volatility of a plan with a liability to payroll ratio of 4. The liability volatility ratio is also included in the
table below. It should be noted that this ratio indicates a longer-term potential for contribution volatility and the
asset volatility ratio, described above, will tend to move closer to this ratio as the plan matures.
Rate Volatility As of June 30, 2012
1. Market Value of Assets without Receivables $ 215,278,418
2. Payroll 20,919,846
3. Asset Volatility Ratio (AVR = 1. / 2.) 10.3
4. Accrued Liability $ 327,608,300
5. Liability Volatility Ratio (4. / 2.) 15.7
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 26
Projected Rates
On April 17, 2013, the CalPERS Board of Administration approved a recommendation to change the CalPERS
amortization and smoothing policies. Beginning with the June 30, 2013 valuations that will set the 2015-16 rates,
CalPERS will employ an amortization and rate smoothing policy that will pay for all gains and losses over a fixed
30-year period with the increases or decreases in the rate spread directly over a 5 -year period. The table below
shows projected employer contribution rates (before cost sharing) for the next five Fiscal Years, assuming
CalPERS earns 12% for fiscal year 2012-13 and 7.50 percent every fiscal year thereafter, and
assuming that all other actuarial assumptions will be realized and that no further changes to assumptions,
contributions, benefits, or funding will occur between now and the beginning of the fiscal year 2015-16.
Consequently, these projections do not take into account potential rate increases from likely future
assumption changes. Nor do they take into account the positive impact PEPRA is expected to gradually have on
the normal cost.
New Rate Projected Future Employer Contribution Rates
2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20
Contribution Rates: 39.528% 42.1% 44.6% 47.2% 49.7% 52.2%
Analysis of Future Investment Return Scenarios
In July 2013, the investment return for fiscal year 2012-13 was announced to be 12.5 percent. Note that this
return is before administrative expenses and also does not reflect final investment return information for real
estate and private equities. The final return information for these two asset classes is expected to be available later
in October. For purposes of projecting future employer rates, we are assuming a 12 percent investment return for
fiscal year 2012-13.
The investment return realized during a fiscal year first affects the contribution rate for the fiscal year 2 years later .
Specifically, the investment return for 2012-13 will first be reflected in the June 30, 2013 actuarial valuation that
will be used to set the 2015-16 employer contribution rates, the 2013-14 investment return will first be reflected in
the June 30, 2014 actuarial valuation that will be used to set the 2016-17 employer contribution rates and so forth.
Based on a 12 percent investment return for fiscal year 2012-13 and the April 17, 2013 CalPERS Board-
approved amortization and rate smoothing method change, and assuming that all other actuarial
assumptions will be realized, and that no further changes to assumptions, contributions, benefits, or funding will
occur between now and the beginning of the fiscal year 2015-16, the effect on the 2015-16 Employer Rate is as
follows: (Note that this estimated rate does not reflect additional assumption changes as discussed in the
“Subsequent Events” section.)
Estimated 2015-16 Employer Rate Estimated Increase in Employer Rate between
2014-15 and 2015-16
42.1% 2.6%
As part of this report, a sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the effects of various investment returns
during fiscal years 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 on the 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 employer rates. Once
again, the projected rate increases assume that all other actuarial assumptions will be realized and that no further
changes to assumptions, contributions, benefits, or funding will occur.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 27
Five different investment return scenarios were selected.
The first scenario is what one would expect if the markets were to give us a 5th percentile return from
July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2016. The 5th percentile return corresponds to a -4.1 percent return for
each of the 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 fiscal years.
The second scenario is what one would expect if the markets were to give us a 25th percentile return
from July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2016. The 25th percentile return corresponds to a 2.6 percent return
for each of the 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 fiscal years.
The third scenario assumed the return for 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 would be our assumed 7.5
percent investment return which represents about a 49th percentile event.
The fourth scenario is what one would expect if the markets were to give us a 75th percentile return from
July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2016. The 75th percentile return corresponds to a 11.9 percent return for
each of the 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 fiscal years.
Finally, the last scenario is what one would expect if the markets were to give us a 95th percentile return
from July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2016. The 95th percentile return corresponds to a 18.5 percent
return for each of the 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 fiscal years.
The table below shows the estimated projected contribution rates and the estimated increases for your plan under
the five different scenarios.
2013-16 Investment
Return Scenario
Estimated Employer Rate Estimated Change in
Employer Rate
between 2015-16
and 2018-19 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
-4.1% (5th percentile) 46.4% 52.2% 59.5% 17.4%
2.6% (25th percentile) 45.4% 49.4% 54.0% 11.9%
7.5% 44.6% 47.2% 49.7% 7.6%
11.9%(75th percentile) 43.9% 45.1% 45.5% 3.4%
18.5%(95th percentile) 42.9% 41.9% 38.9% -3.2%
Analysis of Discount Rate Sensitivity
The following analysis looks at the 2014-15 employer contribution rates under two different discount rate
scenarios. Shown below are the employer contribution rates assuming discount rates that are 1 percent lower and
1 percent higher than the current valuation discount rate. This analysis gives an indication of the potential required
employer contribution rates if the PERF were to realize investment returns of 6.50 percent or 8.50 percent over the
long-term.
This type of analysis gives the reader a sense of the long-term risk to the employer contribution rates.
2014-15 Employer Contribution Rate
As of June 30, 2012 6.50% Discount Rate
(-1%) 7.50% Discount Rate
(assumed rate) 8.50% Discount Rate
(+1%)
Employer Normal Cost 25.705% 18.874% 13.603%
Unfunded Rate Payment 33.439% 20.654% 9.315%
Total 59.144% 39.528% 22.918%
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 28
Hypothetical Termination Liability
Below is an estimate of the financial position of your plan if you had terminated your contract with CalPERS as of
June 30, 2012 using the discount rates shown below. Your plan liability on a termination basis is calculated
differently compared to the plan’s ongoing funding liability. In December 2012, the CalPERS Board adopted a more
conservative investment policy and asset allocation strategy for the Terminated Agency Pool. Since the Terminated
Agency Pool has limited funding sources, expected benefit payments are secured by risk-free assets. With this
change, CalPERS increased benefit security for members while limiting its funding risk. This asset allocation has a
lower expected rate of return than the PERF. Consequently, the lower discount rate for the Terminated Agency
pool results in higher liabilities for terminated plans.
In order to terminate your plan, you must first contact our Retirement Services Contract Unit to initiate a
Resolution of Intent to Terminate. The completed Resolution will allow your plan actuary to give you a preliminary
termination valuation with a more up-to-date estimate of your plan liabilities. CalPERS advises you to consult with
your plan actuary before beginning this process.
[estimated_termination_liability]
Valuation
Date
Hypothetical
Termination
Liability1
Market Value
of Assets
(MVA)
Unfunded
Termination
Liability
Termination
Funded
Ratio
Termination
Liability
Discount
Rate2
06/30/11 $ 458,637,906 $ 225,015,089 $ 233,622,817 49.1% 4.82%
06/30/12 610,760,250 215,605,457 395,154,793 35.3% 2.98%
1 The hypothetical liabilities calculated above include a 7 percent mortality contingency load in accordance with
Board policy. Other actuarial assumptions, such as wage and inflation assumptions, can be found in appendix A.
2 The discount rate assumption used for termination valuations is a weighted average of the 10 and 30-year US
Treasury yields in effect on the valuation date that equal the duration of the pension liabilities. For purposes of this
hypothetical termination liability estimate, the discount rate used, 2.98 percent, is the yield on the 30-year US
Treasury Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities (STRIPS) as of June 30, 2012. In last
year’s report the May 2012 rate of 2.87 percent was inadvertently shown rather than the June rate of 2.98
percent. Please note, as of June 30, 2013 the 30-year STRIPS yield was 3.72 percent.
GASB STATEMENT NO. 27
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2012
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 31
SAFETY PLAN of the CITY OF PALO ALTO
Information for Compliance with GASB Statement No. 27
Disclosure under GASB 27 follows. However, note that effective for financial statements for fiscal
years beginning after June 15, 2014, GASB 68 replaces GASB 27. GASB 68 will require additional
reporting. CalPERS is planning to provide GASB 68 disclosure information upon request for an
additional fee. We urge you to start discussions with your auditors on how to implement GASB 68.
Under GASB 27, an employer reports an annual pension cost (APC) equal to the annual required contribution
(ARC) plus an adjustment for the cumulative difference between the APC and the employer’s actual pl an
contributions for the year. The cumulative difference is called the net pension obligation (NPO). The ARC for the
period July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014 has been determined by an actuarial valuation of the plan as of June 30,
2012. The unadjusted GASB compliant contribution rate for the indicated period is 39.528 percent of payroll. In
order to calculate the dollar value of the ARC for inclusion in financial statements prepared as of June 30, 2014,
this contribution rate, less any employee cost sharing, as modified by any amendments for the year, would be
multiplied by the payroll of covered employees that was actually paid during the period July 1, 2013 to June 30,
2014. The employer and the employer’s auditor are responsible for determining the NPO and the APC.
A summary of principal assumptions and methods used to determine the ARC is shown below.
Retirement Program
Valuation Date June 30, 2012
Actuarial Cost Method Entry Age Normal Cost Method
Amortization Method Level Percent of Payroll
Average Remaining Period 28 Years as of the Valuation Date
Asset Valuation Method 15 Year Smoothed Market
Actuarial Assumptions
Discount Rate 7.50% (net of administrative expenses)
Projected Salary Increases 3.30% to 14.20% depending on Age, Service, and type of employment
Inflation 2.75%
Payroll Growth 3.00%
Individual Salary Growth A merit scale varying by duration of employment coupled with an assumed
annual inflation growth of 2.75% and an annual production growth of 0.25%.
Initial unfunded liabilities are amortized over a closed period that depends on the plan’s date of entry into
CalPERS. Subsequent plan amendments are amortized as a level percentage of pay over a closed 20-year period.
Gains and losses that occur in the operation of the plan are amortized over a 30-year rolling period, which results
in an amortization of about 6 percent of unamortized gains and losses each year. If the plan’s accrued liability
exceeds the actuarial value of plan assets, then the amortization payment on the total unfunded liability may not
be lower than the payment calculated over a 30-year amortization period. More detailed information on
assumptions and methods is provided in Appendix A of this report. Appendix B contains a description of benefits
included in the valuation.
The Schedule of Funding Progress below shows the recent history of the actuarial accrued liability, actuarial value
of assets, their relationship and the relationship of the unfunded actuarial accrued liability to payroll.
