HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 6582
City of Palo Alto (ID # 6582)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Informational Report Meeting Date: 3/14/2016
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Summary Title: CalPers Pension 2015
Title: Transmittal of the CalPERS City of Palo Alto Pension Plan Annual
Valuation Reports as of June 30, 2014
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Administrative Services
Recommendation
This in an informational item and no Council action is necessary.
Background
The City of Palo Alto provides a defined pension benefit to its employees through the State of
California Pension Retirement System (CalPERS), which manages and administers the program.
The CalPERS program maintains two trust accounts: 1) for safety employees (fire and police);
and 2) for miscellaneous employees (all other non-safety personnel such as field personnel,
administrative support and managers). This report provides updated actuarial information for
both pension plans as of June 30, 2014.
Pursuant to CalPERS rules, City employees vest in the pension program after 5 years of service
and, over time, the City has offered different pension payout formulas. Fire (safety) employees
hired up to June 7, 2012 are Tier 1 with a retirement formula of 3 percent for each year worked
and eligibility starts at 50 years of age (3%@50). Fire employees hired after this date are Tier 2
and receive 3%@55. Police (safety) employees hired up to December 6, 2012 are Tier 1 with a
retirement formula of 3 percent for each year worked and eligibility starts at 50 years of age
(3%@50). Police employees hired after this date receive Tier 2, 3%@55. The majority of current
miscellaneous employees are in Tier 1 and the formula is 2.7 percent per year worked with
eligibility starting at the age of 55 (2.7%@55). Effective July 16, 2010 the City changed the
formula for new employees to Tier 2 and 2 percent per year with eligibility starting at the age of
60 (2%@60).
The California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) mandated a third tier
pension formula of 2%@62 for Miscellaneous and 2.7%@57 for Safety, effective January 1,
2013. This change provides the lower benefit for those hired and who are new to CalPERS on or
after January 1, 2013. As a result of the new formulas, which lower the pension benefit for
City of Palo Alto Page 2
newer employees, the City will experience small savings for employees in the 2017 pension
rates just received. This is due to the increasing number of employees in Tiers 2 and 3. In
addition to the lower pension formula for Tier 3, there is a pension compensation limit of
$140,424 for calendar year 2015 for all employees in this tier.
The breakdown of employees in each tier, as of November 2015, is shown in the table below:
Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3
Miscellaneous 67% 15% 18%
Safety 84% 6% 10%
Discussion
CalPERS prepares an annual actuarial analysis to determine the City’s pension liability and
annual required contribution for the two trusts. The actuarial is based on current employees’
accrued benefit and former employees that are vested but have yet to retire and retired
employees as of June 30, 2014. Staff received the actuarial reports dated October 2015 in late
December 2015. The CalPERS actuarial analysis by practice is completed two years in arrears.
The rates outlined below are based on an estimated 2.4 percent investment return in Fiscal
Year 2015 and an assumed 7.5 percent investment return every fiscal year thereafter.
City of Palo Alto Page 3
The chart below reflects the rates paid for Fiscal Year 2016 and the projected rates for Fiscal
Year 2017.
PERS Projected Rates
Current Next Year Year to
Payment Payment Year
FY16 FY17 Change
Miscellaneous1
27.694% 28.89% 1.196%
Safety2
41.932%
45.426% 3.494%
The chart below reflects the CalPERS projected rates for FY18 - FY22.
PERS Projected Rates
Projected Projected Year to Projected Year to Projected Year to
Projected
Year to
Payment Payment Year Payment Year Payment Year Payment Year
FY18 FY19 Change FY20 Change FY21 Change FY22 Change
Miscellaneous1
31.0%
33.1% 2.1%
35.2% 2.1%
35.9% 0.7%
36.4%
0.5%
Safety2
48.8%
52.1% 3.3%
55.5% 3.4%
56.4% 0.90%
57.3%
0.9%
1 The employee share of pension costs for Miscellaneous employees in Tier 1 are 8 percent, Tier 2 are 7 percent and Tier 3
are 6.25 percent. Safety employees in Tiers 1 and 2 are 9 percent and Tier 3 are 11.25 percent.
2 The employee share of pension costs for Safety employees is 9% or 11.25% also depending on the tier.
City of Palo Alto Page 4
(MVA) - Based on a point in time (June 30, 2014 in this case) comparison between the Market
Value of Assets and the Actuarial Liability.
Discount Rate Sensitivity
Another change is the inclusion of an Analysis of Discount Rate Sensitivity. This has also been
an area of discussion among the member agencies and associated governing boards. This is the
language from page 21 of the CalPERS actuarial report (Attachment A and B). “The following
analysis looks at the FY17 total normal cost rates and liabilities under two different discount
rate scenarios. Shown below are the total normal cost rates assuming discount rates that are
1% lower and 1% higher than the current valuation discount rate. This analysis gives an
indication of the potential plan impacts if the Public Employees Retirement Fund were to realize
investment returns of 6.50% or 8.50% over the long-term. This type of analysis gives the reader
a sense of the long-term risk of the employer contribution rates”.
The pension liability and current funding for safety and miscellaneous employees is shown here:
FY16
FY17
Difference
Safety
1 Present Value of Projected Benefits $392,560,445 $ 426,369,163 $33,808,718 9%
2 Entry Age Normal Accrued Liability $338,666,499 $ 367,478,634 $28,812,135 9%
3 Market Value of Assets (MVA) $233,417,363 $ 264,145,000 $30,727,637 13%
4 Unfunded Liability [(2)-(3)] $105,249,136 $ 103,333,634 $(1,915,502) -2%
5 Funded Ratio [(3)/(2)] 68.9% 71.9% 3%
Miscellaneous
1 Present Value of Projected Benefits $690,227,166 $ 756,332,825 $66,105,659 10%
2 Entry Age Normal Accrued Liability $602,540,178 $ 666,978,627 $64,438,449 11%
3 Market Value of Assets (MVA) $412,227,784 $ 475,566,994 $63,339,210 15%
4 Unfunded Liability [(2)-(3)] $190,312,394 $ 191,411,633 $ 1,099,239 1%
5 Funded Ratio [(3)/(2)] 68.4% 71.3% 2.9%
Total Employer Contribution
Miscellaneous $ 19,501,052 $ 21,404,510 $ 1,903,458 10%
Safety $ 9,740,521 $ 10,560,036 $ 819,515 8%
Total $ 29,241,573 $ 31,964,546 $ 2,722,973 9%
City of Palo Alto Page 5
Sensitivity Analysis for Safety
As of June 30, 2014 6.50% Discount Rate
(-1%)
7.50% Discount Rate
(assumed rate)
8.50% Discount Rate
(+1%)
Total Normal Cost 35.350% 28.120% 22.585%
Accrued Liability $414,719,728 $367,478,634 $328,467,693
Unfunded Accrued
Liability
$150,574,728 $103,333,634 $64,322,693
Sensitivity Analysis for Miscellaneous
As of June 30, 2014 6.50% Discount Rate
(-1%)
7.50% Discount Rate
(assumed rate)
8.50% Discount Rate
(+1%)
Total Normal Cost 22.482% 18.014% 14.615%
Accrued Liability $752,918, 029 $666,978,627 $595,625,159
Unfunded Accrued
Liability
$277,351,035 $191,411,633 $120,058,165
Financial Impacts
Staff will include the required and projected pension contribution rates in the development of
the FY17 Proposed budget and the Long Range Financial Forecast. The two actuarial reports are
attached for further details.
Attachments:
Attachment A: Safety Plan of the City of Palo Alto Annual Valuation Report as of June 30,
2014 (PDF)
Attachment B: Miscellaneous Plan of the City of Palo Alto Annual Valuation Report as of
June 30, 2014 (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 2015
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO (CalPERS ID: 6373437857)
Annual Valuation Report as of June 30, 2014
Dear Employer,
As an attachment to this letter, you will find a copy of the June 30, 2014 actuarial valuation
report of your pension plan. Your 2014 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 November 30, 2015. Future Contribution Rates
The exhibit below displays the Minimum Employer Contribution Rate for Fiscal Year 2016-17 and
a projected contribution rate for 2017-18, before any cost sharing. The projected rate for 2017-
18 is based on the most recent information available, including an estimate of the investment
return for Fiscal Year 2014-15, namely 2.4 percent. For a projection of employer rates beyond
2017-18, please refer to the “Projected Rates” in the “Risk Analysis” section, which includes rate
projections through 2021-22. The 5-year projection of future employer contribution rates
supersedes any previous projections we have provided. The Risk Analysis section of your
valuation report also contains estimated employer contribution rates in future years under a
variety of investment return scenarios.
Fiscal Year Employer Contribution Rate
2016-17 45.426%
2017-18 48.8% (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 2017-18 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 2017-18 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, 2014
Page 2
Changes since the Prior Year’s Valuation
This actuarial valuation includes Board adopted changes to the demographic assumptions based
on the most recent experience study report. The most significant of these is the improvement in
post-retirement mortality acknowledging the greater life expectancies we are seeing in our
membership and expected continued improvements. The actuarial assumptions and methods
used in CalPERS public agency valuations are approved by the Board of Administration upon the
recommendation of the Chief Actuary. The individual plan actuary whose signature appears in the
actuarial certification in the accompanying report does not set plan specific actuarial
assumptions.
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” Section.
Effective with the 2014 actuarial valuation, Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement
No. 27 financial reporting information is no longer provided in CalPERS annual actuarial valuation
reports. GASB 27 has been replaced with GASB 68 for financial statement reporting purposes.
CalPERS is providing separate accounting valuation reports on a fee for service basis for our
public agency employers. More details on GASB 68 and instructions for ordering your GASB 68
report are available on our website.
Potential Changes to Future Year Valuations
One of CalPERS strategic goals is to improve the long-term pension benefit sustainability of the
system through an integrated view of pension assets and liabilities. The Board of Administration
has been engaging in discussions on the funding risks faced by the system and possible risk
mitigation strategies to better protect our members. Recent Board actions on a new asset
allocation, new actuarial assumptions and new smoothing and amortization policies have already
lowered risk. However, future contribution rate volatility is expected as CalPERS pension plans
continue to mature. Two approaches under consideration are a flexible glide path methodology, a
lowering of the discount rate and expected investment volatility following a great investment
return and a blended glide path methodology which is similar to the flexible glide path but with
check points over time that would trigger additional asset allocation changes and lowering of the
discount rate if investment returns did not result in a sufficient reduction in volatility. Either
approach requires thoughtful discussion as it involves tradeoffs between short and long-term
system impacts and potential future increases in required contributions. Additional information
can be found on the CalPERS website with possible Board action on risk mitigation strategy and
policy at the November 2015 Board meeting.
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
(CalPERS ID: 6373437857)
Annual Valuation Report as of June 30, 2014
Page 3
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 November 30 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
THIS PAGE
INTENTIONALLY
LEFT BLANK
ACTUARIAL VALUATION
as of June 30, 2014
for the
SAFETY PLAN
of the
CITY OF PALO ALTO
(CalPERS ID: 6373437857)
(Rate Plan ID: 5080)
REQUIRED CONTRIBUTIONS
FOR FISCAL YEAR
July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACTUARIAL CERTIFICATION 1
HIGHLIGHTS AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Introduction 3
Purpose of the Report 3
Required Employer Contribution 4
Plan’s Funded Status 4
Cost 5 Changes Since the Prior Year’s Valuation 6
Subsequent Events 6
ASSETS
Reconciliation of the Market Value of Assets 8
Asset Allocation 9 CalPERS History of Investment Returns 10
LIABILITIES AND RATES
Development of Accrued and Unfunded Liabilities 12
(Gain) / Loss Analysis 06/30/13 - 06/30/14 13
Schedule of Amortization Bases 14 Alternate Amortization Schedules 15
Reconciliation of Required Employer Contributions 16
Employer Contribution Rate History 17
Funding History 17
RISK ANALYSIS
Volatility Ratios 19
Projected Rates 20
Analysis of Future Investment Return Scenarios 20
Analysis of Discount Rate Sensitivity 21 Hypothetical Termination Liability 22
PLAN’S MAJOR BENEFIT PROVISIONS
Plan’s Major Benefit Options 24
APPENDIX A – ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
Actuarial Data A1
Actuarial Methods A1 – A2
Actuarial Assumptions A3 – A21
Miscellaneous A21 – A22
APPENDIX B – PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS B1 – B10
APPENDIX C – PARTICIPANT DATA
Summary of Valuation Data C1
Active Members C2
Transferred and Terminated Members C3 Retired Members and Beneficiaries C4 – C5
APPENDIX D – DEVELOPMENT OF PEPRA MEMBER CONTRIBUTION RATE D1
APPENDIX E – GLOSSARY OF ACTUARIAL TERMS E1 – E2
(CY) FIN PROCESS CONTROL ID: 466096 (PY) FIN PROCESS CONTROL ID: 432668 REPORT ID: 89794
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
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, 2014 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, 2014
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 3
Introduction
This report presents the results of the June 30, 2014 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 2016-17 required employer contribution rates.
This actuarial valuation includes Board adopted changes to the demographic assumptions based on the
most recent experience study report. The most significant of these is the improvement in post-retirement
mortality acknowledging the greater life expectancies we are seeing in our membership and expected
continued improvements. The actuarial assumptions and methods used in CalPERS public agency valuations
are approved by the Board of Administration upon the recommendation of the Chief Actuary. The individual
plan actuary whose signature appears in the actuarial certification in this report does not set plan specific actuarial assumptions.
Effective with the 2014 actuarial valuation, Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 27
financial reporting information is no longer provided in CalPERS annual actuarial valuation reports. GASB 27
has been replaced with GASB 68 for financial statement reporting purposes. CalPERS is providing separate
accounting valuation reports on a fee for service basis for our public agency employers. More details on
GASB 68 and instructions for ordering your GASB 68 report are available on our website.