Valuation
Date
Accrued
Liability
(a)
Actuarial Value
of Assets (AVA)
(b)
Unfunded
Liability (UL)
(a)-(b)
Funded Ratios Annual
Covered
Payroll
(c)
UL As a
% of
Payroll
[(a)-(b)]/(c) (AVA)
(b)/(a)
Market
Value
06/30/08 $ 258,963,682 $ 228,883,308 $ 30,080,374 88.4% 90.8% $ 22,181,324 135.6%
06/30/09 280,292,862 236,274,455 44,018,407 84.3% 61.4% 22,086,992 199.3%
06/30/10 293,895,452 244,413,456 49,481,996 83.2% 64.8% 23,030,400 214.9%
06/30/11 313,183,690 254,304,173 58,879,517 81.2% 71.8% 22,774,462 258.5%
06/30/12 327,608,300 258,661,141 68,947,159 79.0% 65.8% 20,919,846 329.6%
PLAN’S MAJOR BENEFIT PROVISIONS
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Plan’s Major Benefit Options
Shown below is a summary of the major optional benefits for which your agency has contracted. A description of principal standard and optional plan provisions
is in the following section of this Appendix.
Contract Package
Receiving Receiving Active Active Active
Benefit Provision
Benefit Formula 3.0% @ 50 3.0% @ 50 3.0% @ 50
Social Security Coverage No No No
Full/Modified Full Full Full
Final Average Compensation Period 12 mos. 12 mos. 12 mos.
Sick Leave Credit No No No
Non-Industrial Disability Standard Standard Standard
Industrial Disability Yes Yes Yes
Pre-Retirement Death Benefits
Optional Settlement 2W No Yes Yes
1959 Survivor Benefit Level Level 1 Level 1 Level 1
Special Yes Yes Yes
Alternate (firefighters) No No No
Post-Retirement Death Benefits
Lump Sum $500 $500 $500 $500 $500
Survivor Allowance (PRSA) No No No No No
COLA 2% 2% 2% 2% 2%
Contractual Employee Cost Sharing
Page 35
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Plan’s Major Benefit Options
Shown below is a summary of the major optional benefits for which your agency has contracted. A description of principal standard and optional plan provisions
is in the following section of this Appendix.
Contract Package
Benefit Provision
Benefit Formula
Social Security Coverage
Full/Modified
Final Average Compensation Period
Sick Leave Credit
Non-Industrial Disability
Industrial Disability
Pre-Retirement Death Benefits
Optional Settlement 2W
1959 Survivor Benefit Level
Special
Alternate (firefighters)
Post-Retirement Death Benefits
Lump Sum
Survivor Allowance (PRSA)
COLA
Page 36
APPENDICES
APPENDIX A – ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
APPENDIX B – PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
APPENDIX C – SUMMARY OF PARTICIPANT DATA
APPENDIX D – GLOSSARY OF ACTUARIAL TERMS
APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
ACTUARIAL DATA
ACTUARIAL METHODS
ACTUARIAL ASSUMPTIONS
MISCELLANEOUS
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-1
Actuarial Data
As stated in the Actuarial Certification, the data, which serves as the basis of this valuation, has been
obtained from the various CalPERS databases. We have reviewed the valuation data and believe that it is
reasonable and appropriate in aggregate. We are unaware of any potential data issues that would have a
material effect on the results of this valuation, except that data does not always contain the latest salary
information for former members now in reciprocal systems and does not recognize the potential for
unusually large salary deviation in certain cases such as elected officials. Therefore, salary information in
these cases may not be accurate. These situations are relatively infrequent, however, and when they do
occur, they generally do not have a material impact on the employer contribution rates.
Actuarial Methods
Funding Method
The actuarial funding method used for the Retirement Program is the Entry Age Normal Cost Method. Under
this method, projected benefits are determined for all members and the associated liabilities are spread in a
manner that produces level annual cost as a percent of pay in each year from the age of hire (entry age) to
the assumed retirement age. The cost allocated to the current fiscal year is called the normal cost.
The actuarial accrued liability for active members is then calculated as the portion of the total cost of the
plan allocated to prior years. The actuarial accrued liability for members currently receiving benefits, for
active members beyond the assumed retirement age, and for members entitled to deferred benefits, is
equal to the present value of the benefits expected to be paid. No normal costs are applicable for these
participants.
The excess of the total actuarial accrued liability over the actuarial value of plan assets is called the
unfunded actuarial accrued liability. Funding requirements are determined by adding the normal cost and an
amortization of the unfunded liability as a level percentage of assumed future payrolls. All changes in
liability due to plan amendments, changes in actuarial assumptions, or changes in actuarial methodology are
amortized separately over a 20-year period. All new gains or losses are tracked and amortized over a rolling
30-year period. If a plan’s accrued liability exceeds the actuarial value of assets, the annual contribution
with respect to the total unfunded liability may not be less than the amount produced by a 30 -year
amortization of the unfunded liability.
Additional contributions will be required for any plan or pool if their cash flows hamper adequate funding
progress by preventing the expected funded status on a market value of assets basis to either:
Increase by at least 15% by June 30, 2043; or
Reach a level of 75% funded by June 30, 2043
The necessary additional contribution will be obtained by changing the amortization period of the gains and
losses, except for those occurring in the fiscal years 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011 to a period,
which will result in the satisfaction of the above criteria. CalPERS actuaries will reassess the criteria above
when performing each future valuation to determine whether or not additional contributions are necessary.
An exception to the funding rules above is used whenever the application of such rules results in
inconsistencies. In these cases, a “fresh start” approach is used. This simply means that the current
unfunded actuarial liability is projected and amortized over a set number of years. As mentioned above, if
the annual contribution on the total unfunded liability was less than the amount produced by a 30-year
amortization of the unfunded liability, the plan actuary would implement a 30-year fresh start. However, in
the case of a 30-year fresh start, just the unfunded liability not already in the (gain)/loss base (which is
already amortized over 30 years), will go into the new fresh start base. In addition, a fresh start is needed
in the following situations:
1) When a positive payment would be required on a negative unfunded actuarial lia bility (or
conversely a negative payment on a positive unfunded actuarial liability); or
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-2
2) When there are excess assets, rather than an unfunded liability. In this situation, a 30-year fresh
start is used, unless a longer fresh start is needed to avoid a negative total rate.
It should be noted that the actuary may choose to use a fresh start under other circumstances. In all cases,
the fresh start period is set by the actuary at what is deemed appropriate; however, the period will not be
less than five years, nor greater than 30 years.
Asset Valuation Method
In order to dampen the effect of short-term market value fluctuations on employer contribution rates, the
following asset smoothing technique is used. First, an Expected Value of Assets is computed by bringing
forward the prior year’s Actuarial Value of Assets and the contributions received and benefits paid during the
year at the assumed actuarial rate of return. The Actuarial Value of Assets is then computed as the
Expected Value of Assets plus one-fifteenth of the difference between the actual Market Value of Assets and
the Expected Value of Assets, as of the valuation date. However, in no case will the Actuarial Value of
Assets be less than 80% or greater than 120% of the actual Market Value of Assets.
In June 2009, the CalPERS Board adopted changes to the asset smoothing method in order to phase in over
a three-year period the impact of the negative -24 percent investment loss experienced by CalPERS in fiscal
year 2008-2009. The following changes were adopted:
Increase the corridor limits for the actuarial value of assets from 80 percent/120 percent of market
value to 60 percent/140 percent of market value on June 30, 2009
Reduce the corridor limits for the actuarial value of assets to 70 percent/130 percent of market
value on June 30, 2010
Return to the 80 percent/120 percent of market value corridor limits for the actuarial value of
assets on June 30, 2011 and thereafter
On April 17, 2013, the CalPERS Board of Administration approved a recommendation to change
the CalPERS amortization and rate smoothing policies. Beginning with the June 30, 2013
valuations that set the 2015-16 rates, CalPERS will employ an amortization and smoothing
policy that will pay for all gains and losses over a fixed 30-year period with the increases or
decreases in the rate spread directly over a 5-year period. Details of the agenda item can be
found on our website CalPERS On-Line:
http://www.calpers.ca.gov/index.jsp?bc=/about/committee-meetings/archives/pension-201304.xml
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-3
Actuarial Assumptions
Economic Assumptions
Discount Rate
7.5% compounded annually (net of expenses). This assumption is used for all plans.
Termination Liability Discount Rate
The discount rate used for termination valuation is a weighted average of the 10 and 30-year US
Treasury yields in effect on the valuation date that equal the duration of the pension liabilities. For
purposes of this hypothetical termination liability estimate, the discount rate used, 2.98 percent, is
the yield on the 30-year US Treasury Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of
Securities (STRIPS) as of June 30, 2012. Please note, as of June 30, 2013 the 30-year STRIPS yield
was 3.72 percent.
Salary Growth
Annual increases vary by category, entry age, and duration of service. A sample of assumed
increases are shown below.
Public Agency Miscellaneous
Duration of Service (Entry Age 20) (Entry Age 30) (Entry Age 40)
0 0.1420 0.1240 0.0980
1 0.1190 0.1050 0.0850
2 0.1010 0.0910 0.0750
3 0.0880 0.0800 0.0670
4 0.0780 0.0710 0.0610
5 0.0700 0.0650 0.0560
10 0.0480 0.0460 0.0410
15 0.0430 0.0410 0.0360
20 0.0390 0.0370 0.0330
25 0.0360 0.0360 0.0330
30 0.0360 0.0360 0.0330
Public Agency Fire
Duration of Service (Entry Age 20) (Entry Age 30) (Entry Age 40)
0 0.1050 0.1050 0.1020
1 0.0950 0.0940 0.0850
2 0.0870 0.0830 0.0700
3 0.0800 0.0750 0.0600
4 0.0740 0.0680 0.0510
5 0.0690 0.0620 0.0450
10 0.0510 0.0460 0.0350
15 0.0410 0.0390 0.0340
20 0.0370 0.0360 0.0330
25 0.0350 0.0350 0.0330
30 0.0350 0.0350 0.0330
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-4
Salary Growth (continued)
Public Agency Police
Duration of Service (Entry Age 20) (Entry Age 30) (Entry Age 40)
0 0.1090 0.1090 0.1090
1 0.0930 0.0930 0.0930
2 0.0810 0.0810 0.0780
3 0.0720 0.0700 0.0640
4 0.0650 0.0610 0.0550
5 0.0590 0.0550 0.0480
10 0.0450 0.0420 0.0340
15 0.0410 0.0390 0.0330
20 0.0370 0.0360 0.0330
25 0.0350 0.0340 0.0330
30 0.0350 0.0340 0.0330
Public Agency County Peace Officers
Duration of Service (Entry Age 20) (Entry Age 30) (Entry Age 40)
0 0.1290 0.1290 0.1290
1 0.1090 0.1060 0.1030
2 0.0940 0.0890 0.0840
3 0.0820 0.0770 0.0710
4 0.0730 0.0670 0.0610
5 0.0660 0.0600 0.0530
10 0.0460 0.0420 0.0380
15 0.0410 0.0380 0.0360
20 0.0370 0.0360 0.0340
25 0.0350 0.0340 0.0330
30 0.0350 0.0340 0.0330
Schools
Duration of Service (Entry Age 20) (Entry Age 30) (Entry Age 40)
0 0.1080 0.0960 0.0820
1 0.0940 0.0850 0.0740
2 0.0840 0.0770 0.0670
3 0.0750 0.0700 0.0620
4 0.0690 0.0640 0.0570
5 0.0630 0.0600 0.0530
10 0.0450 0.0440 0.0410
15 0.0390 0.0380 0.0350
20 0.0360 0.0350 0.0320
25 0.0340 0.0340 0.0320
30 0.0340 0.0340 0.0320
The Miscellaneous salary scale is used for Local Prosecutors.
The Police salary scale is used for Other Safety, Local Sheriff, and School Police.
Overall Payroll Growth
3.00 percent compounded annually (used in projecting the payroll over which the unfunded liability
is amortized). This assumption is used for all plans.
Inflation
2.75 percent compounded annually. This assumption is used for all plans.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-5
Non-valued Potential Additional Liabilities
The potential liability loss for a cost-of-living increase exceeding the 2.75 percent inflation
assumption, and any potential liability loss from future member service purchases are not reflected
in the valuation.
Miscellaneous Loading Factors
Credit for Unused Sick Leave
Total years of service is increased by 1 percent for those plans that have accepted the provision
providing Credit for Unused Sick Leave.
Conversion of Employer Paid Member Contributions (EPMC)
Total years of service is increased by the Employee Contribution Rate for those plans with the
provision providing for the Conversion of Employer Paid Member Contributions (EPMC) during the
final compensation period.
Norris Decision (Best Factors)
Employees hired prior to July 1, 1982 have projected benefit amounts increased in order to reflect
the use of “Best Factors” in the calculation of optional benefit forms. This is due to a 1983
Supreme Court decision, known as the Norris decision, which required males and females to be
treated equally in the determination of benefit amounts. Consequently, anyone already employed
at that time is given the best possible conversion factor when optional benefits are determined. No
loading is necessary for employees hired after July 1, 1982.
Termination Liability
The termination liabilities include a 7 percent contingency load. This load is for unforeseen
improvements in mortality.
Demographic Assumptions
Pre-Retirement Mortality
Non-Industrial Death Rates vary by age and gender. Industrial Death rates vary by age. See
sample rates in table below. The non-industrial death rates are used for all plans. The industrial
death rates are used for Safety Plans (except for Local Prosecutor safety members where the
corresponding Miscellaneous Plan does not have the Industrial Death Benefit).
Non-Industrial Death Industrial Death
(Not Job-Related) (Job-Related)
Age Male Female Male and Female
20 0.00047 0.00016 0.00003
25 0.00050 0.00026 0.00007
30 0.00053 0.00036 0.00010
35 0.00067 0.00046 0.00012
40 0.00087 0.00065 0.00013
45 0.00120 0.00093 0.00014
50 0.00176 0.00126 0.00015
55 0.00260 0.00176 0.00016
60 0.00395 0.00266 0.00017
65 0.00608 0.00419 0.00018
70 0.00914 0.00649 0.00019
75 0.01220 0.00878 0.00020
80 0.01527 0.01108 0.00021
Miscellaneous Plans usually have Industrial Death rates set to zero unless the agency has specifically
contracted for Industrial Death benefits. If so, each Non-Industrial Death rate shown above will be
split into two components; 99 percent will become the Non-Industrial Death rate and 1 percent will
become the Industrial Death rate.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-6
Post-Retirement Mortality
Rates vary by age, type of retirement and gender. See sample rates in table below. These rates are
used for all plans.
Healthy Recipients
Non-Industrially Disabled Industrially Disabled
(Not Job-Related) (Job-Related)
Age Male Female Male Female Male Female
50 0.00239 0.00125 0.01632 0.01245 0.00443 0.00356
55 0.00474 0.00243 0.01936 0.01580 0.00563 0.00546
60 0.00720 0.00431 0.02293 0.01628 0.00777 0.00798
65 0.01069 0.00775 0.03174 0.01969 0.01388 0.01184
70 0.01675 0.01244 0.03870 0.03019 0.02236 0.01716
75 0.03080 0.02071 0.06001 0.03915 0.03585 0.02665
80 0.05270 0.03749 0.08388 0.05555 0.06926 0.04528
85 0.09775 0.07005 0.14035 0.09577 0.11799 0.08017
90 0.16747 0.12404 0.21554 0.14949 0.16575 0.13775
95 0.25659 0.21556 0.31025 0.23055 0.26108 0.23331
100 0.34551 0.31876 0.45905 0.37662 0.40918 0.35165
105 0.58527 0.56093 0.67923 0.61523 0.64127 0.60135
110 1.00000 1.00000 1.00000 1.00000 1.00000 1.00000
The mortality assumptions are based on mortality rates resulting from the most recent CalPERS
Experience Study adopted by the CalPERS Board, first used in the June 30, 2009 valuation. For
purposes of the post-retirement mortality rates, those revised rates include 5 years of projected on-
going mortality improvement using Scale AA published by the Society of Actuaries until June 30, 2010.
There is no margin for future mortality improvement beyond the valuation date. The mortality
assumption will be reviewed with the next experience study expected to be completed for the June 30,
2013 valuation to determine an appropriate margin to be used.
Marital Status
For active members, a percentage who are married upon retirement is assumed according to
member category as shown in the following table.
Member Category Percent Married
Miscellaneous Member 85%
Local Police 90%
Local Fire 90%
Other Local Safety 90%
School Police 90%
Age of Spouse
It is assumed that female spouses are 3 years younger than male spouses are. This assumption is
used for all plans.
Terminated Members
It is assumed that terminated members refund immediately if non-vested. Terminated members
who are vested are assumed to follow the same service retirement pattern as active members but
with a load to reflect the expected higher rates of retirement, especially at lower ages. The
following table shows the load factors that are applied to the service retirement assumption for
active members to obtain the service retirement pattern for separated vested members:
Age Load Factor
50 450%
51 250%
52 through 56 200%
57 through 60 150%
61 through 64 125%
65 and above 100% (no change)
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-7
Termination with Refund
Rates vary by entry age and service for Miscellaneous Plans. Rates vary by service for Safety Plans.
See sample rates in tables below.
Public Agency Miscellaneous
Duration of
Service Entry Age 20 Entry Age 25 Entry Age 30 Entry Age 35 Entry Age 40 Entry Age 45
0 0.1742 0.1674 0.1606 0.1537 0.1468 0.1400
1 0.1545 0.1477 0.1409 0.1339 0.1271 0.1203
2 0.1348 0.1280 0.1212 0.1142 0.1074 0.1006
3 0.1151 0.1083 0.1015 0.0945 0.0877 0.0809
4 0.0954 0.0886 0.0818 0.0748 0.0680 0.0612
5 0.0212 0.0193 0.0174 0.0155 0.0136 0.0116
10 0.0138 0.0121 0.0104 0.0088 0.0071 0.0055
15 0.0060 0.0051 0.0042 0.0032 0.0023 0.0014
20 0.0037 0.0029 0.0021 0.0013 0.0005 0.0001
25 0.0017 0.0011 0.0005 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001
30 0.0005 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001
35 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001
Public Agency Safety
Duration of Service Fire Police County Peace Officer
0 0.0710 0.1013 0.0997
1 0.0554 0.0636 0.0782
2 0.0398 0.0271 0.0566
3 0.0242 0.0258 0.0437
4 0.0218 0.0245 0.0414
5 0.0029 0.0086 0.0145
10 0.0009 0.0053 0.0089
15 0.0006 0.0027 0.0045
20 0.0005 0.0017 0.0020
25 0.0003 0.0012 0.0009
30 0.0003 0.0009 0.0006
35 0.0003 0.0009 0.0006
The Police Termination and Refund rates are also used for Public Agency Local Prosecutors, Other Safety,
Local Sheriff and School Police.
Schools
Duration of
Service Entry Age 20 Entry Age 25 Entry Age 30 Entry Age 35 Entry Age 40 Entry Age 45
0 0.1730 0.1627 0.1525 0.1422 0.1319 0.1217
1 0.1585 0.1482 0.1379 0.1277 0.1174 0.1071
2 0.1440 0.1336 0.1234 0.1131 0.1028 0.0926
3 0.1295 0.1192 0.1089 0.0987 0.0884 0.0781
4 0.1149 0.1046 0.0944 0.0841 0.0738 0.0636
5 0.0278 0.0249 0.0221 0.0192 0.0164 0.0135
10 0.0172 0.0147 0.0122 0.0098 0.0074 0.0049
15 0.0115 0.0094 0.0074 0.0053 0.0032 0.0011
20 0.0073 0.0055 0.0038 0.0020 0.0002 0.0002
25 0.0037 0.0023 0.0010 0.0002 0.0002 0.0002
30 0.0015 0.0003 0.0002 0.0002 0.0002 0.0002
35 0.0002 0.0002 0.0002 0.0002 0.0002 0.0002
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-8
Termination with Vested Benefits
Rates vary by entry age and service for Miscellaneous Plans. Rates vary by service for Safety Plans.
See sample rates in tables below.
Public Agency Miscellaneous
Duration of
Service Entry Age 20 Entry Age 25 Entry Age 30 Entry Age 35 Entry Age 40
5 0.0656 0.0597 0.0537 0.0477 0.0418
10 0.0530 0.0466 0.0403 0.0339 0.0000
15 0.0443 0.0373 0.0305 0.0000 0.0000
20 0.0333 0.0261 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
25 0.0212 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
30 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
35 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
Public Agency Safety
Duration of
Service Fire Police
County Peace
Officer
5 0.0162 0.0163 0.0265
10 0.0061 0.0126 0.0204
15 0.0058 0.0082 0.0130
20 0.0053 0.0065 0.0074
25 0.0047 0.0058 0.0043
30 0.0045 0.0056 0.0030
35 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
When a member is eligible to retire, the termination with vested benefits probability is set to
zero.
After termination with vested benefits, a miscellaneous member is assumed to retire at age 59
and a safety member at age 54.
The Police Termination with vested benefits rates are also used for Public Agency Local
Prosecutors, Other Safety, Local Sheriff and School Police.
Schools
Duration of
Service Entry Age 20 Entry Age 25 Entry Age 30 Entry Age 35 Entry Age 40
5 0.0816 0.0733 0.0649 0.0566 0.0482
10 0.0629 0.0540 0.0450 0.0359 0.0000
15 0.0537 0.0440 0.0344 0.0000 0.0000
20 0.0420 0.0317 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
25 0.0291 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
30 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
35 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-9
Non-Industrial (Not Job-Related) Disability
Rates vary by age and gender for Miscellaneous Plans. Rates vary by age and category for Safety
Plans.
Miscellaneous Fire Police County Peace Officer Schools
Age Male Female Male and Female Male and Female Male and Female Male Female
20 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001
25 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001
30 0.0002 0.0002 0.0001 0.0002 0.0001 0.0002 0.0001
35 0.0006 0.0009 0.0001 0.0003 0.0004 0.0006 0.0004
40 0.0015 0.0016 0.0001 0.0004 0.0007 0.0014 0.0009
45 0.0025 0.0024 0.0002 0.0005 0.0013 0.0028 0.0017
50 0.0033 0.0031 0.0005 0.0008 0.0018 0.0044 0.0030
55 0.0037 0.0031 0.0010 0.0013 0.0010 0.0049 0.0034
60 0.0038 0.0025 0.0015 0.0020 0.0006 0.0043 0.0024
The Miscellaneous Non-Industrial Disability rates are used for Local Prosecutors.