Purpose of the Report
The actuarial valuation was prepared by the CalPERS Actuarial Office using data as of June 30, 2014. The
purpose of the report is to:
Set forth the assets and accrued liabilities of this plan as of June 30, 2014;
Determine the required employer contribution rate for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2016 through June 30,
2017;
Provide actuarial information as of June 30, 2014 to the CalPERS Board of Administration and other
interested parties.
The pension funding information presented in this report should not be used in financial reports subject to Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) Statement Number 68 for an Agent Employer Defined
Benefit Pension Plan. A separate accounting valuation report for such purposes is available from CalPERS
and details for ordering are available on our website.
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.
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 14.
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 percent plus or
minus change in the discount rate.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 4
Required Employer Contribution
Fiscal Year Fiscal Year
2015-16 2016-17
Actuarially Determined Employer Contributions
1. Contribution in Projected Dollars
a) Total Normal Cost $ 6,424,290 $ 6,536,972
b) Employee Contribution1 2,097,372 2,125,446
c) Employer Normal Cost [(1a) – (1b)] 4,326,918 4,411,526
d) Unfunded Liability Contribution 5,413,603 6,148,510
e) Required Employer Contribution [(1c) + (1d)] $ 9,740,521 $ 10,560,036
Projected Annual Payroll for Contribution Year $ 23,229,280 $ 23,246,697
2. Contribution as a Percentage of Payroll
a) Total Normal Cost 27.656% 28.120%
b) Employee Contribution1 9.029% 9.143%
c) Employer Normal Cost [(2a) – (2b)] 18.627% 18.977%
d) Unfunded Liability Rate 23.305% 26.449%
e) Required Employer Rate [(2c) + (2d)] 41.932% 45.426%
Minimum Employer Contribution Rate2 41.932% 45.426%
Annual Lump Sum Prepayment Option3 $ 9,394,593 $ 10,185,003
1 For classic members this is the percentage specified in the Public Employees Retirement Law, net of any reduction from the use of a modified formula or other factors. For PEPRA members, the member contribution rate is based on 50
percent of the normal cost. A development of PEPRA member contribution rates can be found in Appendix D. Employee
cost sharing is not shown in this report.
2 The Minimum Employer Contribution Rate under PEPRA is the greater of the required employer rate or the employer
normal cost. The timing of contributions made during the year coincides with the employer’s payroll reporting periods.
§ 20572 of the Public Employees’ Retirement Law assesses interest at an annual rate of 10 percent if a contracting
agency fails to remit the required contributions when due.
3 The Annual Lump Sum Prepayment can be made between July 1 and July 15 and should be made before the
contributions for the first payroll reporting period of the new fiscal year are due. If there is contractual cost sharing or
other change, this amount will change.
Plan’s Funded Status
June 30, 2013 June 30, 2014
1. Present Value of Projected Benefits $ 392,560,445 $ 426,369,163
2. Entry Age Normal Accrued Liability 338,666,499 367,478,634
3. Market Value of Assets (MVA) $ 233,417,363 $ 264,145,000
4. Unfunded Liability [(2) – (3)] $ 105,249,136 $ 103,333,634
5. Funded Ratio [(3) / (2)] 68.9% 71.9%
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 5
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, 2014, 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 annual cost associated with one year of service accrual) 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. To communicate the total cost, either the Normal Cost must be converted to a lump sum dollar amount or the Past Service Cost must
be converted to a percent of payroll. Converting the Past Service Cost lump sum to a percent of payroll
requires a specific amortization period, and the employer rate will vary depending on the amortization period
chosen. CalPERS Board amortization and smoothing policies specify the amortization period used for each
amortization base. These policies permit a restructuring of the amortization bases (also known as a “fresh
start”) when the application of the amortization policy would not otherwise achieve the goals of the policy –
to eliminate the unfunded liabilities in a manner that maintains benefit security while minimizing substantial
variations in employer contribution rates. Currently unfunded liabilities are paid as a percent of payroll. However, in the future, unfunded liabilities may be billed as dollar amounts as is the case for plans that are
in risk pools.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 6
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 the “Plan’s Major Benefit Options” and 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.
Actuarial Methods and Assumptions
The CalPERS Board of Administration approved several changes to the demographic assumptions that more
closely align with actual experience based on the most recent experience study. The most significant of these is mortality improvement to acknowledge the greater life expectancies we are seeing in our
membership and expected continued improvements. The new actuarial assumptions are used to set the
Fiscal Year 2016-17 contribution rates for public agency employers. The increase in liability due to new
actuarial assumptions calculated in this actuarial valuation is amortized over a 20-year period with a 5-year
ramp-up/ramp-down in accordance with Board amortization policy.
Subsequent Events
Actuarial Methods and Assumptions
One of CalPERS strategic goals is to improve the long-term pension benefit sustainability of the system through an integrated view of pension assets and liabilities. The Board of Administration has been engaging
in discussions on the funding risks faced by the system and possible risk mitigation strategies to better
protect our members. Recent Board actions on a new asset allocation, new actuarial assumptions and new
smoothing and amortization policies have already lowered risk. However, future contribution rate volatility is
expected as CalPERS pension plans continue to mature. Two approaches under consideration are a flexible
glide path methodology, a lowering of the discount rate and expected investment volatility following a great
investment return and a blended glide path methodology which is similar to the flexible glide path but with check points over time that would trigger additional asset allocation changes and lowering of the discount
rate if investment returns did not result in a sufficient reduction in volatility. Either approach requires
thoughtful discussion as it involves tradeoffs between short and long-term system impacts and potential
future increases in required contributions. Additional information can be found on the CalPERS website with
possible Board action on risk mitigation strategy and policy at the November 2015 Board meeting.
ASSETS
RECONCILIATION OF THE MARKET VALUE OF ASSETS
ASSET ALLOCATION
CALPERS HISTORY OF INVESTMENT RETURNS
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 8
Reconciliation of the Market Value of Assets
1. Market Value of Assets as of 6/30/13 Including Receivables $ 233,417,363
2. Change in Receivables for Service Buybacks as of 6/30/13 250,715
3. Employer Contributions 7,615,779
4. Employee Contributions 1,940,660
5. Benefit Payments to Retirees and Beneficiaries (19,895,092)
6. Refunds (90,014)
7. Lump Sum Payments 0
8. Transfers and Miscellaneous Adjustments 821,555
9. Investment Return 40,084,034
10. Market Value of Assets as of 6/30/14 Including Receivables $ 264,145,000
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 9
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 Investment Belief No.
6 recognizes that strategic asset allocation is the dominant determinant of portfolio risk and return. On February 19, 2014 the CalPERS Board of Administration adopted changes to the current asset allocation as
shown in the Policy Target Allocation below expressed as percentage of total assets. The asset allocation
has an expected long term blended rate of return of 7.5 percent.
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, 2014. 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
Global Equity 158.2 50.0%
Private Equity 31.5 14.0%
Global Fixed Income 58.8 17.0%
Liquidity 9.0 4.0%
Real Assets 29.6 11.0%
Inflation Sensitive Assets 9.9 4.0%
Absolute Return Strategy (ARS) 4.5 0.0%
Total Fund $301.5 100.0%
Global Equity
52.5%
Private Equity
10.4%
Global Fixed
Income
19.5%
Liquidity
3.0%
Real Assets
9.8%
Inflation
3.3%
ARS
1.5%
Asset Allocation at 6/30/2014
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 10
CalPERS History of Investment Returns
The following is a chart with the 20-year 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.
The table below shows historical geometric mean annual returns of the Public Employees Retirement Fund for various time periods ending on June 30, 2014, (figures are reported as gross of fees). The geometric
mean rate of return is the average rate per period compounded over multiple periods. It should be
recognized that in any given year the rate of return is volatile. Although the expected rate of return on the
recently adopted new asset allocation is 7.5 percent, the portfolio has an expected volatility of 11.76
percent per year. The volatility is a measure of the risk of the portfolio expressed in the standard deviation
of the fund’s total return distribution, expressed in percent. Consequently when looking at investment
returns it is more instructive to look at returns over longer time horizons.
History of CalPERS Geometric Mean Rates of Return and Volatilities
1 year 5 year 10 year 20 year 30 year
Geometric Return 17.7% 13.0% 7.1% 8.4% 10.1%
Volatility – 8.1% 14.0% 11.9% 11.4%
-25.0%
-20.0%
-15.0%
-10.0%
-5.0%
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14
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
%
13
.
2
%
17
.
7
%
LIABILITIES AND RATES
DEVELOPMENT OF ACCRUED AND UNFUNDED LIABILITIES
(GAIN) / LOSS ANALYSIS 06/30/13 - 06/30/14
SCHEDULE OF AMORTIZATION BASES
ALTERNATE AMORTIZATION SCHEDULES
RECONCILIATION OF REQUIRED EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS
EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION RATE HISTORY
FUNDING HISTORY
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 12
Development of Accrued and Unfunded Liabilities
Prior Year
Assumptions
New
Assumptions
June 30, 2013 June 30, 2014
June 30, 2014
1. Present Value of Projected Benefits
a) Active Members $ 136,627,084 133,349,075 143,593,466
b) Transferred Members 7,130,683 8,427,844 8,951,761
c) Terminated Members 1,166,821 1,792,497 1,471,564
d) Members and Beneficiaries Receiving Payments 247,635,857 260,904,383 272,352,372
e) Total $ 392,560,445 404,473,799 426,369,163
2. Present Value of Future Employer Normal Costs $ 36,022,369 35,205,123 39,135,076
3. Present Value of Future Employee Contributions $ 17,871,577 18,552,665 19,755,453
4. Entry Age Normal Accrued Liability
a) Active Members [(1a) - (2) - (3)] $ 82,733,138 79,591,287 84,702,937
b) Transferred Members (1b) 7,130,683 8,427,844 8,951,761
c) Terminated Members (1c) 1,166,821 1,792,497 1,471,564
d) Members and Beneficiaries Receiving Payments (1d) 247,635,857 260,904,383 272,352,372
e) Total $ 338,666,499 350,716,011 367,478,634
5. Market Value of Assets (MVA) $ 233,417,363 264,145,000 264,145,000
6. Unfunded Liability [(4e) - (5)] $ 105,249,136 86,571,011 103,333,634
7. Funded Ratio [(5) / (4e)] 68.9% 75.3% 71.9%
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 13
(Gain) /Loss Analysis 6/30/13 – 6/30/14
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 6/30/13 $ 105,249,136
2. Expected Payment on the UAL during 2013/2014 3,516,469 3. Interest through 6/30/14 [.075 x (A1) - ((1.075)½ - 1) x (A2)] 7,764,202
4. Expected UAL before all other changes [(A1) - (A2) + (A3)] 109,496,869
5. Change due to plan changes 0
6. Change due to assumption change 16,762,623
7. Expected UAL after all other changes [(A4) + (A5) + (A6)] 126,259,492
8. Actual UAL as of 6/30/14 103,333,634
9. Total (Gain)/Loss for 2013/2014 [(A8) - (A7)] $ (22,925,858)
B Contribution (Gain)/Loss for the Year
1. Expected Contribution (Employer and Employee) $ 9,578,328
2. Interest on Expected Contributions 352,694
3. Actual Contributions 9,556,439 4. Interest on Actual Contributions 351,888
5. Expected Contributions with Interest [(B1) + (B2)] 9,931,022
6. Actual Contributions with Interest [(B3) + (B4)] 9,908,327
7. Contribution (Gain)/Loss [(B5) - (B6)] $ 22,695
C Asset (Gain)/Loss for the Year
1. Market Value of Assets as of 6/30/13 $ 233,417,363
2. Receivables PY (698,472)
3. Receivables CY 949,187
4. Contributions Received 9,556,439
5. Benefits and Refunds Paid (19,985,106) 6. Transfers and miscellaneous adjustments 821,555
7. Expected Int. [.075 x (C1 + C2) + ((1.075)½ - 1) x ((C4) + (C5) + (C6))] 17,100,163
8. Expected Assets as of 6/30/14 [(C1) + (C2) + (C3) + (C4) + (C5) + (C6) + (C7)] 241,161,129
9. Market Value of Assets as of 6/30/14 264,145,000
10. Asset (Gain)/Loss [(C8) - (C9)] $ (22,983,871)
D Liability (Gain)/Loss for the Year
1. Total (Gain)/Loss (A9) $ (22,925,858)
2. Contribution (Gain)/Loss (B7) 22,695
3. Asset (Gain)/Loss (C10) (22,983,871)
4. Liability (Gain)/Loss [(D1) - (D2) - (D3)] $ 35,318
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 14
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, 2014.
The employer contribution rate determined by the valuation is for the fiscal year beginning two years after the valuation date; Fiscal Year 2016-17.
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 determined 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 2016-17
Reason for Base
Date
Established
Amorti-zation
Period
Balance
6/30/14
Expected Payment
2014-15
Balance
6/30/15
Expected Payment
2015-16
Balance
6/30/16
Scheduled Payment for
2016-17
Payment as Percentage of
Payroll
FRESH START 06/30/04 20 $(928,336) $(66,087) $(929,441) $(68,070) $(928,572) $(70,112) (0.302%)
BENEFIT CHANGE 06/30/05 10 $154,072 $16,660 $148,354 $17,159 $141,689 $17,674 0.076%
ASSUMPTION CHANGE 06/30/09 15 $7,566,829 $635,699 $7,475,235 $654,769 $7,356,998 $674,413 2.901%
SPECIAL (GAIN)/LOSS 06/30/09 25 $8,751,688 $554,666 $8,832,974 $571,306 $8,903,104 $588,446 2.531%
SPECIAL (GAIN)/LOSS 06/30/10 26 $4,155,544 $258,393 $4,199,302 $266,144 $4,238,306 $274,129 1.179%
ASSUMPTION CHANGE 06/30/11 17 $6,266,808 $488,980 $6,229,833 $503,649 $6,174,876 $518,759 2.232%
SPECIAL (GAIN)/LOSS 06/30/11 27 $2,348,742 $143,447 $2,376,169 $147,751 $2,401,190 $152,183 0.655%
PAYMENT (GAIN)/LOSS 06/30/12 28 $1,512,144 $90,805 $1,531,406 $93,529 $1,549,288 $96,335 0.414%
(GAIN)/LOSS 06/30/12 28 $43,279,914 $2,598,982 $43,831,226 $2,676,951 $44,343,046 $2,757,260 11.861%
(GAIN)/LOSS 06/30/13 29 $36,389,463 $(14,346) $39,133,547 $550,415 $41,497,881 $1,133,854 4.877%
ASSUMPTION CHANGE 06/30/14 20 $16,762,623 $(162,370) $18,188,169 $(167,241) $19,725,681 $375,729 1.616%
(GAIN)/LOSS 06/30/14 30 $(22,925,857) $(72,979) $(24,569,630) $(91,238) $(26,317,755) $(370,160) (1.592%)
TOTAL $103,333,634 $4,471,850 $106,447,144 $5,155,124 $109,085,732 $6,148,510 26.449%
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 20 Page 15
Alternate Amortization Schedules
The amortization schedule shown on the previous page shows the minimum contribution required according to CalPERS
amortization policy. There has been considerable interest from many agencies in paying off these unfunded accrued liabilities sooner and the possible savings in doing so. Therefore, we have provided alternate amortization schedules to
help analyze your current amortization schedule and illustrate the advantages of accelerating payments towards your
plan’s unfunded liability of $109,085,732 as of June 30, 2016, which under the minimum schedule, will require total
payments of $259,430,114. Shown below are the level rate payments required to amortize your plan’s unfunded liability
assuming a fresh start over the various periods noted. Note that the payments under each scenario would increase by
3 percent for each year into the future.
If you are interested in changing your plan’s amortization schedule please contact your plan actuary to discuss further.
Level Rate of Payroll Amortization
Period 2016-17
Rate
2016-17
Payment
Total
Payments
Total
Interest
Difference from
Current Schedule
20 35.431% $8,236,565 $221,319,582 $112,233,851 $38,110,532
15 43.016% $9,999,838 $185,986,130 $76,900,399 $73,443,984
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 16
Reconciliation of Required Employer Contributions
Percentage
of
Projected
Payroll
Estimated $
Based on
Projected
Payroll
1. Contribution for 7/1/15 – 6/30/16 41.932% $ 9,740,521
2. Effect of changes since the prior year annual valuation
a) Effect of changes in demographics and financial results 1.137% 264,287
b) Effect of plan changes 0.000% 0
c) Effect of changes in Assumptions 2.357% 547,925
d) Effect of change in payroll - 7,303
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)] 3.494% 819,515
3. Contribution for 7/1/16 – 6/30/17 [(1)+(2g)] 45.426% 10,560,036
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, 2014
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 17
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
Fiscal
Year
Employer
Normal Cost Unfunded Rate
Total Employer
Contribution Rate
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%
2015 - 2016 18.627% 23.305% 41.932%
2016 - 2017 18.977% 26.449% 45.426%
Funding History
The Funding History below shows the recent history of the actuarial accrued liability, the market value of assets,
the funded ratio and the annual covered payroll.
Valuation
Date
Accrued
Liability
Market Value
of
Assets (MVA)
Unfunded
Liability
Funded
Ratio
Annual
Covered
Payroll
06/30/09 $ 280,292,862 $ 172,078,263 $ 108,214,599 61.4% $ 22,086,992
06/30/10 293,895,452 190,527,731 103,367,721 64.8% 23,030,400
06/30/11 313,183,690 225,015,089 88,168,601 71.8% 22,774,462
06/30/12 327,608,300 215,605,457 112,002,843 65.8% 20,919,846
06/30/13 338,666,499 233,417,363 105,249,136 68.9% 21,258,082
06/30/14 367,478,634 264,145,000 103,333,634 71.9% 21,274,021
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, 2014
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 19
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 (LVR)
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, 2014
1. Market Value of Assets without Receivables $ 263,195,813
2. Payroll 21,274,021
3. Asset Volatility Ratio (AVR = 1. / 2.) 12.4
4. Accrued Liability $ 367,478,634
5. Liability Volatility Ratio (LVR = 4. / 2.) 17.3
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 20
Projected Rates
The estimated rate for 2017-18 is based on a projection of the most recent information we have available,
including an estimated 2.4 percent investment return for Fiscal Year 2014-15.
The table below shows projected employer contribution rates (before cost sharing) for the next five fiscal years,
assuming CalPERS earns 2.4 percent for Fiscal Year 2014-15 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 during the projection period. The projected contribution rates do not
reflect that the plan’s normal cost will decline over time as new employees are hired into PEPRA and other lower
cost benefit tiers.
Required
Rate Projected Future Employer Contribution Rates
2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22
Contribution Rates: 45.426% 48.8% 52.1% 55.5% 56.4% 57.3%
Analysis of Future Investment Return Scenarios
In 2014 CalPERS completed a 2-year asset liability management study incorporating actuarial assumptions and
strategic asset allocation. On February 19, 2014 the CalPERS Board of Administration adopted relatively modest
changes to the current asset allocation that will reduce the expected volatility of returns. The adopted asset
allocation is expected to have a long- term blended return that continues to support a discount rate assumption of
7.5 percent. The newly adopted asset allocation has a lower expected investment volatility which will result in
better risk characteristics than an equivalent margin for adverse deviation. The previous asset allocation had an
expected standard deviation of 12.45 percent while the current asset allocation has a lower expected standard deviation of 11.76 percent.
The investment return for Fiscal Year 2014-15 was announced July 13, 2015. The investment return in Fiscal Year
2014-15 is 2.4 percent before administrative expenses. This year, there will be no adjustment for real estate and
private equities. For purposes of projecting future employer rates, we are assuming a 2.4 percent investment
return for Fiscal Year 2014-15.
The investment return realized during a fiscal year first affects the contribution rate for the fiscal year two years later. Specifically, the investment return for 2014-15 will first be reflected in the June 30, 2015 actuarial valuation
that will be used to set the 2017-18 employer contribution rates. The 2015-16 investment return will first be
reflected in the June 30, 2016 actuarial valuation that will be used to set the 2018-19 employer contribution rates
and so forth.
Based on a 2.4 percent investment return for Fiscal Year 2014-15, the April 17, 2013 CalPERS Board-approved
amortization and rate smoothing method change, the February 18, 2014 new demographic assumptions including 20-year mortality improvement using Scale BB 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 2017-18, the effect on the 2017-18 Employer Rate is as follows:
Estimated 2017-18 Employer Rate Estimated Increase in Employer Rate between
2016-17 and 2017-18
48.8% 3.4%
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 21
As part of this report, a sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the effects of various investment returns
during fiscal years 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 on the 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 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.
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, 2015 through June 30, 2018. The 5th percentile return corresponds to a -3.8 percent return for each of the 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 fiscal years.
The second scenario is what one would expect if the markets were to give us a 25th percentile return
from July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2018. The 25th percentile return corresponds to a 2.8 percent return
for each of the 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 fiscal years.
The third scenario assumed the return for 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 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, 2015 through June 30, 2018. The 75th percentile return corresponds to a 12.0 percent return for each of the 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 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, 2015 through June 30, 2018. The 95th percentile return corresponds to a 18.9 percent
return for each of the 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 fiscal years.
The table below shows the estimated projected contribution rates and the estimated increases for your plan under
the five different scenarios.
2015-18 Investment
Return Scenario
Estimated Employer Rate Estimated Change in
Employer Rate
between 2017-18 and 2020-21 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21
(3.8%) (5th percentile) 54.0% 61.0% 67.1% 18.3%
2.8% (25th percentile) 52.9% 57.8% 61.0% 12.3%
7.5% 52.1% 55.5% 56.4% 7.6%
12.0%(75th percentile) 51.4% 53.2% 51.7% 2.9%
18.9%(95th percentile) 50.2% 49.5% 44.0% (4.8%)
Analysis of Discount Rate Sensitivity
The following analysis looks at the 2016-17 total normal cost rates and liabilities under two different discount rate
scenarios. Shown below are the total normal cost 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 plan impacts 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 contribution rates.
Sensitivity Analysis
As of June 30, 2014 6.50% Discount Rate
(-1%) 7.50% Discount Rate
(assumed rate) 8.50% Discount Rate
(+1%)
Total Normal Cost 35.350% 28.120% 22.585%
Accrued Liability $414,719,728 $367,478,634 $328,467,693
Unfunded Accrued Liability $150,574,728 $103,333,634 $64,322,693
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 22
Hypothetical Termination Liability
The hypothetical termination liability is an estimate of the financial position of your plan if you had terminated your
contract with CalPERS as of June 30, 2014. Your plan liability on a termination basis is calculated differently
compared to the plan’s ongoing funding liability. For this hypothetical termination liability calculation both compensation and service are frozen as of the valuation date and no future pay increases or service accruals are
included.
For the Terminated Agency Pool the CalPERS Board adopted a more conservative investment policy and asset
allocation strategy. Since the Terminated Agency Pool has limited funding sources due to the fact that no future
employer contributions will be made, expected benefit payments are secured by risk-free assets. With this change,
CalPERS increased benefit security for members while limiting its funding risk. However, 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.
The effective termination discount rate will depend on actual market rates of return for risk-free securities on the
date of termination. As market discount rates are variable the table below shows a range for the hypothetical
termination liability based on the lowest and highest interest rates observed during the period from July 1, 2013
through June 30, 2015.
Valuation
Date
Market Value
of Assets
(MVA)
Hypothetical Termination
Liability1,2
@ 2.00%
Unfunded Termination
Liability
@ 2.00%
Hypothetical Termination
Liability1,2
@ 3.75%
Unfunded Termination
Liability
@ 3.75%
06/30/14 $ 264,145,000 $ 754,928,119 $ 490,783,119 $ 582,112,545 $ 317,967,545
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 current discount rate assumption used for termination valuations is a weighted average of the 10-year and 30-year U.S. Treasury yields where the weights are based on matching asset and liability durations as of the termination date. The discount
rates used in the table are based on 20-year Treasury bonds, rounded to the nearest quarter percentage point, which is a good
proxy for most plans. The 20-year Treasury yield was 3.00% on June 30, 2014.
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 strongly advises you to
consult with your plan actuary before beginning this process.
PLAN’S MAJOR BENEFIT PROVISIONS
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014
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
Active
Police
Active
Fire
Active
Fire
Active
Police
Active
Fire
Active
Police
Active
Fire
Benefit Provision
Benefit Formula 3.0% @ 50 3.0% @ 50 3.0% @ 50 2.7% @ 57 3.0% @ 55 3.0% @ 55 2.7% @ 57
Social Security Coverage No No No No No No No Full/Modified Full Full Full Full Full Full Full
Employee Contribution Rate 9.00% 9.00% 9.00% 11.25% 9.00% 9.00% 11.25%
Final Average Compensation Period One Year One Year One Year Three Year Three Year Three Year Three Year
Sick Leave Credit No No No No No No No
Non-Industrial Disability Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard
Industrial Disability Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Pre-Retirement Death Benefits
Optional Settlement 2W No Yes Yes No Yes No Yes 1959 Survivor Benefit Level Level 1 Level 1 Level 1 Level 1 Level 1 Level 1 Level 1
Special Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Alternate (firefighters) No No No No No No No
Post-Retirement Death Benefits
Lump Sum $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500
Survivor Allowance (PRSA) No No No No No No No
COLA 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2%
Page 24
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014
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
Active
Fire
Receiving
Fire
Receiving
Police
Benefit Provision
Benefit Formula 3.0% @ 50
Social Security Coverage No
Full/Modified Full
Employee Contribution Rate 9.00%
Final Average Compensation Period One Year
Sick Leave Credit No
Non-Industrial Disability Standard
Industrial Disability Yes
Pre-Retirement Death Benefits
Optional Settlement 2W Yes
1959 Survivor Benefit Level Level 1
Special Yes
Alternate (firefighters) No
Post-Retirement Death Benefits
Lump Sum $500 $500 $500
Survivor Allowance (PRSA) No No No
COLA 2% 2% 2%
Page 25
APPENDICES
APPENDIX A – ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
APPENDIX B – PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
APPENDIX C – PARTICIPANT DATA
APPENDIX D – DEVELOPMENT OF PEPRA MEMBER CONTRIBUTION RATES
APPENDIX E – GLOSSARY OF ACTUARIAL TERMS
APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
ACTUARIAL DATA
ACTUARIAL METHODS
ACTUARIAL ASSUMPTIONS
MISCELLANEOUS
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 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 market value of plan assets is called the unfunded
actuarial accrued liability (UAL). Funding requirements are determined by adding the normal cost and an
amortization of the unfunded liability as a level percentage of assumed future payrolls. Commencing with
the June 30, 2013 valuation all new gains or losses are tracked and amortized over a fixed 30-year period
with a 5 year ramp up at the beginning and a 5 year ramp down at the end of the amortization period. All
changes in liability due to plan amendments (other than golden handshakes), changes in actuarial
assumptions, or changes in actuarial methodology are amortized separately over a 20-year period with a 5 year ramp up at the beginning and a 5 year ramp down at the end of the amortization period. Changes in
unfunded accrued liability due to a Golden Handshake will be amortized over a period of 5 years.