The Police Non-Industrial Disability rates are also used for Other Safety, Local Sheriff and
School Police.
Industrial (Job-Related) Disability
Rates vary by age and category.
Age Fire Police County Peace Officer
20 0.0002 0.0007 0.0003
25 0.0012 0.0032 0.0015
30 0.0025 0.0064 0.0031
35 0.0037 0.0097 0.0046
40 0.0049 0.0129 0.0063
45 0.0061 0.0161 0.0078
50 0.0074 0.0192 0.0101
55 0.0721 0.0668 0.0173
60 0.0721 0.0668 0.0173
The Police Industrial Disability rates are also used for Local Sheriff and Other Safety.
Fifty Percent of the Police Industrial Disability rates are used for School Police.
One Percent of the Police Industrial Disability rates are used for Local Prosecutors.
Normally, rates are zero for Miscellaneous Plans unless the agency has specifically contracted
for Industrial Disability benefits. If so, each miscellaneous non-industrial disability rate will be
split into two components: 50 percent will become the Non-Industrial Disability rate and 50
percent will become the Industrial Disability rate.
Service Retirement
Retirement rates vary by age, service, and formula, except for the safety ½ @ 55 and 2% @ 55
formulas, where retirement rates vary by age only.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-10
Service Retirement
Public Agency Miscellaneous 1.5% @ 65
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.008 0.011 0.013 0.015 0.017 0.019
51 0.007 0.010 0.012 0.013 0.015 0.017
52 0.010 0.014 0.017 0.019 0.021 0.024
53 0.008 0.012 0.015 0.017 0.019 0.022
54 0.012 0.016 0.019 0.022 0.025 0.028
55 0.018 0.025 0.031 0.035 0.038 0.043
56 0.015 0.021 0.025 0.029 0.032 0.036
57 0.020 0.028 0.033 0.038 0.043 0.048
58 0.024 0.033 0.040 0.046 0.052 0.058
59 0.028 0.039 0.048 0.054 0.060 0.067
60 0.049 0.069 0.083 0.094 0.105 0.118
61 0.062 0.087 0.106 0.120 0.133 0.150
62 0.104 0.146 0.177 0.200 0.223 0.251
63 0.099 0.139 0.169 0.191 0.213 0.239
64 0.097 0.136 0.165 0.186 0.209 0.233
65 0.140 0.197 0.240 0.271 0.302 0.339
66 0.092 0.130 0.157 0.177 0.198 0.222
67 0.129 0.181 0.220 0.249 0.277 0.311
68 0.092 0.129 0.156 0.177 0.197 0.221
69 0.092 0.130 0.158 0.178 0.199 0.224
70 0.103 0.144 0.175 0.198 0.221 0.248
Public Agency Miscellaneous 2% @ 60
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.011 0.015 0.018 0.021 0.023 0.026
51 0.009 0.013 0.016 0.018 0.020 0.023
52 0.013 0.018 0.022 0.025 0.028 0.031
53 0.011 0.016 0.019 0.022 0.025 0.028
54 0.015 0.021 0.025 0.028 0.032 0.036
55 0.023 0.032 0.039 0.044 0.049 0.055
56 0.019 0.027 0.032 0.037 0.041 0.046
57 0.025 0.035 0.042 0.048 0.054 0.060
58 0.030 0.042 0.051 0.058 0.065 0.073
59 0.035 0.049 0.060 0.068 0.076 0.085
60 0.062 0.087 0.105 0.119 0.133 0.149
61 0.079 0.110 0.134 0.152 0.169 0.190
62 0.132 0.186 0.225 0.255 0.284 0.319
63 0.126 0.178 0.216 0.244 0.272 0.305
64 0.122 0.171 0.207 0.234 0.262 0.293
65 0.173 0.243 0.296 0.334 0.373 0.418
66 0.114 0.160 0.194 0.219 0.245 0.274
67 0.159 0.223 0.271 0.307 0.342 0.384
68 0.113 0.159 0.193 0.218 0.243 0.273
69 0.114 0.161 0.195 0.220 0.246 0.276
70 0.127 0.178 0.216 0.244 0.273 0.306
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-11
Service Retirement
Public Agency Miscellaneous 2% @ 55
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.015 0.020 0.024 0.029 0.033 0.039
51 0.013 0.016 0.020 0.024 0.027 0.033
52 0.014 0.018 0.022 0.027 0.030 0.036
53 0.017 0.022 0.027 0.032 0.037 0.043
54 0.027 0.034 0.041 0.049 0.056 0.067
55 0.050 0.064 0.078 0.094 0.107 0.127
56 0.045 0.057 0.069 0.083 0.095 0.113
57 0.048 0.061 0.074 0.090 0.102 0.122
58 0.052 0.066 0.080 0.097 0.110 0.131
59 0.060 0.076 0.092 0.111 0.127 0.151
60 0.072 0.092 0.112 0.134 0.153 0.182
61 0.089 0.113 0.137 0.165 0.188 0.224
62 0.128 0.162 0.197 0.237 0.270 0.322
63 0.129 0.164 0.199 0.239 0.273 0.325
64 0.116 0.148 0.180 0.216 0.247 0.294
65 0.174 0.221 0.269 0.323 0.369 0.439
66 0.135 0.171 0.208 0.250 0.285 0.340
67 0.133 0.169 0.206 0.247 0.282 0.336
68 0.118 0.150 0.182 0.219 0.250 0.297
69 0.116 0.147 0.179 0.215 0.246 0.293
70 0.138 0.176 0.214 0.257 0.293 0.349
Public Agency Miscellaneous 2.5% @ 55
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.026 0.033 0.040 0.048 0.055 0.062
51 0.021 0.026 0.032 0.038 0.043 0.049
52 0.021 0.026 0.032 0.038 0.043 0.049
53 0.026 0.033 0.040 0.048 0.055 0.062
54 0.043 0.054 0.066 0.078 0.089 0.101
55 0.088 0.112 0.136 0.160 0.184 0.208
56 0.055 0.070 0.085 0.100 0.115 0.130
57 0.061 0.077 0.094 0.110 0.127 0.143
58 0.072 0.091 0.111 0.130 0.150 0.169
59 0.083 0.105 0.128 0.150 0.173 0.195
60 0.088 0.112 0.136 0.160 0.184 0.208
61 0.083 0.105 0.128 0.150 0.173 0.195
62 0.121 0.154 0.187 0.220 0.253 0.286
63 0.105 0.133 0.162 0.190 0.219 0.247
64 0.105 0.133 0.162 0.190 0.219 0.247
65 0.143 0.182 0.221 0.260 0.299 0.338
66 0.105 0.133 0.162 0.190 0.219 0.247
67 0.105 0.133 0.162 0.190 0.219 0.247
68 0.105 0.133 0.162 0.190 0.219 0.247
69 0.105 0.133 0.162 0.190 0.219 0.247
70 0.125 0.160 0.194 0.228 0.262 0.296
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-12
Service Retirement
Public Agency Miscellaneous 2.7% @ 55
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.028 0.035 0.043 0.050 0.058 0.065
51 0.022 0.028 0.034 0.040 0.046 0.052
52 0.022 0.028 0.034 0.040 0.046 0.052
53 0.028 0.035 0.043 0.050 0.058 0.065
54 0.044 0.056 0.068 0.080 0.092 0.104
55 0.091 0.116 0.140 0.165 0.190 0.215
56 0.061 0.077 0.094 0.110 0.127 0.143
57 0.063 0.081 0.098 0.115 0.132 0.150
58 0.074 0.095 0.115 0.135 0.155 0.176
59 0.083 0.105 0.128 0.150 0.173 0.195
60 0.088 0.112 0.136 0.160 0.184 0.208
61 0.085 0.109 0.132 0.155 0.178 0.202
62 0.124 0.158 0.191 0.225 0.259 0.293
63 0.107 0.137 0.166 0.195 0.224 0.254
64 0.107 0.137 0.166 0.195 0.224 0.254
65 0.146 0.186 0.225 0.265 0.305 0.345
66 0.107 0.137 0.166 0.195 0.224 0.254
67 0.107 0.137 0.166 0.195 0.224 0.254
68 0.107 0.137 0.166 0.195 0.224 0.254
69 0.107 0.137 0.166 0.195 0.224 0.254
70 0.129 0.164 0.199 0.234 0.269 0.304
Public Agency Miscellaneous 3% @ 60
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.026 0.033 0.040 0.048 0.055 0.062
51 0.021 0.026 0.032 0.038 0.043 0.049
52 0.019 0.025 0.030 0.035 0.040 0.046
53 0.025 0.032 0.038 0.045 0.052 0.059
54 0.039 0.049 0.060 0.070 0.081 0.091
55 0.083 0.105 0.128 0.150 0.173 0.195
56 0.055 0.070 0.085 0.100 0.115 0.130
57 0.061 0.077 0.094 0.110 0.127 0.143
58 0.072 0.091 0.111 0.130 0.150 0.169
59 0.080 0.102 0.123 0.145 0.167 0.189
60 0.094 0.119 0.145 0.170 0.196 0.221
61 0.088 0.112 0.136 0.160 0.184 0.208
62 0.127 0.161 0.196 0.230 0.265 0.299
63 0.110 0.140 0.170 0.200 0.230 0.260
64 0.110 0.140 0.170 0.200 0.230 0.260
65 0.149 0.189 0.230 0.270 0.311 0.351
66 0.110 0.140 0.170 0.200 0.230 0.260
67 0.110 0.140 0.170 0.200 0.230 0.260
68 0.110 0.140 0.170 0.200 0.230 0.260
69 0.110 0.140 0.170 0.200 0.230 0.260
70 0.132 0.168 0.204 0.240 0.276 0.312
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-13
Service Retirement
Public Agency Fire ½ @ 55 and 2% @ 55
Age
50
51
52
53
54
55
Rate
0.01588
0.00000
0.03442
0.01990
0.04132
0.07513
Age
56
57
58
59
60
Rate
0.11079
0.00000
0.09499
0.04409
1.00000
Public Agency Police ½ @ 55 and 2% @ 55
Age
50
51
52
53
54
55
Rate
0.02552
0.00000
0.01637
0.02717
0.00949
0.16674
Age
56
57
58
59
60
Rate
0.06921
0.05113
0.07241
0.07043
1.00000
Public Agency Police 2%@ 50
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.014 0.014 0.014 0.014 0.025 0.045
51 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.023 0.040
52 0.026 0.026 0.026 0.026 0.048 0.086
53 0.052 0.052 0.052 0.052 0.096 0.171
54 0.070 0.070 0.070 0.070 0.128 0.227
55 0.090 0.090 0.090 0.090 0.165 0.293
56 0.064 0.064 0.064 0.064 0.117 0.208
57 0.071 0.071 0.071 0.071 0.130 0.232
58 0.063 0.063 0.063 0.063 0.115 0.205
59 0.140 0.140 0.140 0.140 0.174 0.254
60 0.140 0.140 0.140 0.140 0.172 0.251
61 0.140 0.140 0.140 0.140 0.172 0.251
62 0.140 0.140 0.140 0.140 0.172 0.251
63 0.140 0.140 0.140 0.140 0.172 0.251
64 0.140 0.140 0.140 0.140 0.172 0.251
65 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
These rates also apply to Local Prosecutors, Local Sheriff, School Police and Other Safety.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-14
Service Retirement
Public Agency Fire 2%@50
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.007 0.007 0.007 0.007 0.010 0.015
51 0.008 0.008 0.008 0.008 0.013 0.019
52 0.017 0.017 0.017 0.017 0.027 0.040
53 0.047 0.047 0.047 0.047 0.072 0.107
54 0.064 0.064 0.064 0.064 0.098 0.147
55 0.087 0.087 0.087 0.087 0.134 0.200
56 0.078 0.078 0.078 0.078 0.120 0.180
57 0.090 0.090 0.090 0.090 0.139 0.208