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 percent by June 30, 2043; or Reach a level of 75 percent 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. 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 liability (or conversely a negative payment on a positive unfunded actuarial liability); or
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 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
greater than 30 years.
Asset Valuation Method
It is the policy of the CalPERS Board of Administration to use professionally accepted amortization methods
to eliminate unfunded accrued liabilities or surpluses in a manner that maintains benefit security for the members of the System while minimizing substantial variations in employer contribution rates. 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 employs an amortization and smoothing policy that pays 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. CalPERS no
longer uses an actuarial value of assets and only uses the market value of assets. This direct rate smoothing
method is equivalent to a method using a 5 year asset smoothing period with no actuarial value of asset
corridor and a 25-year amortization period for gains and losses.
PEPRA Normal Cost Rate Methodology
Per Government Code Section 7522.30(b) the “normal cost rate” shall mean the annual actuarially
determined normal cost for the plan of retirement benefits provided to the new member and shall be
established based on actuarial assumptions used to determine the liabilities and costs as part of the annual
actuarial valuation. The plan of retirement benefits shall include any elements that would impact the actuarial determination of the normal cost, including, but not limited to, the retirement formula, eligibility
and vesting criteria, ancillary benefit provisions, and any automatic cost-of-living adjustments as determined
by the public retirement system.
Each non-pooled plan is considered to be stable with a sufficiently large demographic of actives. It is
preferable to determine normal cost using a large active population ongoing so that this rate remains
relatively stable. The total PEPRA normal cost will be calculated using all active members within a non-
pooled plan. Accordingly plans will be funded equally between employer and employee based on the demographics of the employees of that employer. As each non-pooled plan builds up to either 100+ active
PEPRA members or half of their active population is under the PEPRA formula, the total PEPRA normal cost
will be based on the active PEPRA population in the plan.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-3
Actuarial Assumptions
In 2014 CalPERS completed a 2-year asset liability management study incorporating actuarial assumptions
and strategic asset allocation. On February 19, 2014 the CalPERS Board of Administration adopted relatively
modest changes to the current asset allocation that will reduce the expected volatility of returns. The
adopted asset allocation is expected to have a long-term blended return that continues to support a
discount rate assumption of 7.5 percent. The Board also approved several changes to the demographic
assumptions that more closely align with actual experience. The most significant of these is mortality
improvement to acknowledge the greater life expectancies we are seeing in our membership and expected continued improvements. The new actuarial assumptions are used in this valuation to set the Fiscal Year
2016-17 contribution rates for public agency employers. The increase in liability due to new actuarial
assumptions is amortized over a 20-year period with a 5-year ramp-up/ramp-down in accordance with
Board policy. These new actuarial assumptions are set forth below. For more details, please refer to the
experience study report that can be found on the CalPERS website under: Forms and Publications Center;
Employers Section. Click on View employer publications; Actuarial Reports and scroll down to CalPERS
Experience Study.
Economic Assumptions
Discount Rate
7.5 percent compounded annually (net of expenses). This assumption is used for all plans.
Termination Liability Discount Rate
The current discount rate assumption used for termination valuations is a weighted average of the 10-year and 30-year U.S. Treasury yields where the weights are based on matching asset and
liability durations as of the termination date.
Previously, for purposes of the hypothetical termination liability estimate, the discount rate used was
the yield on the 30-year US Treasury Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of
Securities (STRIPS). However, this point in time estimate for the termination discount rate can be
significantly different from the calculated discount rate for a plan termination based on prevailing market rates. Rather than using a point estimate the hypothetical termination liabilities in this report
are calculated using an observed range of market interest rates. This range is based on the 20-year
Treasury bond which has a similar duration to most plan liabilities and serves as a good proxy for
the termination discount rate.
The securities purchased for the Terminated Agency Pool (TAP), however, consist solely of STRIPS,
TIPS, and cash with varying maturity dates over the next 30 years. As a result, the methodology to
set the discount rate for the TAP needs to be modified to ensure the discount rate is consistent with the yield rate of the portfolio. Beginning with the June 30, 2014 valuation the discount rate will be
calculated by using a weighted average of the yields of the securities effective in the portfolio as of
the last day of the most recent month of termination. This methodology would result in a discount
rate that more closely reflects the yield rate of the TAP. As of June 30, 2014 this discount rate is
2.91 percent as opposed to the yield on the 30-year Strip of 3.55 percent.
Furthermore, when a plan with a large liability terminates a contingency immunization calculation is performed using actual cash flows of the terminating agency. Large liability terminations are
expected to have large annual cash flows that may have an impact on the TAP’s cash flows thus
creating a need to rebalance the portfolio. Pricing the actual cash flows at current market rates
would have the same effect as a rebalance. A large liability plan is defined as one that would cause
a 50 percent reduction of the existing TAP surplus as of the latest annual valuation. Quotes would
be retrieved from securities necessary to immunize the additional liability. The termination discount
rate is determined using the methodology above with the calculation being based on the yields of
the quoted securities as opposed to the entire TAP portfolio.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-4
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 0.1220 0.1160 0.1020
1 0.0990 0.0940 0.0830
2 0.0860 0.0810 0.0710
3 0.0770 0.0720 0.0630
4 0.0700 0.0650 0.0570
5 0.0640 0.0600 0.0520
10 0.0460 0.0430 0.0390
15 0.0420 0.0400 0.0360
20 0.0390 0.0380 0.0340
25 0.0370 0.0360 0.0330
30 0.0350 0.0340 0.0320
Public Agency Fire
Duration of Service (Entry Age 20) (Entry Age 30) (Entry Age 40)
0 0.2000 0.1980 0.1680
1 0.1490 0.1460 0.1250
2 0.1200 0.1160 0.0990
3 0.0980 0.0940 0.0810
4 0.0820 0.0780 0.0670
5 0.0690 0.0640 0.0550
10 0.0470 0.0460 0.0420
15 0.0440 0.0420 0.0390
20 0.0420 0.0390 0.0360
25 0.0400 0.0370 0.0340
30 0.0380 0.0360 0.0340
Public Agency Police
Duration of Service (Entry Age 20) (Entry Age 30) (Entry Age 40)
0 0.1500 0.1470 0.1310
1 0.1160 0.1120 0.1010
2 0.0950 0.0920 0.0830
3 0.0810 0.0780 0.0700
4 0.0700 0.0670 0.0600
5 0.0610 0.0580 0.0520
10 0.0450 0.0430 0.0370
15 0.0450 0.0430 0.0370
20 0.0450 0.0430 0.0370
25 0.0450 0.0430 0.0370
30 0.0450 0.0430 0.0370
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-5
Salary Growth (continued)
Public Agency County Peace Officers
Duration of Service (Entry Age 20) (Entry Age 30) (Entry Age 40)
0 0.1770 0.1670 0.1500
1 0.1340 0.1260 0.1140
2 0.1080 0.1030 0.0940
3 0.0900 0.0860 0.0790
4 0.0760 0.0730 0.0670
5 0.0650 0.0620 0.0580
10 0.0470 0.0450 0.0410
15 0.0460 0.0450 0.0390
20 0.0460 0.0450 0.0380
25 0.0460 0.0450 0.0380
30 0.0460 0.0440 0.0380
Schools
Duration of Service (Entry Age 20) (Entry Age 30) (Entry Age 40)
0 0.0900 0.0880 0.0820
1 0.0780 0.0750 0.0700
2 0.0700 0.0680 0.0630
3 0.0650 0.0630 0.0580
4 0.0610 0.0590 0.0540
5 0.0580 0.0560 0.0510
10 0.0460 0.0450 0.0410
15 0.0420 0.0410 0.0380
20 0.0390 0.0380 0.0350
25 0.0370 0.0350 0.0330
30 0.0350 0.0330 0.0310
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.
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)
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-6
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 0.00031 0.00020 0.00003
25 0.00040 0.00023 0.00007
30 0.00049 0.00025 0.00010
35 0.00057 0.00035 0.00012
40 0.00075 0.00050 0.00013
45 0.00106 0.00071 0.00014
50 0.00155 0.00100 0.00015 55 0.00228 0.00138 0.00016
60 0.00308 0.00182 0.00017
65 0.00400 0.00257 0.00018
70 0.00524 0.00367 0.00019
75 0.00713 0.00526 0.00020
80 0.00990 0.00814 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, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-7
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 0.00501 0.00466 0.01680 0.01158 0.00501 0.00466
55 0.00599 0.00416 0.01973 0.01149 0.00599 0.00416
60 0.00710 0.00436 0.02289 0.01235 0.00754 0.00518
65 0.00829 0.00588 0.02451 0.01607 0.01122 0.00838
70 0.01305 0.00993 0.02875 0.02211 0.01635 0.01395
75 0.02205 0.01722 0.03990 0.03037 0.02834 0.02319
80 0.03899 0.02902 0.06083 0.04725 0.04899 0.03910
85 0.06969 0.05243 0.09731 0.07762 0.07679 0.06251 90 0.12974 0.09887 0.14804 0.12890 0.12974 0.09887
95 0.22444 0.18489 0.22444 0.21746 0.22444 0.18489
100 0.32536 0.30017 0.32536 0.30017 0.32536 0.30017
105 0.58527 0.56093 0.58527 0.56093 0.58527 0.56093
110 1.00000 1.00000 1.00000 1.00000 1.00000 1.00000
The post-retirement mortality rates above include 20 years of projected on-going mortality improvement using Scale BB published by the Society of Actuaries.
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. 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 Miscellaneous Load Factor Safety
50 190% 310%
51 110% 190%
52 110% 105%
53 through 54 100% 105% 55 100% 140%
56 and above 100% (no change) 100% (no change)
Termination with Refund
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-8
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
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-9
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
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, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-10
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 0.0002 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0003 0.0003
25 0.0002 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001
30 0.0002 0.0002 0.0001 0.0002 0.0001 0.0001 0.0002
35 0.0005 0.0008 0.0001 0.0003 0.0004 0.0005 0.0004
40 0.0012 0.0016 0.0001 0.0004 0.0007 0.0015 0.0010
45 0.0019 0.0022 0.0002 0.0005 0.0013 0.0030 0.0019
50 0.0021 0.0023 0.0005 0.0008 0.0018 0.0039 0.0024
55 0.0022 0.0018 0.0010 0.0013 0.0010 0.0036 0.0021
60 0.0022 0.0014 0.0015 0.0020 0.0006 0.0031 0.0014
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 0.0001 0.0000 0.0004
25 0.0003 0.0017 0.0013
30 0.0007 0.0048 0.0025
35 0.0016 0.0079 0.0037
40 0.0030 0.0110 0.0051
45 0.0053 0.0141 0.0067
50 0.0277 0.0185 0.0092
55 0.0409 0.0479 0.0151
60 0.0583 0.0602 0.0174
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, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-11
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 0.010 0.013 0.015 0.018 0.019 0.021
51 0.009 0.011 0.014 0.016 0.017 0.019
52 0.011 0.014 0.017 0.020 0.022 0.024
53 0.010 0.012 0.015 0.017 0.020 0.021
54 0.015 0.019 0.023 0.025 0.029 0.031
55 0.022 0.029 0.035 0.040 0.045 0.049
56 0.018 0.024 0.028 0.033 0.036 0.040
57 0.024 0.032 0.038 0.043 0.049 0.053
58 0.027 0.036 0.043 0.049 0.055 0.061
59 0.033 0.044 0.054 0.061 0.068 0.076
60 0.056 0.077 0.092 0.105 0.117 0.130