58 0.079 0.079 0.079 0.079 0.122 0.182
59 0.073 0.073 0.073 0.073 0.112 0.168
60 0.114 0.114 0.114 0.114 0.175 0.262
61 0.114 0.114 0.114 0.114 0.175 0.262
62 0.114 0.114 0.114 0.114 0.175 0.262
63 0.114 0.114 0.114 0.114 0.175 0.262
64 0.114 0.114 0.114 0.114 0.175 0.262
65 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
Public Agency Police 3%@ 55
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.019 0.019 0.019 0.019 0.040 0.060
51 0.024 0.024 0.024 0.024 0.049 0.074
52 0.024 0.024 0.024 0.024 0.051 0.077
53 0.059 0.059 0.059 0.059 0.121 0.183
54 0.069 0.069 0.069 0.069 0.142 0.215
55 0.116 0.116 0.116 0.116 0.240 0.363
56 0.076 0.076 0.076 0.076 0.156 0.236
57 0.058 0.058 0.058 0.058 0.120 0.181
58 0.076 0.076 0.076 0.076 0.157 0.237
59 0.094 0.094 0.094 0.094 0.193 0.292
60 0.141 0.141 0.141 0.141 0.290 0.438
61 0.094 0.094 0.094 0.094 0.193 0.292
62 0.118 0.118 0.118 0.118 0.241 0.365
63 0.094 0.094 0.094 0.094 0.193 0.292
64 0.094 0.094 0.094 0.094 0.193 0.292
65 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
These rates also apply to Local Prosecutors, Local Sheriff, School Police and Other Safety.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-15
Service Retirement
Public Agency Fire 3%@55
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.018 0.028 0.033
51 0.008 0.008 0.008 0.012 0.019 0.022
52 0.018 0.018 0.018 0.027 0.042 0.050
53 0.043 0.043 0.043 0.062 0.098 0.114
54 0.057 0.057 0.057 0.083 0.131 0.152
55 0.092 0.092 0.092 0.134 0.211 0.246
56 0.081 0.081 0.081 0.118 0.187 0.218
57 0.100 0.100 0.100 0.146 0.230 0.268
58 0.081 0.081 0.081 0.119 0.187 0.219
59 0.078 0.078 0.078 0.113 0.178 0.208
60 0.117 0.117 0.117 0.170 0.267 0.312
61 0.078 0.078 0.078 0.113 0.178 0.208
62 0.098 0.098 0.098 0.141 0.223 0.260
63 0.078 0.078 0.078 0.113 0.178 0.208
64 0.078 0.078 0.078 0.113 0.178 0.208
65 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
Public Agency Police 3%@ 50
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.070 0.070 0.070 0.131 0.193 0.249
51 0.050 0.050 0.050 0.095 0.139 0.180
52 0.061 0.061 0.061 0.116 0.171 0.220
53 0.069 0.069 0.069 0.130 0.192 0.247
54 0.071 0.071 0.071 0.134 0.197 0.255
55 0.090 0.090 0.090 0.170 0.250 0.322
56 0.069 0.069 0.069 0.130 0.191 0.247
57 0.080 0.080 0.080 0.152 0.223 0.288
58 0.087 0.087 0.087 0.164 0.242 0.312
59 0.090 0.090 0.090 0.170 0.251 0.323
60 0.135 0.135 0.135 0.255 0.377 0.485
61 0.090 0.090 0.090 0.170 0.251 0.323
62 0.113 0.113 0.113 0.213 0.314 0.404
63 0.090 0.090 0.090 0.170 0.251 0.323
64 0.090 0.090 0.090 0.170 0.251 0.323
65 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
These rates also apply to Local Prosecutors, Local Sheriff, School Police and Other Safety.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-16
Service Retirement
Public Agency Fire 3%@50
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.034 0.034 0.034 0.048 0.068 0.080
51 0.046 0.046 0.046 0.065 0.092 0.109
52 0.069 0.069 0.069 0.097 0.138 0.163
53 0.084 0.084 0.084 0.117 0.166 0.197
54 0.103 0.103 0.103 0.143 0.204 0.241
55 0.127 0.127 0.127 0.177 0.252 0.298
56 0.121 0.121 0.121 0.169 0.241 0.285
57 0.101 0.101 0.101 0.141 0.201 0.238
58 0.118 0.118 0.118 0.165 0.235 0.279
59 0.100 0.100 0.100 0.140 0.199 0.236
60 0.150 0.150 0.150 0.210 0.299 0.354
61 0.100 0.100 0.100 0.140 0.199 0.236
62 0.125 0.125 0.125 0.175 0.249 0.295
63 0.100 0.100 0.100 0.140 0.199 0.236
64 0.100 0.100 0.100 0.140 0.199 0.236
65 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
Schools 2%@ 55
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.005 0.009 0.013 0.015 0.016 0.018
51 0.005 0.010 0.014 0.017 0.019 0.021
52 0.006 0.012 0.017 0.020 0.022 0.025
53 0.007 0.014 0.019 0.023 0.026 0.029
54 0.012 0.024 0.033 0.039 0.044 0.049
55 0.024 0.048 0.067 0.079 0.088 0.099
56 0.020 0.039 0.055 0.065 0.072 0.081
57 0.021 0.042 0.059 0.070 0.078 0.087
58 0.025 0.050 0.070 0.083 0.092 0.103
59 0.029 0.057 0.080 0.095 0.105 0.118
60 0.037 0.073 0.102 0.121 0.134 0.150
61 0.046 0.090 0.126 0.149 0.166 0.186
62 0.076 0.151 0.212 0.250 0.278 0.311
63 0.069 0.136 0.191 0.225 0.251 0.281
64 0.067 0.133 0.185 0.219 0.244 0.273
65 0.091 0.180 0.251 0.297 0.331 0.370
66 0.072 0.143 0.200 0.237 0.264 0.295
67 0.067 0.132 0.185 0.218 0.243 0.272
68 0.060 0.118 0.165 0.195 0.217 0.243
69 0.067 0.133 0.187 0.220 0.246 0.275
70 0.066 0.131 0.183 0.216 0.241 0.270
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-17
Miscellaneous
Superfunded Status
Prior to enactment of the Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) that became effective January 1,
2013, a plan in superfunded status (actuarial value of assets exceeding present value of benefits) would
normally pay a zero employer contribution rate while also being permitted to use its superfunded assets to
pay its employees’ normal member contributions.
However, Section 7522.52(a) of PEPRA states, “In any fiscal year a public employer’s contribution to a
defined benefit plan, in combination with employee contributions to that defined benefit plan, shall not be
less than the total normal cost rate…” This means that not only must employers pay their employer normal
cost regardless of plan surplus, but also, employers may no longer use superfunded assets to pay employee
normal member contributions.
Internal Revenue Code Section 415
The limitations on benefits imposed by Internal Revenue Code Section 415 are taken into account in this
valuation. Each year the impact of any changes in this limitation since the prior valuation is included and
amortized as part of the actuarial gain or loss base. This results in lower contributions for those employers
contributing to the Replacement Benefit Fund and protects CalPERS from prefunding ex pected benefits in
excess of limits imposed by federal tax law.
Internal Revenue Code Section 401(a)(17)
The limitations on compensation imposed by Internal Revenue Code Section 401(a)(17) are taken into
account in this valuation. Each year, the impact of any changes in the compensation limitation since the
prior valuation is included and amortized as part of the actuarial gain or loss base.
PEPRA Assumptions
The Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) mandated new benefit formulas and new
member contributions for new members (as defined by PEPRA) hired after January 1, 2013. For non-pooled
plans, these new members will first be reflected in the June 30, 2013 non-pooled plan valuations. New
members in pooled plans will first be reflected in the new Miscellaneous and Safety risk pools created by the
CalPERS Board in November 2012 in response to the passage of PEPRA, also beginning with the June 30,
2013 valuation. Different assumptions for these new PEPRA members will be disclosed in the 2013
valuation.
APPENDIX B
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX B
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-1
The following is a description of the principal plan provisions used in calculating costs and liabilities. We have
indicated whether a plan provision is standard or optional. Standard benefits are applicable to all members while
optional benefits vary among employers. Optional benefits that apply to a single period of time, such as Golden
Handshakes, have not been included. Many of the statements in this summary are general in nature, and are
intended to provide an easily understood summary of the complex Public Employees’ Retirement Law. The law itself
governs in all situations.
PEPRA Benefit Changes
The Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) requires new benefits and member contributions for new
members as defined by PEPRA, that are hired after January 1, 2013. For non-pooled plans, these members will first
be reflected in June 30, 2013 non-pooled plan valuations. Members in pooled plans will be reflected in the new
Miscellaneous and Safety risk pools created by the CalPERS Board in November 2012 in respons e to the passage of
PEPRA, beginning with the June 30, 2013 valuation.
Service Retirement
Eligibility
A classic CalPERS member becomes eligible for Service Retirement upon attainment of age 50 with at least 5 years of
credited service (total service across all CalPERS employers, and with certain other Retirement Systems with which
CalPERS has reciprocity agreements). For employees hired into a plan with the 1.5% at 65 formula, eligibility for
service retirement is age 55 with at least 5 years of service.
Benefit
The Service Retirement benefit is a monthly allowance equal to the product of the benefit factor, years of service,
and final compensation.
The benefit factor depends on the benefit formula specified in your agency’s contract. The table below shows
the factors for each of the available formulas. Factors vary by the member’s age at retirement. Listed are the
factors for retirement at whole year ages:
Miscellaneous Plan Formulas
Retirement Age 1.5% at 65 2% at 60 2% at 55 2.5% at 55 2.7% at 55 3% at 60
50 0.5000% 1.092% 1.426% 2.0% 2.0% 2.0%
51 0.5667% 1.156% 1.522% 2.1% 2.14% 2.1%
52 0.6334% 1.224% 1.628% 2.2% 2.28% 2.2%
53 0.7000% 1.296% 1.742% 2.3% 2.42% 2.3%
54 0.7667% 1.376% 1.866% 2.4% 2.56% 2.4%
55 0.8334% 1.460% 2.0% 2.5% 2.7% 2.5%
56 0.9000% 1.552% 2.052% 2.5% 2.7% 2.6%
57 0.9667% 1.650% 2.104% 2.5% 2.7% 2.7%
58 1.0334% 1.758% 2.156% 2.5% 2.7% 2.8%
59 1.1000% 1.874% 2.210% 2.5% 2.7% 2.9%
60 1.1667% 2.0% 2.262% 2.5% 2.7% 3.0%
61 1.2334% 2.134% 2.314% 2.5% 2.7% 3.0%
62 1.3000% 2.272% 2.366% 2.5% 2.7% 3.0%
63 1.3667% 2.418% 2.418% 2.5% 2.7% 3.0%
64 1.4334% 2.418% 2.418% 2.5% 2.7% 3.0%
65 & Up 1.5000% 2.418% 2.418% 2.5% 2.7% 3.0%
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX B
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-2
Safety Plan Formulas
Retirement
Age ½ at 55 * 2% at 55 2% at 50 3% at 55 3% at 50
50 1.783% 1.426% 2.0% 2.40% 3.0%
51 1.903% 1.522% 2.14% 2.52% 3.0%
52 2.035% 1.628% 2.28% 2.64% 3.0%
53 2.178% 1.742% 2.42% 2.76% 3.0%
54 2.333% 1.866% 2.56% 2.88% 3.0%
55 & Up 2.5% 2.0% 2.7% 3.0% 3.0%
* For this formula, the benefit factor also varies by entry age. The factors shown are for members with an entry age
of 35 or greater. If entry age is less than 35, then the age 55 benefit factor is 50% divided by the difference between
age 55 and entry age. The benefit factor for ages prior to age 55 is the same proportion of the age 55 benefit factor
as in the above table.
The years of service is the amount credited by CalPERS to a member while he or she is employed in this group
(or for other periods that are recognized under the employer’s contract with CalPERS). For a member who has
earned service with multiple CalPERS employers, the benefit from each employer is calculated separately
according to each employer’s contract, and then added together for the total allowance. An agency may contract
for an optional benefit where any unused sick leave accumulated at the time of retirement will be converted to
credited service at a rate of 0.004 years of service for each day of sick leave.
The final compensation is the monthly average of the member’s highest 36 or 12 consecutive months’ full-time
equivalent monthly pay (no matter which CalPERS employer paid this compensation). The standard benefit is 36
months. Employers have the option of providing a final compensation equal to the highest 12 consecutive
months. Final compensation must be defined by the highest 36 consecutive months’ pay under the 1.5% at 65
formula.
Employees must be covered by Social Security with the 1.5% at 65 formula. Social Security is optional for all
other benefit formulas. For employees covered by Social Security, the Modified formula is the standard benefit.
Under this type of formula, the final compensation is offset by $133.33 (or by one third if the final co mpensation
is less than $400). Employers may contract for the Full benefit with Social Security that will eliminate the offset
applicable to the final compensation. For employees not covered by Social Security, the Full benefit is paid with
no offsets. Auxiliary organizations of the CSUC system may elect reduced contribution rates, in which case the
offset is $317 if members are not covered by Social Security or $513 if members are covered by Social Security.
The Miscellaneous Service Retirement benefit is not capped. The Safety Service Retirement benefit is capped at
90 percent of final compensation.
Vested Deferred Retirement
Eligibility for Deferred Status
A CalPERS member becomes eligible for a deferred vested retirement benefit when he or she leaves employment,
keeps his or her contribution account balance on deposit with CalPERS, and has earned at least 5 years of credited
service (total service across all CalPERS employers, and with certain other Retirement Systems with which CalPERS
has reciprocity agreements).
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX B
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-3
Eligibility to Start Receiving Benefits
The CalPERS member becomes eligible to receive the deferred retirement benefit upon satisfying the eligibility
requirements for Deferred Status and upon attainment of age 50 (55 for employees hired into a 1.5% @ 65 plan).
Benefit
The vested deferred retirement benefit is the same as the Service Retirement benefit, where the benefit factor is
based on the member’s age at allowance commencement. For members who have earned service with multiple
CalPERS employers, the benefit from each employer is calculated separately according to each employer’s contract,
and then added together for the total allowance.
Non-Industrial (Non-Job Related) Disability Retirement
Eligibility
A CalPERS member is eligible for Non-Industrial Disability Retirement if he or she becomes disabled and has at least
5 years of credited service (total service across all CalPERS employers, and with certain other Retirement Systems
with which CalPERS has reciprocity agreements). There is no special age requirement. Disabled means the member is
unable to perform his or her job because of an illness or injury, which is expected to be permanent or to last
indefinitely. The illness or injury does not have to be job related. A CalPERS member must be actively employed by
any CalPERS employer at the time of disability in order to be eligible for this benefit.
Standard Benefit
The standard Non-Industrial Disability Retirement benefit is a monthly allowance equal to 1.8 percent of final
compensation, multiplied by service, which is determined as follows:
Service is CalPERS credited service, for members with less than 10 years of service or greater than 18.518 years
of service; or
Service is CalPERS credited service plus the additional number of years that the member would have worked
until age 60, for members with at least 10 years but not more than 18.518 years of service. The maximum
benefit in this case is 33 1/3 percent of Final Compensation.
Improved Benefit
Employers have the option of providing the improved Non-Industrial Disability Retirement benefit. This benefit
provides a monthly allowance equal to 30% of final compensation for the first 5 years of service, plus 1% for each
additional year of service to a maximum of 50% of final compensation.
Members who are eligible for a larger service retirement benefit may choose to receive that benefit in lieu of a
disability benefit. Members eligible to retire, and who have attained the normal retirement age determined by their
service retirement benefit formula, will receive the same dollar amount for disability retirement as that payable for
service retirement. For members who have earned service with multiple CalPERS employers, the benefit attributed to
each employer is the total disability allowance multiplied by the ratio of service with a particular employer to the total
CalPERS service.
Industrial (Job Related) Disability Retirement
All safety members have this benefit. For miscellaneous members, employers have the option of providing this
benefit. An employer may choose to provide the Increased benefit option or the Improved benefit option.
Eligibility
An employee is eligible for Industrial Disability Retirement if he or she becomes disabled while working, where
disabled means the member is unable to perform the duties of the job because of a work-related illness or injury,
which is, expected to be permanent or to last indefinitely. A CalPERS member who has left active employment within
this group is not eligible for this benefit, except to the extent described below.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX B
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-4
Standard Benefit
The standard Industrial Disability Retirement benefit is a monthly allowance equal to 50 percent of final
compensation.
Increased Benefit (75 percent of Final Compensation)
The increased Industrial Disability Retirement benefit is a monthly allowance equal to 75 percent final compensation
for total disability.
Improved Benefit (50 percent to 90 percent of Final Compensation)
The improved Industrial Disability Retirement benefit is a monthly allowance equal to the Workman’s Compensation
Appeals Board permanent disability rate percentage (if 50 percent or greater, with a maximum of 90 percent) times
the final compensation.
For a CalPERS member not actively employed in this group who became disabled while employed by some other
CalPERS employer, the benefit is a return of accumulated member contributions with respect to employment in this
group. With the standard or increased benefit, a member may also choose to receive the annuitization of the
accumulated member contributions.
If a member is eligible for Service Retirement and if the Service Retirement benefit is more than the Industrial
Disability Retirement benefit, the member may choose to receive the larger benefit.
Post-Retirement Death Benefit
Standard Lump Sum Payment
Upon the death of a retiree, a one-time lump sum payment of $500 will be made to the retiree’s designated
survivor(s), or to the retiree’s estate.
Improved Lump Sum Payment
Employers have the option of providing an improved lump sum death benefit of $600, $2,000, $3,000, $4,000 or
$5,000.
Form of Payment for Retirement Allowance
Standard Form of Payment
Generally, the retirement allowance is paid to the retiree in the form of an annuity for as long as he or she is alive.
The retiree may choose to provide for a portion of his or her allowance to be paid to any designated beneficiary after
the retiree’s death. CalPERS provides for a variety of such benefit options, which the retiree pays for by taking a
reduction in his or her retirement allowance. Such reduction takes into account the amount to be provided to the
beneficiary and the probable duration of payments (based on the ages of the member and beneficiary) m ade
subsequent to the member’s death.
Improved Form of Payment (Post Retirement Survivor Allowance)
Employers have the option to contract for the post retirement survivor allowance.
For retirement allowances with respect to service subject to the modified formula, 25 percent of the retirement
allowance will automatically be continued to certain statutory beneficiaries upon the death of the retiree, without a
reduction in the retiree’s allowance. For retirement allowances with respect to service subject to the full or
supplemental formula, 50 percent of the retirement allowance will automatically be continued to certain statutory
beneficiaries upon the death of the retiree, without a reduction in the retiree’s allowance. This additional benefit is
often referred to as post retirement survivor allowance (PRSA) or simply as survivor continuance.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX B
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-5
In other words, 25 percent or 50 percent of the allowance, the continuance portion, is paid to the retiree for as long
as he or she is alive, and that same amount is continued to the retiree’s spouse (or if no eligible spouse, to
unmarried children until they attain age 18; or, if no eligible children, to a qualifying dependent parent) for the rest
of his or her lifetime. This benefit will not be discontinued in the event the spouse remarries.
The remaining 75 percent or 50 percent of the retirement allowance, which may be referred to as the option portion
of the benefit, is paid to the retiree as an annuity for as long as he or she is alive. Or, the retiree may choose to
provide for some of this option portion to be paid to any designated beneficiary after the retiree’s death. Benefit
options applicable to the option portion are the same as those offered with the standard form. The reduction is
calculated in the same manner but is applied only to the option portion.
Pre-Retirement Death Benefits
Basic Death Benefit
This is a standard benefit.
Eligibility
An employee’s beneficiary (or estate) may receive the Basic Death benefit if the member dies while actively
employed. A CalPERS member must be actively employed with the CalPERS employer providing this benefit to be
eligible for this benefit. A member’s survivor who is eligible for any other pre-retirement death benefit may choose to
receive that death benefit instead of this Basic Death benefit.
Benefit
The Basic Death Benefit is a lump sum in the amount of the member’s accumulated contributions, where interest is
currently credited at 7.5 percent per year, plus a lump sum in the amount of one month's salary for each completed
year of current service, up to a maximum of six months' salary. For purposes of this benefit, one month's salary is
defined as the member's average monthly full-time rate of compensation during the 12 months preceding death.
1957 Survivor Benefit
This is a standard benefit.