61 0.071 0.097 0.118 0.134 0.149 0.166
62 0.117 0.164 0.198 0.224 0.250 0.280
63 0.122 0.171 0.207 0.234 0.261 0.292
64 0.114 0.159 0.193 0.218 0.244 0.271
65 0.150 0.209 0.255 0.287 0.321 0.358
66 0.114 0.158 0.192 0.217 0.243 0.270
67 0.141 0.196 0.238 0.270 0.301 0.337
68 0.103 0.143 0.174 0.196 0.219 0.245
69 0.109 0.153 0.185 0.209 0.234 0.261
70 0.117 0.162 0.197 0.222 0.248 0.277
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-12
Service Retirement
Public Agency Miscellaneous 2% @ 55
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.014 0.018 0.021 0.025 0.027 0.031
51 0.012 0.014 0.017 0.020 0.021 0.025
52 0.013 0.017 0.019 0.023 0.025 0.028
53 0.015 0.020 0.023 0.027 0.030 0.034
54 0.026 0.033 0.038 0.045 0.051 0.059
55 0.048 0.061 0.074 0.088 0.100 0.117
56 0.042 0.053 0.063 0.075 0.085 0.100
57 0.044 0.056 0.067 0.081 0.091 0.107
58 0.049 0.062 0.074 0.089 0.100 0.118
59 0.057 0.072 0.086 0.103 0.118 0.138
60 0.067 0.086 0.103 0.123 0.139 0.164
61 0.081 0.103 0.124 0.148 0.168 0.199
62 0.116 0.147 0.178 0.214 0.243 0.288
63 0.114 0.144 0.174 0.208 0.237 0.281
64 0.108 0.138 0.166 0.199 0.227 0.268
65 0.155 0.197 0.238 0.285 0.325 0.386
66 0.132 0.168 0.203 0.243 0.276 0.328
67 0.122 0.155 0.189 0.225 0.256 0.304
68 0.111 0.141 0.170 0.204 0.232 0.274
69 0.114 0.144 0.174 0.209 0.238 0.282
70 0.130 0.165 0.200 0.240 0.272 0.323
Public Agency Miscellaneous 2.5% @ 55
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.004 0.009 0.019 0.029 0.049 0.094
51 0.004 0.009 0.019 0.029 0.049 0.094
52 0.004 0.009 0.020 0.030 0.050 0.095
53 0.008 0.014 0.025 0.036 0.058 0.104
54 0.024 0.034 0.050 0.066 0.091 0.142
55 0.066 0.088 0.115 0.142 0.179 0.241
56 0.042 0.057 0.078 0.098 0.128 0.184
57 0.041 0.057 0.077 0.097 0.128 0.183
58 0.045 0.061 0.083 0.104 0.136 0.192
59 0.055 0.074 0.098 0.123 0.157 0.216
60 0.066 0.088 0.115 0.142 0.179 0.241
61 0.072 0.095 0.124 0.153 0.191 0.255
62 0.099 0.130 0.166 0.202 0.248 0.319
63 0.092 0.121 0.155 0.189 0.233 0.302
64 0.091 0.119 0.153 0.187 0.231 0.299
65 0.122 0.160 0.202 0.245 0.297 0.374
66 0.138 0.179 0.226 0.272 0.329 0.411
67 0.114 0.149 0.189 0.229 0.279 0.354
68 0.100 0.131 0.168 0.204 0.250 0.322
69 0.114 0.149 0.189 0.229 0.279 0.354
70 0.127 0.165 0.209 0.253 0.306 0.385
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-13
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 0.004 0.009 0.014 0.035 0.055 0.095
51 0.002 0.006 0.011 0.030 0.050 0.090
52 0.006 0.012 0.017 0.038 0.059 0.099
53 0.010 0.017 0.024 0.046 0.068 0.110
54 0.032 0.044 0.057 0.085 0.113 0.160
55 0.076 0.101 0.125 0.165 0.205 0.265
56 0.055 0.074 0.093 0.127 0.160 0.214
57 0.050 0.068 0.086 0.118 0.151 0.204
58 0.055 0.074 0.093 0.127 0.161 0.215
59 0.061 0.082 0.102 0.138 0.174 0.229
60 0.069 0.093 0.116 0.154 0.192 0.250
61 0.086 0.113 0.141 0.183 0.225 0.288
62 0.105 0.138 0.171 0.218 0.266 0.334
63 0.103 0.135 0.167 0.215 0.262 0.329
64 0.109 0.143 0.177 0.226 0.275 0.344
65 0.134 0.174 0.215 0.270 0.326 0.401
66 0.147 0.191 0.235 0.294 0.354 0.433
67 0.121 0.158 0.196 0.248 0.300 0.372
68 0.113 0.147 0.182 0.232 0.282 0.352
69 0.117 0.153 0.189 0.240 0.291 0.362
70 0.141 0.183 0.226 0.283 0.341 0.418
Public Agency Miscellaneous 3% @ 60
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.012 0.018 0.024 0.039 0.040 0.091
51 0.009 0.014 0.019 0.034 0.034 0.084
52 0.014 0.020 0.026 0.043 0.044 0.096
53 0.016 0.023 0.031 0.048 0.050 0.102
54 0.026 0.036 0.045 0.065 0.070 0.125
55 0.043 0.057 0.072 0.096 0.105 0.165
56 0.042 0.056 0.070 0.094 0.103 0.162
57 0.049 0.065 0.082 0.108 0.119 0.180
58 0.057 0.076 0.094 0.122 0.136 0.199
59 0.076 0.100 0.123 0.157 0.175 0.244
60 0.114 0.148 0.182 0.226 0.255 0.334
61 0.095 0.123 0.152 0.190 0.214 0.288
62 0.133 0.172 0.211 0.260 0.294 0.378
63 0.129 0.166 0.204 0.252 0.285 0.368
64 0.143 0.185 0.226 0.278 0.315 0.401
65 0.202 0.260 0.318 0.386 0.439 0.542
66 0.177 0.228 0.279 0.340 0.386 0.482
67 0.151 0.194 0.238 0.292 0.331 0.420
68 0.139 0.179 0.220 0.270 0.306 0.391
69 0.190 0.245 0.299 0.364 0.414 0.513
70 0.140 0.182 0.223 0.274 0.310 0.396
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-14
Service Retirement
Public Agency Miscellaneous 2% @ 62
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
51 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
52 0.010 0.013 0.016 0.019 0.022 0.024
53 0.013 0.017 0.020 0.024 0.027 0.031
54 0.021 0.027 0.033 0.039 0.045 0.050
55 0.044 0.056 0.068 0.080 0.092 0.104
56 0.030 0.039 0.047 0.055 0.063 0.072
57 0.036 0.046 0.056 0.066 0.076 0.086
58 0.046 0.059 0.072 0.085 0.097 0.110
59 0.058 0.074 0.089 0.105 0.121 0.137
60 0.062 0.078 0.095 0.112 0.129 0.146
61 0.062 0.079 0.096 0.113 0.129 0.146
62 0.097 0.123 0.150 0.176 0.202 0.229
63 0.089 0.113 0.137 0.162 0.186 0.210
64 0.094 0.120 0.145 0.171 0.197 0.222
65 0.129 0.164 0.199 0.234 0.269 0.304
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
Service Retirement
Public Agency Fire ½ @ 55 and 2% @ 55
Age
50
51 52
53
54
55
Rate
0.0159
0.0000 0.0344
0.0199
0.0413
0.0751
Age
56
57 58
59
60
Rate
0.1108
0.0000 0.0950
0.0441
1.00000
Public Agency Police ½ @ 55 and 2% @ 55
Age
50
51
52 53
54
55
Rate
0.0255
0.0000
0.0164 0.0272
0.0095
0.1667
Age
56
57
58 59
60
Rate
0.0692
0.0511
0.0724 0.0704
1.0000
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-15
Service Retirement
Public Agency Police 2% @ 50
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.005 0.005 0.005 0.005 0.017 0.089
51 0.005 0.005 0.005 0.005 0.017 0.087
52 0.018 0.018 0.018 0.018 0.042 0.132
53 0.044 0.044 0.044 0.044 0.090 0.217
54 0.065 0.065 0.065 0.065 0.126 0.283
55 0.086 0.086 0.086 0.086 0.166 0.354
56 0.067 0.067 0.067 0.067 0.130 0.289
57 0.066 0.066 0.066 0.066 0.129 0.288
58 0.066 0.066 0.066 0.066 0.129 0.288
59 0.139 0.139 0.139 0.139 0.176 0.312
60 0.123 0.123 0.123 0.123 0.153 0.278
61 0.110 0.110 0.110 0.110 0.138 0.256
62 0.130 0.130 0.130 0.130 0.162 0.291
63 0.130 0.130 0.130 0.130 0.162 0.291
64 0.130 0.130 0.130 0.130 0.162 0.291
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.
Service Retirement
Public Agency Fire 2% @ 50
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.009 0.009 0.009 0.009 0.013 0.020
51 0.013 0.013 0.013 0.013 0.020 0.029
52 0.018 0.018 0.018 0.018 0.028 0.042
53 0.052 0.052 0.052 0.052 0.079 0.119
54 0.067 0.067 0.067 0.067 0.103 0.154
55 0.089 0.089 0.089 0.089 0.136 0.204
56 0.083 0.083 0.083 0.083 0.127 0.190
57 0.082 0.082 0.082 0.082 0.126 0.189
58 0.088 0.088 0.088 0.088 0.136 0.204
59 0.074 0.074 0.074 0.074 0.113 0.170
60 0.100 0.100 0.100 0.100 0.154 0.230
61 0.072 0.072 0.072 0.072 0.110 0.165
62 0.099 0.099 0.099 0.099 0.152 0.228
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
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-16
Service Retirement
Public Agency Police 3% @ 55
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.004 0.004 0.004 0.004 0.015 0.086
51 0.014 0.014 0.014 0.014 0.034 0.114
52 0.026 0.026 0.026 0.026 0.060 0.154
53 0.038 0.038 0.038 0.038 0.083 0.188
54 0.071 0.071 0.071 0.071 0.151 0.292
55 0.061 0.061 0.061 0.061 0.131 0.261
56 0.072 0.072 0.072 0.072 0.153 0.295
57 0.065 0.065 0.065 0.065 0.140 0.273
58 0.066 0.066 0.066 0.066 0.142 0.277
59 0.118 0.118 0.118 0.118 0.247 0.437
60 0.065 0.065 0.065 0.065 0.138 0.272
61 0.084 0.084 0.084 0.084 0.178 0.332
62 0.108 0.108 0.108 0.108 0.226 0.405
63 0.084 0.084 0.084 0.084 0.178 0.332
64 0.084 0.084 0.084 0.084 0.178 0.332
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.
Service Retirement
Public Agency Fire 3% @ 55
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.006 0.016 0.069
51 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.006 0.018 0.071
52 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.021 0.040 0.098
53 0.032 0.032 0.032 0.049 0.085 0.149
54 0.057 0.057 0.057 0.087 0.144 0.217
55 0.073 0.073 0.073 0.109 0.179 0.259
56 0.064 0.064 0.064 0.097 0.161 0.238
57 0.063 0.063 0.063 0.095 0.157 0.233
58 0.065 0.065 0.065 0.099 0.163 0.241
59 0.088 0.088 0.088 0.131 0.213 0.299
60 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.155 0.251 0.344
61 0.118 0.118 0.118 0.175 0.282 0.380
62 0.087 0.087 0.087 0.128 0.210 0.295
63 0.067 0.067 0.067 0.100 0.165 0.243
64 0.067 0.067 0.067 0.100 0.165 0.243
65 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-17
Service Retirement
Public Agency Police 3% @ 50
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.050 0.050 0.050 0.099 0.240 0.314
51 0.034 0.034 0.034 0.072 0.198 0.260
52 0.033 0.033 0.033 0.071 0.198 0.259
53 0.039 0.039 0.039 0.080 0.212 0.277
54 0.045 0.045 0.045 0.092 0.229 0.300
55 0.052 0.052 0.052 0.105 0.248 0.323
56 0.042 0.042 0.042 0.087 0.221 0.289
57 0.043 0.043 0.043 0.088 0.223 0.292
58 0.054 0.054 0.054 0.109 0.255 0.333
59 0.054 0.054 0.054 0.108 0.253 0.330
60 0.060 0.060 0.060 0.121 0.272 0.355
61 0.048 0.048 0.048 0.098 0.238 0.311
62 0.061 0.061 0.061 0.122 0.274 0.357
63 0.057 0.057 0.057 0.115 0.263 0.343
64 0.069 0.069 0.069 0.137 0.296 0.385
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.
Service Retirement
Public Agency Fire 3% @ 50
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.020 0.020 0.020 0.040 0.130 0.192
51 0.008 0.008 0.008 0.023 0.107 0.164
52 0.023 0.023 0.023 0.043 0.136 0.198
53 0.023 0.023 0.023 0.043 0.135 0.198
54 0.027 0.027 0.027 0.048 0.143 0.207
55 0.043 0.043 0.043 0.070 0.174 0.244
56 0.053 0.053 0.053 0.085 0.196 0.269
57 0.054 0.054 0.054 0.086 0.197 0.271
58 0.052 0.052 0.052 0.084 0.193 0.268
59 0.075 0.075 0.075 0.116 0.239 0.321
60 0.065 0.065 0.065 0.102 0.219 0.298
61 0.076 0.076 0.076 0.117 0.241 0.324
62 0.068 0.068 0.068 0.106 0.224 0.304
63 0.027 0.027 0.027 0.049 0.143 0.208
64 0.094 0.094 0.094 0.143 0.277 0.366
65 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-18
Service Retirement
Public Agency Police 2% @ 57
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.020 0.036
51 0.009 0.009 0.009 0.009 0.016 0.028
52 0.018 0.018 0.018 0.018 0.034 0.060
53 0.037 0.037 0.037 0.037 0.067 0.119
54 0.049 0.049 0.049 0.049 0.089 0.159
55 0.063 0.063 0.063 0.063 0.115 0.205
56 0.045 0.045 0.045 0.045 0.082 0.146
57 0.064 0.064 0.064 0.064 0.117 0.209
58 0.047 0.047 0.047 0.047 0.086 0.154
59 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.130 0.191
60 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.129 0.188
61 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.129 0.188
62 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.129 0.188
63 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.129 0.188
64 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.129 0.188
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.
Service Retirement
Public Agency Fire 2% @ 57
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.005 0.005 0.005 0.005 0.008 0.012
51 0.006 0.006 0.006 0.006 0.009 0.013
52 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.019 0.028
53 0.033 0.033 0.033 0.033 0.050 0.075
54 0.045 0.045 0.045 0.045 0.069 0.103
55 0.061 0.061 0.061 0.061 0.094 0.140
56 0.055 0.055 0.055 0.055 0.084 0.126
57 0.081 0.081 0.081 0.081 0.125 0.187
58 0.059 0.059 0.059 0.059 0.091 0.137
59 0.055 0.055 0.055 0.055 0.084 0.126
60 0.085 0.085 0.085 0.085 0.131 0.196
61 0.085 0.085 0.085 0.085 0.131 0.196
62 0.085 0.085 0.085 0.085 0.131 0.196
63 0.085 0.085 0.085 0.085 0.131 0.196
64 0.085 0.085 0.085 0.085 0.131 0.196
65 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-19
Service Retirement
Public Agency Police 2.5% @ 57
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 0.021 0.038
52 0.025 0.025 0.025 0.025 0.046 0.081
53 0.047 0.047 0.047 0.047 0.086 0.154
54 0.063 0.063 0.063 0.063 0.115 0.205
55 0.076 0.076 0.076 0.076 0.140 0.249
56 0.054 0.054 0.054 0.054 0.099 0.177
57 0.071 0.071 0.071 0.071 0.130 0.232
58 0.057 0.057 0.057 0.057 0.103 0.184
59 0.126 0.126 0.126 0.126 0.156 0.229
60 0.126 0.126 0.126 0.126 0.155 0.226
61 0.126 0.126 0.126 0.126 0.155 0.226
62 0.126 0.126 0.126 0.126 0.155 0.226
63 0.126 0.126 0.126 0.126 0.155 0.226
64 0.126 0.126 0.126 0.126 0.155 0.226
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.