Eligibility
An employee’s eligible survivor(s) may receive the 1957 Survivor benefit if the member dies while actively employed,
has attained at least age 50, and has at least 5 years of credited service (total service across all CalPERS employers
and with certain other Retirement Systems with which CalPERS has reciprocity agreements). A CalPERS member
must be actively employed with the CalPERS employer providing this benefit to be eligible for this benefit. An eligible
survivor means the surviving spouse to whom the member was married at least one year before death or, if there is
no eligible spouse, to the member's unmarried children under age 18. A member’s survivor who is eligible for any
other pre-retirement death benefit may choose to receive that death benefit instead of this 1957 Survivor ben efit.
Benefit
The 1957 Survivor benefit is a monthly allowance equal to one-half of the unmodified Service Retirement benefit that
the member would have been entitled to receive if the member had retired on the date of his or her death. If the
benefit is payable to the spouse, the benefit is discontinued upon the death of the spouse. If the benefit is payable to
a dependent child, the benefit will be discontinued upon death or attainment of age 18, unless the child is disabled.
The total amount paid will be at least equal to the Basic Death benefit.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX B
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-6
Optional Settlement 2W Death Benefit
This is an optional benefit.
Eligibility
An employee’s eligible survivor may receive the Optional Settlement 2W Death benefit if the member dies while
actively employed, has attained at least age 50, and has at least 5 years of credited service (total service across all
CalPERS employers and with certain other Retirement Systems with which CalPERS has reciprocity agreements). A
CalPERS member who is no longer actively employed with any CalPERS employer is not eligible for this benefit. An
eligible survivor means the surviving spouse to whom the member was married at least one year before death. A
member’s survivor who is eligible for any other pre-retirement death benefit may choose to receive that death benefit
instead of this Optional Settlement 2W Death benefit.
Benefit
The Optional Settlement 2W Death benefit is a monthly allowance equal to the Service Retirement benefit that the
member would have received had the member retired on the date of his or her death and elected Optional
Settlement 2W. (A retiree who elects Optional Settlement 2W receives an allowance that has been reduced so that it
will continue to be paid after his or her death to a surviving beneficiary.) The allowance is payable as long as the
surviving spouse lives, at which time it is continued to any unmarried children under age 18, if applicable. The total
amount paid will be at least equal to the Basic Death Benefit.
Special Death Benefit
This is a standard benefit for safety members. An employer may elect to provide this benefit for miscellaneous
members.
Eligibility
An employee’s eligible survivor(s) may receive the Special Death benefit if the member dies while actively employed
and the death is job-related. A CalPERS member who is no longer actively employed with any CalPERS employer is
not eligible for this benefit. An eligible survivor means the surviving spouse to whom the member was married prior
to the onset of the injury or illness that resulted in death. If there is no eligible spouse, an eligible survivor means the
member's unmarried children under age 22. An eligible survivor who chooses to receive this benefit will not receive
any other death benefit.
Benefit
The Special Death benefit is a monthly allowance equal to 50% of final compensation, and will be increased
whenever the compensation paid to active employees is increased but ceasing to increase when the member would
have attained age 50. The allowance is payable to the surviving spouse until death at which time the allowance is
continued to any unmarried children under age 22. There is a guarantee that the total amount paid will at least equal
the Basic Death Benefit.
If the member’s death is the result of an accident or injury caused by external violence or physical force incurred in
the performance of the member’s duty, and there are eligible surviving children (eligible means unmarried children
under age 22) in addition to an eligible spouse, then an additional monthly allowance is paid equal to the
following:
if 1 eligible child: 12.5% of final compensation
if 2 eligible children: 20.0% of final compensation
if 3 or more eligible children: 25.0% of final compensation
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX B
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-7
Alternate Death Benefit for Local Fire Members
This is an optional benefit available only to local fire members.
Eligibility
An employee’s eligible survivor(s) may receive the Alternate Death benefit in lieu of the Basic Death Benefit or the
1957 Survivor Benefit if the member dies while actively employed and has at least 20 years of total CalPERS service.
A CalPERS member who is no longer actively employed with any CalPERS employer is not eligible for this benefit. An
eligible survivor means the surviving spouse to whom the member was married prior to the onset of the injury or
illness that resulted in death. If there is no eligible spouse, an eligible survivor means the member's unmarried
children under age 18.
Benefit
The Alternate Death benefit is a monthly allowance equal to the Service Retirement benefit that the member would
have received had the member retired on the date of his or her death and elected Optional Settlement 2W. (A retiree
who elects Optional Settlement 2W receives an allowance that has been reduced so that it will continue to be paid
after his or her death to a surviving beneficiary.) If the member has not yet attained age 50, the benefit is equal to
that which would be payable if the member had retired at age 50, based on service credited at the time of death.
The allowance is payable as long as the surviving spouse lives, at which time it is continued to any unmarried
children under age 18, if applicable. The total amount paid will be at least equal to the Basic Death Benefit.
Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA)
Standard Benefit
Beginning the second calendar year after the year of retirement, retirement and survivor allowances will be annually
adjusted on a compound basis by 2 percent.
Improved Benefit
Employers have the option of providing any of these improved cost-of-living adjustments by contracting for any one
of these Class 1 optional benefits. An improved COLA is not available in conjunction with the 1.5% at 65 formula.
Beginning the second calendar year after the year of retirement, retirement and survivor allowances will be annually
adjusted on a compound basis by either 3 percent, 4 percent or 5 percent. However, the cumulative adjustment may
not be greater than the cumulative change in the Consumer Price Index since the date of retirement.
Purchasing Power Protection Allowance (PPPA)
Retirement and survivor allowances are protected against inflation by PPPA. PPPA benefits are cost-of-living
adjustments that are intended to maintain an individual’s allowance at 80 percent of the initial allowance at
retirement adjusted for inflation since retirement. The PPPA benefit will be coordinated with other cost-of-living
adjustments provided under the plan.
Employee Contributions
Each employee contributes toward his or her retirement based upon the retirement formula. The standard employee
contribution is as described below.
The percent contributed below the monthly compensation breakpoint is 0 percent.
The monthly compensation breakpoint is $0 for full and supplemental formula members and $133.33 for
employees covered by the modified formula.
The percent contributed above the monthly compensation breakpoint depends upon the benefit formula, as
shown in the table below.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX B
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-8
Benefit Formula Percent Contributed above the
Breakpoint
Miscellaneous, 1.5% at 65 2%
Miscellaneous, 2% at 60 7%
Miscellaneous, 2% at 55 7%
Miscellaneous, 2.5% at 55 8%
Miscellaneous, 2.7% at 55 8%
Miscellaneous, 3% at 60 8%
Safety, 1/2 at 55 Varies by entry age
Safety, 2% at 55 7%
Safety, 2% at 50 9%
Safety, 3% at 55 9%
Safety, 3% at 50 9%
The employer may choose to “pick-up” these contributions for the employees (Employer Paid Member Contributions
or EPMC). An employer may also include Employee Cost Sharing in the contract, where employees contribute an
additional percentage of compensation based on any optional benefit for which a contract amendment was made on
or after January 1, 1979.
Auxiliary organizations of the CSUC system may elect reduced contribution rates, in which case the offset is $317 and
the contribution rate is 6 percent if members are not covered by Social Security. If members are covered by Social
Security, the offset is $513 and the contribution rate is 5 percent.
Refund of Employee Contributions
If the member’s service with the employer ends, and if the member does not satisfy the eligibility conditions for any
of the retirement benefits above, the member may elect to receive a refund of his or her employee contributions,
which are credited annually with 6 percent interest.
1959 Survivor Benefit
This is a pre-retirement death benefit available only to members not covered by Social Security. Any agency joining
CalPERS subsequent to 1993 was required to provide this benefit if the members were n ot covered by Social
Security. The benefit is optional for agencies joining CalPERS prior to 1994. Levels 1, 2 and 3 are now closed. Any
new agency or any agency wishing to add this benefit or increase the current level must choose the 4th or Indexed
Level.
This benefit is not included in the results presented in this valuation. More information on this benefit is available on
the CalPERS website at www.calpers.ca.gov.
APPENDIX C
PARTICIPANT DATA
SUMMARY OF VALUATION DATA
ACTIVE MEMBERS
TRANSFERRED AND TERMINATED MEMBERS
RETIRED MEMBERS AND BENEFICIARIES
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX C
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PARTICIPANT DATA
C-1
Summary of Valuation Data
June 30, 2011 June 30, 2012
1. Active Members
a) Counts 185 180
b) Average Attained Age
41.39 40.16
c) Average Entry Age to Rate Plan 28.77 29.10
d) Average Years of Service 12.62 11.06
e) Average Annual Covered Pay $ 123,105 $ 116,221
f) Annual Covered Payroll 22,774,462 20,919,846
g) Projected Annual Payroll for Contribution Year 24,886,270 22,859,681
h) Present Value of Future Payroll 199,687,822 197,739,373
2. Transferred Members
a) Counts 62 59
b) Average Attained Age 43.64 43.67
c) Average Years of Service 5.49 4.16
d) Average Annual Covered Pay $ 113,883 $ 108,463
3. Terminated Members
a) Counts 34 31
b) Average Attained Age 41.51 42.78
c) Average Years of Service 4.04 3.69
d) Average Annual Covered Pay $ 76,073 $ 73,686
4. Retired Members and Beneficiaries
a) Counts 390 398
b) Average Attained Age 66.50 66.74
c) Average Annual Benefits $ 41,301 $ 46,860
5. Active to Retired Ratio [(1a) / (4a)] 0.47 0.45
Counts of members included in the valuation are counts of the records processed by the valuation. Multiple
records may exist for those who have service in more than one valuation group. This does not result in
double counting of liabilities.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX C
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PARTICIPANT DATA
C-2
Active Members
Counts of members included in the valuation are counts of the records processed by the valuation. Multiple records
may exist for those who have service in more than one valuation group. This does not result in double counting of
liabilities.