Service Retirement
Public Agency Fire 2.5% @ 57
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 0.012 0.018
52 0.016 0.016 0.016 0.016 0.025 0.038
53 0.042 0.042 0.042 0.042 0.064 0.096
54 0.057 0.057 0.057 0.057 0.088 0.132
55 0.074 0.074 0.074 0.074 0.114 0.170
56 0.066 0.066 0.066 0.066 0.102 0.153
57 0.090 0.090 0.090 0.090 0.139 0.208
58 0.071 0.071 0.071 0.071 0.110 0.164
59 0.066 0.066 0.066 0.066 0.101 0.151
60 0.102 0.102 0.102 0.102 0.157 0.235
61 0.102 0.102 0.102 0.102 0.157 0.236
62 0.102 0.102 0.102 0.102 0.157 0.236
63 0.102 0.102 0.102 0.102 0.157 0.236
64 0.102 0.102 0.102 0.102 0.157 0.236
65 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-20
Service Retirement
Public Agency Police 2.7% @ 57
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.0138 0.0138 0.0138 0.0138 0.0253 0.0451
51 0.0123 0.0123 0.0123 0.0123 0.0226 0.0402
52 0.0249 0.0249 0.0249 0.0249 0.0456 0.0812
53 0.0497 0.0497 0.0497 0.0497 0.0909 0.1621
54 0.0662 0.0662 0.0662 0.0662 0.1211 0.2160
55 0.0854 0.0854 0.0854 0.0854 0.1563 0.2785
56 0.0606 0.0606 0.0606 0.0606 0.1108 0.1975
57 0.0711 0.0711 0.0711 0.0711 0.1300 0.2318
58 0.0628 0.0628 0.0628 0.0628 0.1149 0.2049
59 0.1396 0.1396 0.1396 0.1396 0.1735 0.2544
60 0.1396 0.1396 0.1396 0.1396 0.1719 0.2506
61 0.1396 0.1396 0.1396 0.1396 0.1719 0.2506
62 0.1396 0.1396 0.1396 0.1396 0.1719 0.2506
63 0.1396 0.1396 0.1396 0.1396 0.1719 0.2506
64 0.1396 0.1396 0.1396 0.1396 0.1719 0.2506
65 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000
These rates also apply to Local Prosecutors, Local Sheriff, School Police and Other Safety.
Service Retirement
Public Agency Fire 2.7% @ 57
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.0065 0.0065 0.0065 0.0065 0.0101 0.0151
51 0.0081 0.0081 0.0081 0.0081 0.0125 0.0187
52 0.0164 0.0164 0.0164 0.0164 0.0254 0.0380
53 0.0442 0.0442 0.0442 0.0442 0.0680 0.1018
54 0.0606 0.0606 0.0606 0.0606 0.0934 0.1397
55 0.0825 0.0825 0.0825 0.0825 0.1269 0.1900
56 0.0740 0.0740 0.0740 0.0740 0.1140 0.1706
57 0.0901 0.0901 0.0901 0.0901 0.1387 0.2077
58 0.0790 0.0790 0.0790 0.0790 0.1217 0.1821
59 0.0729 0.0729 0.0729 0.0729 0.1123 0.1681
60 0.1135 0.1135 0.1135 0.1135 0.1747 0.2615
61 0.1136 0.1136 0.1136 0.1136 0.1749 0.2618
62 0.1136 0.1136 0.1136 0.1136 0.1749 0.2618
63 0.1136 0.1136 0.1136 0.1136 0.1749 0.2618
64 0.1136 0.1136 0.1136 0.1136 0.1749 0.2618
65 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-21
Service Retirement
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
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 expected benefits in
excess of limits imposed by federal tax law.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-22
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 were first reflected in the June 30, 2013 non-pooled plan valuations. New members in pooled plans were first 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. Assumptions for PEPRA members are disclosed in Appendix A tables.
APPENDIX B
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 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. For a full listing of all optional benefits refer to the PERS-CON-40 available on CalPERS
website by choosing Employer Information > Retirement Benefit Programs & Contracting Services > Retirement
Benefits Program > Contract Information > Optional Benefits
Service Retirement
Eligibility
A classic CalPERS member or PEPRA Safety 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 percent at 65 formula, eligibility for service retirement is age 55 with at least 5 years of service. PEPRA miscellaneous
members become eligible for Service Retirement upon attainment of age 52 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
PEPRA
2% at 62
50 0.5000% 1.092% 1.426% 2.000% 2.000% 2.000% N/A
51 0.5667% 1.156% 1.522% 2.100% 2.140% 2.100% N/A
52 0.6334% 1.224% 1.628% 2.200% 2.280% 2.200% 1.000%
53 0.7000% 1.296% 1.742% 2.300% 2.420% 2.300% 1.100%
54 0.7667% 1.376% 1.866% 2.400% 2.560% 2.400% 1.200%
55 0.8334% 1.460% 2.000% 2.500% 2.700% 2.500% 1.300%
56 0.9000% 1.552% 2.052% 2.500% 2.700% 2.600% 1.400%
57 0.9667% 1.650% 2.104% 2.500% 2.700% 2.700% 1.500%
58 1.0334% 1.758% 2.156% 2.500% 2.700% 2.800% 1.600%
59 1.1000% 1.874% 2.210% 2.500% 2.700% 2.900% 1.700%
60 1.1667% 2.000% 2.262% 2.500% 2.700% 3.000% 1.800%
61 1.2334% 2.134% 2.314% 2.500% 2.700% 3.000% 1.900%
62 1.3000% 2.272% 2.366% 2.500% 2.700% 3.000% 2.000%
63 1.3667% 2.418% 2.418% 2.500% 2.700% 3.000% 2.100%
64 1.4334% 2.418% 2.418% 2.500% 2.700% 3.000% 2.200%
65 1.5000% 2.418% 2.418% 2.500% 2.700% 3.000% 2.300%
66 1.5000% 2.418% 2.418% 2.500% 2.700% 3.000% 2.400%
67 & up 1.5000% 2.418% 2.418% 2.500% 2.700% 3.000% 2.500%
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 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% 2.000% 2.400% 3.000%
51 1.903% 1.522% 2.140% 2.520% 3.000%
52 2.035% 1.628% 2.280% 2.640% 3.000%
53 2.178% 1.742% 2.420% 2.760% 3.000%
54 2.333% 1.866% 2.560% 2.880% 3.000%
55 & Up 2.500% 2.000% 2.700% 3.000% 3.000%
* 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 percent 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.
PEPRA Safety Plan Formulas
Retirement Age 2% at 57 2.5% at 57 2.7% at 57
50 1.426% 2.000% 2.000%
51 1.508% 2.071% 2.100%
52 1.590% 2.143% 2.200%
53 1.672% 2.214% 2.300%
54 1.754% 2.286% 2.400%
55 1.836% 2.357% 2.500%
56 1.918% 2.429% 2.600%
57 & Up 2.000% 2.500% 2.700%
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 had the option of providing a final compensation equal to the highest 12 consecutive months
for classic plans only. Final compensation must be defined by the highest 36 consecutive months’ pay under the
1.5% at 65 formula. PEPRA members have a cap on the annual salary that can be used to calculate final
compensation for all new members based on the Social Security Contribution and Benefit Base. For employees
that participate in Social Security this cap is $115,064 for 2014 and for those employees that do not participate
in social security the cap for 2014 is $138,077, the equivalent of 120 percent of the 2013 Contribution and
Benefit Base. Adjustments to the caps are permitted annually based on changes to the CPI for All Urban Consumers.
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 compensation
is less than $400). Employers may contract for the Full benefit with Social Security that will eliminate the offset
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX B
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-3
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).
Eligibility to Start Receiving Benefits
The CalPERS classic members and Safety PEPRA members become 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). PEPRA Miscellaneous members become eligible to receive the deferred retirement
benefit upon satisfying the eligibility requirements for Deferred Status and upon attainment of age 52.
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.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX B
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-4
Improved Benefit
Employers have the option of providing the improved Non-Industrial Disability Retirement benefit. This benefit
provides a monthly allowance equal to 30 percent of final compensation for the first 5 years of service, plus 1 percent
for each additional year of service to a maximum of 50 percent 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.
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.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX B
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-5
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) made 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.
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.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX B
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-6
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 for Classic and Safety PEPRA members and age 52 for Miscellaneous PEPRA members,
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 benefit.
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.
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 for Classic and Safety PEPRA members and age 52 for Miscellaneous
PEPRA members, 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.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX B
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-7
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 percent 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 percent of final compensation
if 2 eligible children: 20.0 percent of final compensation
if 3 or more eligible children: 25.0 percent of final compensation
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.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX B
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-8
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
Retirement and survivor allowances are adjusted each year in May for cost of living, beginning the second calendar year after the year of retirement. The standard cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is 2 percent. Annual adjustments
are calculated by first determining the lesser of 1) 2 percent compounded from the end of the year of retirement or
2) actual rate of inflation. The resulting increase is divided by the total increase provided in prior years. For any
particular year, the COLA adjustment may be less than 2 percent (when the rate of inflation is low), may be greater
than the rate of inflation (when the rate of inflation is low after several years of high inflation) or may even be
greater than 2 percent (when inflation is high after several years of low inflation).
Improved Benefit
Employers have the option of providing a COLA of 3 percent, 4 percent, or 5 percent, determined in the same
manner as described above for the standard 2 percent COLA. An improved COLA is not available with the 1.5% at 65
formula.
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.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX B
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-9
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.
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%
Miscellaneous, 2% at 62 50% of the Total Normal Cost
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%
Safety, 2% at 57 50% of the Total Normal Cost
Safety, 2.5% at 57 50% of the Total Normal Cost
Safety, 2.7% at 57 50% of the Total Normal Cost
The employer may choose to “pick-up” these contributions for the employees (Employer Paid Member Contributions
or EPMC). EPMC is prohibited for new PEPRA members.
An employer may also include Employee Cost Sharing in the contract, where employees agree to share the cost of
the employer contribution. These contributions are paid in addition to the member contribution.
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.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX B
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-10
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 not 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, 2014 APPENDIX C
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PARTICIPANT DATA
C-1
Summary of Valuation Data
June 30, 2013 June 30, 2014
1. Active Members
a) Counts 184 187
b) Average Attained Age
40.56 40.06
c) Average Entry Age to Rate Plan 29.20 29.11
d) Average Years of Service 11.36 10.95
e) Average Annual Covered Pay $ 115,533 $ 113,765
f) Annual Covered Payroll 21,258,082 21,274,021
g) Projected Annual Payroll for Contribution Year 23,229,280 23,246,697
h) Present Value of Future Payroll 197,632,871 214,199,671
2. Transferred Members
a) Counts 59 63
b) Average Attained Age 42.98 44.06
c) Average Years of Service 3.77 3.71
d) Average Annual Covered Pay $ 103,052 $ 106,767
3. Terminated Members
a) Counts 29 31
b) Average Attained Age 42.21 42.38
c) Average Years of Service 2.68 3.10
d) Average Annual Covered Pay $ 75,591 $ 81,322
4. Retired Members and Beneficiaries
a) Counts 404 411
b) Average Attained Age 66.93 67.44
c) Average Annual Benefits $ 48,491 $ 50,485
5. Active to Retired Ratio [(1a) / (4a)] 0.46 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.
Average Annual Benefits represents benefit amounts payable by this plan only. Some members may have
service with another agency and would therefore have a larger total benefit than would be included as part
of the average shown here.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 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 4 0 0 0 0 0 4
25-29 14 1 0 0 0 0 15
30-34 18 21 0 0 0 0 39
35-39 12 9 8 4 0 0 33
40-44 5 7 11 11 0 0 34
45-49 2 1 10 11 15 4 43
50-54 0 1 4 4 3 2 14
55-59 0 1 1 0 0 1 3
60-64 0 0 0 0 1 1 2
65 and over 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
All Ages 55 41 34 30 19 8 187
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 $75,362 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $75,362
25-29 87,309 105,999 0 0 0 0 88,555
30-34 95,183 118,553 0 0 0 0 107,767
35-39 98,214 109,821 128,588 141,272 0 0 113,962
40-44 93,217 118,561 113,365 126,158 0 0 115,610
45-49 152,067 110,237 110,520 118,620 131,930 151,926 125,838
50-54 0 157,331 108,465 112,632 126,836 108,455 117,081
55-59 0 111,366 141,692 0 0 213,418 155,492
60-64 0 0 0 0 115,970 117,208 116,589
65 and over 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
All Ages $94,288 $116,899 $116,367 $123,606 $130,286 $144,405 $113,765
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 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 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 103,772
30-34 8 0 0 0 0 0 8 94,240
35-39 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 96,913
40-44 10 1 1 0 0 0 12 117,697
45-49 10 6 1 0 0 0 17 106,586
50-54 4 1 1 1 1 0 8 106,001
55-59 1 3 1 0 0 0 5 125,216
60-64 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 90,458
65 and over 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
All Ages 45 11 5 1 1 0 63 106,767
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 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 98,698
30-34 2 1 0 0 0 0 3 83,871
35-39 7 2 0 0 0 0 9 81,133
40-44 2 2 0 0 0 0 4 82,851
45-49 5 2 1 0 0 0 8 84,051
50-54 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 53,483
55-59 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 71,031
60-64 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 106,475
65 and over 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
All Ages 21 9 1 0 0 0 31 81,322
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 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 1 0 0 0 1
40-44 0 0 6 0 0 0 6
45-49 0 1 3 0 0 0 4
50-54 34 0 16 0 1 0 51
55-59 42 1 17 0 2 1 63
60-64 29 0 18 0 0 3 50
65-69 30 1 19 0 0 3 53
70-74 31 0 24 0 0 9 64
75-79 31 2 19 0 0 3 55
80-84 17 0 15 0 0 10 42
85 and Over 12 0 5 0 0 4 21
All Ages 226 5 144 0 3 33 411
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 50,780 0 0 0 50,780
35-39 0 0 57,632 0 0 0 57,632
40-44 0 0 56,989 0 0 0 56,989
45-49 0 81 43,511 0 0 0 32,654
50-54 89,801 0 57,966 0 50,599 0 79,045
55-59 72,521 31,649 68,325 0 35,377 63,711 69,421
60-64 71,128 0 44,568 0 0 35,357 59,420
65-69 53,197 16,678 45,192 0 0 43,958 49,116
70-74 46,425 0 29,001 0 0 37,944 38,698
75-79 42,446 11,335 32,987 0 0 14,212 36,507
80-84 32,648 0 25,371 0 0 28,104 28,967
85 and Over 28,858 0 19,561 0 0 11,016 23,246
All Ages $59,354 $14,216 $42,582 $0 $40,451 $30,633 $50,485
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 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 61 0 16 0 0 5 82
5-9 41 1 18 0 1 7 68
10-14 39 0 16 0 0 12 67
15-19 22 1 20 0 1 3 47
20-24 33 0 15 0 0 4 52
25-29 14 1 16 0 0 1 32
30 and Over 16 2 43 0 1 1 63
All Years 226 5 144 0 3 33 411
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 $86,120 $0 $84,434 $0 $0 $15,690 $81,497
5-9 56,403 81 61,724 0 50,599 37,378 54,939
10-14 62,158 0 55,271 0 0 37,988 56,185
15-19 37,839 31,649 43,677 0 44,793 24,716 39,502
20-24 48,741 0 37,496 0 0 29,900 44,048
25-29 35,151 16,678 24,284 0 0 19,797 28,660
30 and Over 30,688 11,335 22,350 0 25,960 1,393 23,842
All Years $59,354 $14,216 $42,582 $0 $40,451 $30,633 $50,485
* 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
DEVELOPMENT OF PEPRA MEMBER CONTRIBUTION RATE
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX D
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PARTICIPANT DATA
D-1
DEVELOPMENT OF PEPRA MEMBER CONTRIBUTION RATE
The table below shows the determination of the Member contribution rates based on 50 percent of the Total Normal
Cost for each respective plan on June 30, 2014.
Assembly Bill (AB) 340 created PEPRA that implemented new benefit formulas and a final compensation period as
well as new contribution requirements for new employees. In accordance with Section Code 7522.30(b), “new
members … shall have an initial contribution rate of at least 50 percent of the normal cost rate.” The normal cost for
the plan is dependent on the benefit levels, actuarial assumptions and demographics of the plan particularly the entry
age into the plan. The PEPRA total normal cost for your plan is calculated assuming the entire active population,
including classic members, were subject to the adopted PEPRA formula and applicable compensation limits. Should
the total normal cost of your plan change by one percent or more from the original total normal cost established for
your plan this change in normal cost shall be equally shared between employer and member.
Basis for Current Rate Rates Effective July 1, 2016
Rate Plan
Identifier Plan Total Normal
Cost
Member
Rate
Total Normal
Cost
Change Change
Needed
Member
Rate
25006 Safety Fire PEPRA 22.400% 11.250% 21.276% 1.124% Yes 10.750%
25007 Safety Police PEPRA 22.400% 11.250% 21.276% 1.124% Yes 10.750%
APPENDIX E
GLOSSARY OF ACTUARIAL TERMS
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX E
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
GLOSSARY OF ACTUARIAL TERMS
E-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 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.
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.
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).
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.)
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX E
SAFETY PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
GLOSSARY OF ACTUARIAL TERMS
E-2
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 versus 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.
GASB 27
Statement No. 27 of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board. The prior 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.
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 (UAL)
When a plan or pool’s 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 2015
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO (CalPERS ID: 6373437857)
Annual Valuation Report as of June 30, 2014
Dear Employer,
As an attachment to this letter, you will find a copy of the June 30, 2014 actuarial valuation
report of your pension plan. Your 2014 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 November 30, 2015. Future Contribution Rates
The exhibit below displays the Minimum Employer Contribution Rate for Fiscal Year 2016-17 and
a projected contribution rate for 2017-18, before any cost sharing. The projected rate for 2017-
18 is based on the most recent information available, including an estimate of the investment
return for Fiscal Year 2014-15, namely 2.4 percent. For a projection of employer rates beyond
2017-18, please refer to the “Projected Rates” in the “Risk Analysis” section, which includes rate
projections through 2021-22. The 5-year projection of future employer contribution rates
supersedes any previous projections we have provided. The Risk Analysis section of your
valuation report also contains estimated employer contribution rates in future years under a
variety of investment return scenarios.
Fiscal Year Employer Contribution Rate
2016-17 28.890%
2017-18 31.0% (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 2017-18 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 2017-18 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, 2014
Page 2
Changes since the Prior Year’s Valuation
This actuarial valuation includes Board adopted changes to the demographic assumptions based
on the most recent experience study report. The most significant of these is the improvement in
post-retirement mortality acknowledging the greater life expectancies we are seeing in our
membership and expected continued improvements. The actuarial assumptions and methods
used in CalPERS public agency valuations are approved by the Board of Administration upon the
recommendation of the Chief Actuary. The individual plan actuary whose signature appears in the
actuarial certification in the accompanying report does not set plan specific actuarial
assumptions.
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” Section.
Effective with the 2014 actuarial valuation, Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement
No. 27 financial reporting information is no longer provided in CalPERS annual actuarial valuation
reports. GASB 27 has been replaced with GASB 68 for financial statement reporting purposes.
CalPERS is providing separate accounting valuation reports on a fee for service basis for our
public agency employers. More details on GASB 68 and instructions for ordering your GASB 68
report are available on our website.
Potential Changes to Future Year Valuations
One of CalPERS strategic goals is to improve the long-term pension benefit sustainability of the
system through an integrated view of pension assets and liabilities. The Board of Administration
has been engaging in discussions on the funding risks faced by the system and possible risk
mitigation strategies to better protect our members. Recent Board actions on a new asset
allocation, new actuarial assumptions and new smoothing and amortization policies have already
lowered risk. However, future contribution rate volatility is expected as CalPERS pension plans
continue to mature. Two approaches under consideration are a flexible glide path methodology, a
lowering of the discount rate and expected investment volatility following a great investment
return and a blended glide path methodology which is similar to the flexible glide path but with
check points over time that would trigger additional asset allocation changes and lowering of the
discount rate if investment returns did not result in a sufficient reduction in volatility. Either
approach requires thoughtful discussion as it involves tradeoffs between short and long-term
system impacts and potential future increases in required contributions. Additional information
can be found on the CalPERS website with possible Board action on risk mitigation strategy and
policy at the November 2015 Board meeting.
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
(CalPERS ID: 6373437857)
Annual Valuation Report as of June 30, 2014
Page 3
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 November 30 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
THIS PAGE
INTENTIONALLY
LEFT BLANK
ACTUARIAL VALUATION
as of June 30, 2014
for the
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN
of the
CITY OF PALO ALTO
(CalPERS ID: 6373437857)
(Rate Plan ID: 8)
REQUIRED CONTRIBUTIONS
FOR FISCAL YEAR
July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACTUARIAL CERTIFICATION 1
HIGHLIGHTS AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Introduction 3
Purpose of the Report 3
Required Employer Contribution 4
Plan’s Funded Status 4
Cost 5 Changes Since the Prior Year’s Valuation 6
Subsequent Events 6
ASSETS
Reconciliation of the Market Value of Assets 8
Asset Allocation 9 CalPERS History of Investment Returns 10
LIABILITIES AND RATES
Development of Accrued and Unfunded Liabilities 12
(Gain) / Loss Analysis 06/30/13 - 06/30/14 13
Schedule of Amortization Bases 14 Alternate Amortization Schedules 15
Reconciliation of Required Employer Contributions 16
Employer Contribution Rate History 17
Funding History 17
RISK ANALYSIS
Volatility Ratios 19
Projected Rates 20
Analysis of Future Investment Return Scenarios 20
Analysis of Discount Rate Sensitivity 21 Hypothetical Termination Liability 22
PLAN’S MAJOR BENEFIT PROVISIONS
Plan’s Major Benefit Options 24
APPENDIX A – ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
Actuarial Data A1
Actuarial Methods A1 – A2
Actuarial Assumptions A3 – A21
Miscellaneous A21 – A22
APPENDIX B – PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS B1 – B10
APPENDIX C – PARTICIPANT DATA
Summary of Valuation Data C1
Active Members C2
Transferred and Terminated Members C3 Retired Members and Beneficiaries C4 – C5
APPENDIX D – DEVELOPMENT OF PEPRA MEMBER CONTRIBUTION RATE D1
APPENDIX E – GLOSSARY OF ACTUARIAL TERMS E1 – E2
(CY) FIN PROCESS CONTROL ID: 463712 (PY) FIN PROCESS CONTROL ID: 432056 REPORT ID: 89713
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
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, 2014 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, 2014
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 3
Introduction
This report presents the results of the June 30, 2014 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 2016-17 required employer contribution rates.
This actuarial valuation includes Board adopted changes to the demographic assumptions based on the
most recent experience study report. The most significant of these is the improvement in post-retirement
mortality acknowledging the greater life expectancies we are seeing in our membership and expected
continued improvements. The actuarial assumptions and methods used in CalPERS public agency valuations
are approved by the Board of Administration upon the recommendation of the Chief Actuary. The individual
plan actuary whose signature appears in the actuarial certification in this report does not set plan specific actuarial assumptions.
Effective with the 2014 actuarial valuation, Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 27
financial reporting information is no longer provided in CalPERS annual actuarial valuation reports. GASB 27
has been replaced with GASB 68 for financial statement reporting purposes. CalPERS is providing separate
accounting valuation reports on a fee for service basis for our public agency employers. More details on
GASB 68 and instructions for ordering your GASB 68 report are available on our website.
Purpose of the Report
The actuarial valuation was prepared by the CalPERS Actuarial Office using data as of June 30, 2014. The
purpose of the report is to:
Set forth the assets and accrued liabilities of this plan as of June 30, 2014;
Determine the required employer contribution rate for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2016 through June 30,
2017;
Provide actuarial information as of June 30, 2014 to the CalPERS Board of Administration and other
interested parties.
The pension funding information presented in this report should not be used in financial reports subject to Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) Statement Number 68 for an Agent Employer Defined
Benefit Pension Plan. A separate accounting valuation report for such purposes is available from CalPERS
and details for ordering are available on our website.
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.
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 14.
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 percent plus or
minus change in the discount rate.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 4
Required Employer Contribution
Fiscal Year Fiscal Year
2015-16 2016-17
Actuarially Determined Employer Contributions
1. Contribution in Projected Dollars
a) Total Normal Cost $ 12,782,431 $ 13,346,592
b) Employee Contribution1 5,488,848 5,690,120
c) Employer Normal Cost [(1a) – (1b)] 7,293,583 7,656,472
d) Unfunded Liability Contribution 12,207,469 13,748,038
e) Required Employer Contribution [(1c) + (1d)] $ 19,501,052 $ 21,404,510
Projected Annual Payroll for Contribution Year $ 70,414,978 $ 74,090,105
2. Contribution as a Percentage of Payroll
a) Total Normal Cost 18.153% 18.014%
b) Employee Contribution1 7.795% 7.680%
c) Employer Normal Cost [(2a) – (2b)] 10.358% 10.334%
d) Unfunded Liability Rate 17.336% 18.556%
e) Required Employer Rate [(2c) + (2d)] 27.694% 28.890%
Minimum Employer Contribution Rate2 27.694% 28.890%
Annual Lump Sum Prepayment Option3 $ 18,808,485 $ 20,644,343
1 For classic members this is the percentage specified in the Public Employees Retirement Law, net of any reduction from the use of a modified formula or other factors. For PEPRA members, the member contribution rate is based on 50
percent of the normal cost. A development of PEPRA member contribution rates can be found in Appendix D. Employee
cost sharing is not shown in this report.
2 The Minimum Employer Contribution Rate under PEPRA is the greater of the required employer rate or the employer
normal cost. The timing of contributions made during the year coincides with the employer’s payroll reporting periods.
§ 20572 of the Public Employees’ Retirement Law assesses interest at an annual rate of 10 percent if a contracting
agency fails to remit the required contributions when due.
3 The Annual Lump Sum Prepayment can be made between July 1 and July 15 and should be made before the
contributions for the first payroll reporting period of the new fiscal year are due. If there is contractual cost sharing or
other change, this amount will change.