Distribution of Active Members by Age and Service
Years of Service at Valuation Date
Attained
Age 0-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-25 25+ Total
15-24 2 0 0 0 0 0 2
25-29 12 3 0 0 0 0 15
30-34 22 16 3 0 0 0 41
35-39 8 7 19 1 0 0 35
40-44 1 7 13 5 1 0 27
45-49 0 5 9 8 15 4 41
50-54 1 2 3 3 4 4 17
55-59 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
60-64 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
65 and over 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
All Ages 46 40 47 17 21 9 180
Distribution of Average Annual Salaries by Age and Service
Years of Service at Valuation Date
Attained
Age 0-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-25 25+ Average
15-24 $84,363 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $84,363
25-29 100,079 113,319 0 0 0 0 102,727
30-34 96,095 117,809 128,723 0 0 0 106,956
35-39 93,815 116,667 130,908 143,850 0 0 119,951
40-44 86,754 114,944 117,274 116,663 153,547 0 116,770
45-49 0 111,403 114,443 122,671 129,263 137,283 123,328
50-54 115,226 105,710 123,248 118,892 141,286 143,033 128,844
55-59 0 0 0 0 0 125,490 125,490
60-64 0 0 0 0 101,650 0 101,650
65 and over 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
All Ages $96,441 $115,365 $123,356 $121,483 $131,395 $138,528 $116,221
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX C
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PARTICIPANT DATA
C-3
Transferred and Terminated Members
Distribution of Transfers to Other CalPERS Plans by Age and Service
Years of Service at Valuation Date
Attained
Age 0-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-25 25+ Total
Average
Salary
15-24 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 $0
25-29 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 89,971
30-34 10 0 0 0 0 0 10 91,578
35-39 4 1 0 0 0 0 5 99,849
40-44 9 4 2 0 0 0 15 110,056
45-49 10 3 1 0 1 0 15 119,624
50-54 2 3 1 1 0 0 7 114,323
55-59 2 1 2 0 0 0 5 111,773
60-64 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
65 and over 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
All Ages 39 12 6 1 1 0 59 108,463
Distribution of Terminated Participants with Funds on Deposit by Age and Service
Years of Service at Valuation Date
Attained
Age 0-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-25 25+ Total
Average
Salary
15-24 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 $0
25-29 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
30-34 7 1 0 0 0 0 8 74,190
35-39 1 3 0 0 0 0 4 97,660
40-44 5 1 1 0 0 0 7 69,545
45-49 4 1 1 0 1 0 7 70,964
50-54 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 54,780
55-59 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 76,103
60-64 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
65 and over 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
All Ages 21 7 2 0 1 0 31 73,686
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX C
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PARTICIPANT DATA
C-4
Retired Members and Beneficiaries
Distribution of Retirees and Beneficiaries by Age and Retirement Type*
Attained
Age
Service
Retirement
Non-
Industrial
Disability
Industrial
Disability
Non-
Industrial
Death
Industrial
Death
Death
After
Retirement Total
Under 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
30-34 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
35-39 0 0 2 0 0 0 2
40-44 0 1 6 0 0 0 7
45-49 0 0 3 0 0 0 3
50-54 35 1 17 0 2 0 55
55-59 32 0 21 0 1 3 57
60-64 27 1 19 0 0 4 51
65-69 32 0 14 0 0 6 52
70-74 33 1 32 0 0 5 71
75-79 24 1 21 0 0 5 51
80-84 18 0 10 0 0 6 34
85 and Over 8 0 4 0 0 2 14
All Ages 209 5 150 0 3 31 398
Distribution of Average Annual Amounts for Retirees and Beneficiaries by Age
and Retirement Type*
Attained
Age
Service
Retirement
Non-
Industrial
Disability
Industrial
Disability
Non-
Industrial
Death
Industrial
Death
Death
After
Retirement Average
Under 30 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
30-34 0 0 49,034 0 0 0 49,034
35-39 0 0 56,281 0 0 0 56,281
40-44 0 78 51,756 0 0 0 44,374
45-49 0 0 44,342 0 0 0 44,342
50-54 88,907 30,422 51,074 0 45,844 0 74,584
55-59 63,010 0 62,604 0 25,550 48,054 61,416
60-64 67,619 16,030 39,679 0 0 36,543 53,761
65-69 52,664 0 32,448 0 0 32,731 44,921
70-74 43,521 13,746 30,844 0 0 32,851 36,637
75-79 35,715 8,512 26,460 0 0 27,475 30,563
80-84 30,463 0 18,571 0 0 24,102 25,843
85 and Over 24,763 0 25,384 0 0 13,121 23,277
All Ages $55,880 $13,758 $38,841 $0 $39,079 $30,942 $46,860
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX C
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PARTICIPANT DATA
C-5
Retired Members and Beneficiaries (continued)
Distribution of Retirees and Beneficiaries by Years Retired and Retirement Type*
Years
Retired
Service
Retirement
Non-
Industrial
Disability
Industrial
Disability
Non-
Industrial
Death
Industrial
Death
Death
After
Retirement Total
Under 5 Yrs 59 1 22 0 0 5 87
5-9 37 0 15 0 1 7 60
10-14 33 0 16 0 1 12 62
15-19 29 1 21 0 0 2 53
20-24 25 1 17 0 0 3 46
25-29 14 0 16 0 0 1 31
30 and Over 12 2 43 0 1 1 59
All Years 209 5 150 0 3 31 398
Distribution of Average Annual Amounts for Retirees and Beneficiaries by Years Retired and
Retirement Type*
Years
Retired
Service
Retirement
Non-
Industrial
Disability
Industrial
Disability
Non-
Industrial
Death
Industrial
Death
Death
After
Retirement Average
Under 5 Yrs $80,721 $78 $70,572 $0 $0 $24,325 $73,986
5-9 60,531 0 58,605 0 48,634 42,468 57,744
10-14 51,285 0 44,087 0 43,054 33,538 45,860
15-19 42,358 30,422 39,029 0 0 12,582 39,690
20-24 38,606 16,030 30,039 0 0 30,636 34,429
25-29 33,657 0 26,723 0 0 19,419 29,619
30 and Over 26,627 11,129 21,658 0 25,550 1,364 22,034
All Years $55,880 $13,758 $38,841 $0 $39,079 $30,942 $46,860
* Counts of members do not include alternate payees receiving benefits while the member is still working.
Therefore, the total counts may not match information on page 25 of the report. Multiple records may exist for
those who have service in more than one coverage group. This does not result in double counting of liabilities.
APPENDIX D
GLOSSARY OF ACTUARIAL TERMS
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX D
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
GLOSSARY OF ACTUARIAL TERMS
D-1
Glossary of Actuarial Terms
Accrued Liability (also called Actuarial Accrued Liability or Entry Age Normal Accrued Liability)
The total dollars needed as of the valuation date to fund all benefits earned in the past for current members.
Actuarial Assumptions
Assumptions made about certain events that will affect pension costs. Assumptions generally can be broken
down into two categories: demographic and economic. Demographic assumptions include such things as
mortality, disability and retirement rates. Economic assumptions include discount rate, salary growth and
inflation.
Actuarial Methods
Procedures employed by actuaries to achieve certain funding goals of a pension plan. Actuarial methods include
funding method, setting the length of time to fund the Accrued Liability and determining the Actuarial Value of
Assets.
Actuarial Valuation
The determination, as of a valuation date, of the Normal Cost, Accrued liability, Actuarial Value of Assets and
related actuarial present values for a pension plan. These valuations are performed annually or when an
employer is contemplating a change to their plan provisions.
Actuarial Value of Assets
The Actuarial Value of Assets used for funding purposes is obtained through an asset smoothing technique
where investment gains and losses are partially recognized in the year they are incurred, with the remainder
recognized in subsequent years.
This method helps to dampen large fluctuations in the employer contribution rate.
Amortization Bases
Separate payment schedules for different portions of the Unfunded Liability. The total Unfunded Liability of a
Risk Pool or non-pooled plan can be segregated by "cause,” creating “bases” and each such base will be
separately amortized and paid for over a specific period of time. However, all bases are amortized using
investment and payroll assumptions from the current valuation. This can be likened to a home having a first
mortgage of 24 years remaining payments and a second mortgage that has 10 years remaining payments. Each
base or each mortgage note has its own terms (payment period, principal, etc.)
Generally, in an actuarial valuation, the separate bases consist of changes in unfunded liability due to contract
amendments, actuarial assumption changes, actuarial methodology changes, and or gains and losses. Payment
periods are determined by Board policy and vary based on the cause of the change.
Amortization Period
The number of years required to pay off an Amortization Base.
Annual Required Contributions (ARC)
The employer's periodic required annual contributions to a defined benefit pension plan as set forth in GASB
Statement No. 27, calculated in accordance with the plan assumptions. The ARC is determined by multiplying the
employer contribution rate by the payroll reported to CalPERS for the applicable fiscal year. However, if this
contribution is fully prepaid in a lump sum, then the dollar value of the ARC is equal to the Lump Sum
Prepayment.
Classic Member (under PEPRA)
A classic member is a member who joined CalPERS prior to January, 1, 2013 and who is not defined as a new
member under PEPRA. (See definition of new member below)
Discount Rate Assumption
The actuarial assumption that was called “investment return” in earlier CalPERS reports or “actuarial interest
rate” in Section 20014 of the California Public Employees’ Retirement Law (PERL).
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX D
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
GLOSSARY OF ACTUARIAL TERMS
D-2
Entry Age
The earliest age at which a plan member begins to accrue benefits under a defined benefit pension plan. In
most cases, this is the age of the member on their date of hire.
Entry Age Normal Cost Method
An actuarial cost method designed to fund a member's total plan benefit over the course of his or her career.
This method is designed to yield a rate expressed as a level percentage of payroll.
(The assumed retirement age less the entry age is the amount of time required to fund a member’s total benefit.
Generally, the older a member on the date of hire, the greater the entry age normal cost. This is mainly bec ause
there is less time to earn investment income to fund the future benefits.)
Fresh Start
A Fresh Start is when multiple amortization bases are collapsed to one base and amortized together over a new
funding period.
Funded Status
A measure of how well funded, or how "on track" a plan or risk pool is with respect to assets verses accrued
liabilities. A ratio greater than 100% means the plan or risk pool has more assets than liabilities and a ratio less
than 100% means liabilities are greater than assets. A funded ratio based on the Actuarial Value of Assets
indicates the progress toward fully funding the plan using the actuarial cost methods and assumptions. A funded
ratio based on the Market Value of Assets indicates the short-term solvency of the plan.
GASB 27
Statement No. 27 of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board. The accounting standard governing a state
or local governmental employer’s accounting for pensions.
GASB 68
Statement No. 68 of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board. The accounting standard governing a state
or local governmental employer’s accounting and financial reporting for pensions. GASB 68 replaces GASB 27
effective the first fiscal year beginning after June 15, 2014.
New Member (under PEPRA)
A new member includes an individual who becomes a member of a public retirement system for the
first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who was not a member of another public retirement
system prior to that date, and who is not subject to reciprocity with another public retirement
system.
Normal Cost
The annual cost of service accrual for the upcoming fiscal year for active employees. The normal cost should be
viewed as the long term contribution rate.
Pension Actuary
A business professional that is authorized by the Society of Actuaries, and the American Academy of Actuaries to
perform the calculations necessary to properly fund a pension plan.
PEPRA
The California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013
Prepayment Contribution
A payment made by the employer to reduce or eliminate the year’s required employer contribution.
Present Value of Benefits (PVB)
The total dollars needed as of the valuation date to fund all benefits earned in the past or expected to be earned
in the future for current members.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2012 APPENDIX D
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
GLOSSARY OF ACTUARIAL TERMS
D-3
Rolling Amortization Period
An amortization period that remains the same each year, rather than declining.
Superfunded
A condition existing when a plan’s Actuarial Value of Assets exceeds its Present Value of Benefits. Prior to the
passage of PEPRA, when this condition existed on a given valuation date for a given plan, employee
contributions for the rate year covered by that valuation could be waived.
Unfunded Liability
When a plan or pool’s Actuarial Value of Assets is less than its Accrued Liability, t he difference is the plan or
pool’s Unfunded Liability. If the Unfunded Liability is positive, the plan or pool will have to pay contributions
exceeding the Normal Cost.