Plan’s Funded Status
June 30, 2013 June 30, 2014
1. Present Value of Projected Benefits $ 690,227,166 $ 756,332,825
2. Entry Age Normal Accrued Liability 602,540,178 666,978,627
3. Market Value of Assets (MVA) $ 412,227,784 $ 475,566,994
4. Unfunded Liability [(2) – (3)] $ 190,312,394 $ 191,411,633
5. Funded Ratio [(3) / (2)] 68.4% 71.3%
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 5
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, 2014, 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 annual cost associated with one year of service accrual) 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. To communicate the total cost, either the Normal Cost must be converted to a lump sum dollar amount or the Past Service Cost must
be converted to a percent of payroll. Converting the Past Service Cost lump sum to a percent of payroll
requires a specific amortization period, and the employer rate will vary depending on the amortization period
chosen. CalPERS Board amortization and smoothing policies specify the amortization period used for each
amortization base. These policies permit a restructuring of the amortization bases (also known as a “fresh
start”) when the application of the amortization policy would not otherwise achieve the goals of the policy –
to eliminate the unfunded liabilities in a manner that maintains benefit security while minimizing substantial
variations in employer contribution rates. Currently unfunded liabilities are paid as a percent of payroll. However, in the future, unfunded liabilities may be billed as dollar amounts as is the case for plans that are
in risk pools.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 6
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 the “Plan’s Major Benefit Options” and 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.
Actuarial Methods and Assumptions
The CalPERS Board of Administration approved several changes to the demographic assumptions that more
closely align with actual experience based on the most recent experience study. The most significant of these is mortality improvement to acknowledge the greater life expectancies we are seeing in our
membership and expected continued improvements. The new actuarial assumptions are used to set the
Fiscal Year 2016-17 contribution rates for public agency employers. The increase in liability due to new
actuarial assumptions calculated in this actuarial valuation is amortized over a 20-year period with a 5-year
ramp-up/ramp-down in accordance with Board amortization policy.
Subsequent Events
Actuarial Methods and Assumptions
One of CalPERS strategic goals is to improve the long-term pension benefit sustainability of the system through an integrated view of pension assets and liabilities. The Board of Administration has been engaging
in discussions on the funding risks faced by the system and possible risk mitigation strategies to better
protect our members. Recent Board actions on a new asset allocation, new actuarial assumptions and new
smoothing and amortization policies have already lowered risk. However, future contribution rate volatility is
expected as CalPERS pension plans continue to mature. Two approaches under consideration are a flexible
glide path methodology, a lowering of the discount rate and expected investment volatility following a great
investment return and a blended glide path methodology which is similar to the flexible glide path but with check points over time that would trigger additional asset allocation changes and lowering of the discount
rate if investment returns did not result in a sufficient reduction in volatility. Either approach requires
thoughtful discussion as it involves tradeoffs between short and long-term system impacts and potential
future increases in required contributions. Additional information can be found on the CalPERS website with
possible Board action on risk mitigation strategy and policy at the November 2015 Board meeting.
ASSETS
RECONCILIATION OF THE MARKET VALUE OF ASSETS
ASSET ALLOCATION
CALPERS HISTORY OF INVESTMENT RETURNS
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 8
Reconciliation of the Market Value of Assets
1. Market Value of Assets as of 6/30/13 Including Receivables $ 412,227,784
2. Change in Receivables for Service Buybacks as of 6/30/13 248,109
3. Employer Contributions 17,399,732
4. Employee Contributions 5,094,854
5. Benefit Payments to Retirees and Beneficiaries (31,447,662)
6. Refunds (332,871)
7. Lump Sum Payments 0
8. Transfers and Miscellaneous Adjustments 1,249,806
9. Investment Return 71,127,242
10. Market Value of Assets as of 6/30/14 Including Receivables $ 475,566,994
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 9
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 Investment Belief No.
6 recognizes that strategic asset allocation is the dominant determinant of portfolio risk and return. On February 19, 2014 the CalPERS Board of Administration adopted changes to the current asset allocation as
shown in the Policy Target Allocation below expressed as percentage of total assets. The asset allocation
has an expected long term blended rate of return of 7.5 percent.
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, 2014. 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
Global Equity 158.2 50.0%
Private Equity 31.5 14.0%
Global Fixed Income 58.8 17.0%
Liquidity 9.0 4.0%
Real Assets 29.6 11.0%
Inflation Sensitive Assets 9.9 4.0%
Absolute Return Strategy (ARS) 4.5 0.0%
Total Fund $301.5 100.0%
Global Equity
52.5%
Private Equity
10.4%
Global Fixed
Income
19.5%
Liquidity
3.0%
Real Assets
9.8%
Inflation
3.3%
ARS
1.5%
Asset Allocation at 6/30/2014
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 10
CalPERS History of Investment Returns
The following is a chart with the 20-year 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.
The table below shows historical geometric mean annual returns of the Public Employees Retirement Fund for various time periods ending on June 30, 2014, (figures are reported as gross of fees). The geometric
mean rate of return is the average rate per period compounded over multiple periods. It should be
recognized that in any given year the rate of return is volatile. Although the expected rate of return on the
recently adopted new asset allocation is 7.5 percent, the portfolio has an expected volatility of 11.76
percent per year. The volatility is a measure of the risk of the portfolio expressed in the standard deviation
of the fund’s total return distribution, expressed in percent. Consequently when looking at investment
returns it is more instructive to look at returns over longer time horizons.
History of CalPERS Geometric Mean Rates of Return and Volatilities
1 year 5 year 10 year 20 year 30 year
Geometric Return 17.7% 13.0% 7.1% 8.4% 10.1%
Volatility – 8.1% 14.0% 11.9% 11.4%
-25.0%
-20.0%
-15.0%
-10.0%
-5.0%
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14
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
%
13
.
2
%
17
.
7
%
LIABILITIES AND RATES
DEVELOPMENT OF ACCRUED AND UNFUNDED LIABILITIES
(GAIN) / LOSS ANALYSIS 06/30/13 - 06/30/14
SCHEDULE OF AMORTIZATION BASES
ALTERNATE AMORTIZATION SCHEDULES
RECONCILIATION OF REQUIRED EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS
EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION RATE HISTORY
FUNDING HISTORY
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 12
Development of Accrued and Unfunded Liabilities
Prior Year
Assumptions
New
Assumptions
June 30, 2013 June 30, 2014
June 30, 2014
1. Present Value of Projected Benefits
a) Active Members $ 297,642,775 310,497,721 328,196,243
b) Transferred Members 23,476,142 27,328,717 28,487,782
c) Terminated Members 13,166,269 12,157,218 11,097,567
d) Members and Beneficiaries Receiving Payments 355,941,980 369,324,828 388,551,233
e) Total $ 690,227,166 719,308,484 756,332,825
2. Present Value of Future Employer Normal Costs $ 48,567,418 47,127,131 49,756,329
3. Present Value of Future Employee Contributions $ 39,119,570 40,130,267 39,597,869
4. Entry Age Normal Accrued Liability
a) Active Members [(1a) - (2) - (3)] $ 209,955,787 223,240,323 238,842,045
b) Transferred Members (1b) 23,476,142 27,328,717 28,487,782
c) Terminated Members (1c) 13,166,269 12,157,218 11,097,567
d) Members and Beneficiaries Receiving Payments (1d) 355,941,980 369,324,828 388,551,233
e) Total $ 602,540,178 632,051,086 666,978,627
5. Market Value of Assets (MVA) $ 412,227,784 475,566,994 475,566,994
6. Unfunded Liability [(4e) - (5)] $ 190,312,394 156,484,092 191,411,633
7. Funded Ratio [(5) / (4e)] 68.4% 75.2% 71.3%
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 13
(Gain) /Loss Analysis 6/30/13 – 6/30/14
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 6/30/13 $ 190,312,394
2. Expected Payment on the UAL during 2013/2014 10,174,297 3. Interest through 6/30/14 [.075 x (A1) - ((1.075)½ - 1) x (A2)] 13,898,791
4. Expected UAL before all other changes [(A1) - (A2) + (A3)] 194,036,888
5. Change due to plan changes 0
6. Change due to assumption change 34,927,541
7. Expected UAL after all other changes [(A4) + (A5) + (A6)] 228,964,429
8. Actual UAL as of 6/30/14 191,411,633
9. Total (Gain)/Loss for 2013/2014 [(A8) - (A7)] $ (37,552,796)
B Contribution (Gain)/Loss for the Year
1. Expected Contribution (Employer and Employee) $ 22,122,741
2. Interest on Expected Contributions 814,605
3. Actual Contributions 22,494,586 4. Interest on Actual Contributions 828,297
5. Expected Contributions with Interest [(B1) + (B2)] 22,937,346
6. Actual Contributions with Interest [(B3) + (B4)] 23,322,883
7. Contribution (Gain)/Loss [(B5) - (B6)] $ (385,537)
C Asset (Gain)/Loss for the Year
1. Market Value of Assets as of 6/30/13 $ 412,227,784
2. Receivables PY (2,849,888)
3. Receivables CY 3,097,997
4. Contributions Received 22,494,586
5. Benefits and Refunds Paid (31,780,533) 6. Transfers and miscellaneous adjustments 1,249,806
7. Expected Int. [.075 x (C1 + C2) + ((1.075)½ - 1) x ((C4) + (C5) + (C6))] 30,407,435
8. Expected Assets as of 6/30/14 [(C1) + (C2) + (C3) + (C4) + (C5) + (C6) + (C7)] 434,847,187
9. Market Value of Assets as of 6/30/14 475,566,994
10. Asset (Gain)/Loss [(C8) - (C9)] $ (40,719,807)
D Liability (Gain)/Loss for the Year
1. Total (Gain)/Loss (A9) $ (37,552,796)
2. Contribution (Gain)/Loss (B7) (385,537)
3. Asset (Gain)/Loss (C10) (40,719,807)
4. Liability (Gain)/Loss [(D1) - (D2) - (D3)] $ 3,552,548
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 14
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, 2014.
The employer contribution rate determined by the valuation is for the fiscal year beginning two years after the valuation date; Fiscal Year 2016-17.
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 determined 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 2016-17
Reason for Base
Date
Established
Amorti-zation
Period
Balance
6/30/14
Expected Payment
2014-15
Balance
6/30/15
Expected Payment
2015-16
Balance
6/30/16
Scheduled Payment for
2016-17
Payment as Percentage of
Payroll
ASSUMPTION CHANGE 06/30/03 9 $17,137,963 $1,982,274 $16,368,045 $2,041,742 $15,478,726 $2,102,994 2.838%
METHOD CHANGE 06/30/04 10 $(1,290,313) $(139,521) $(1,242,428) $(143,706) $(1,186,612) $(148,017) (0.200%)
BENEFIT CHANGE 06/30/05 10 $28,586,348 $3,091,022 $27,525,484 $3,183,753 $26,288,910 $3,279,266 4.426%
ASSUMPTION CHANGE 06/30/09 15 $26,352,672 $2,213,920 $26,033,681 $2,280,338 $25,621,903 $2,348,748 3.170%
SPECIAL (GAIN)/LOSS 06/30/09 25 $16,370,499 $1,037,533 $16,522,550 $1,068,659 $16,653,731 $1,100,719 1.486%
SPECIAL (GAIN)/LOSS 06/30/10 26 $1,347,998 $83,819 $1,362,193 $86,333 $1,374,845 $88,923 0.120%
ASSUMPTION CHANGE 06/30/11 17 $12,210,444 $952,744 $12,138,402 $981,326 $12,031,321 $1,010,766 1.364%
SPECIAL (GAIN)/LOSS 06/30/11 27 $(56,539) $(3,453) $(57,199) $(3,557) $(57,801) $(3,663) (0.005%)
PAYMENT (GAIN)/LOSS 06/30/12 28 $2,949,486 $177,118 $2,987,057 $182,432 $3,021,937 $187,905 0.254%
(GAIN)/LOSS 06/30/12 28 $24,864,694 $1,493,138 $25,181,428 $1,537,932 $25,475,473 $1,584,070 2.138%
(GAIN)/LOSS 06/30/13 29 $65,563,634 $(61,778) $70,544,959 $992,217 $74,807,078 $2,043,968 2.759%
ASSUMPTION CHANGE 06/30/14 20 $34,927,541 $(402,960) $37,964,904 $(415,048) $41,242,603 $785,576 1.060%
(GAIN)/LOSS 06/30/14 30 $(37,552,794) $733,308 $(41,129,563) $777,721 $(45,020,639) $(633,217) (0.855%)
TOTAL $191,411,633 $11,157,164 $194,199,513 $12,570,142 $195,731,475 $13,748,038 18.556%
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 20 Page 15
Alternate Amortization Schedules
The amortization schedule shown on the previous page shows the minimum contribution required according to CalPERS
amortization policy. There has been considerable interest from many agencies in paying off these unfunded accrued liabilities sooner and the possible savings in doing so. Therefore, we have provided alternate amortization schedules to
help analyze your current amortization schedule and illustrate the advantages of accelerating payments towards your
plan’s unfunded liability of $195,731,475 as of June 30, 2016, which under the minimum schedule, will require total
payments of $398,981,993. Shown below are the level rate payments required to amortize your plan’s unfunded liability
assuming a fresh start over the various periods noted. Note that the payments under each scenario would increase by
3 percent for each year into the future.
If you are interested in changing your plan’s amortization schedule please contact your plan actuary to discuss further.
Level Rate of Payroll Amortization
Period 2016-17
Rate
2016-17
Payment
Total
Payments
Total
Interest
Difference from
Current Schedule
20 19.947% $14,778,789 $397,111,592 $201,380,116 $1,870,401
15 24.217% $17,942,613 $333,713,123 $137,981,647 $65,268,870
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 16
Reconciliation of Required Employer Contributions
Percentage
of
Projected
Payroll
Estimated $
Based on
Projected
Payroll
1. Contribution for 7/1/15 – 6/30/16 27.694% $ 19,501,052
2. Effect of changes since the prior year annual valuation
a) Effect of changes in demographics and financial results (0.441%) (327,187)
b) Effect of plan changes 0.000% 0
c) Effect of changes in Assumptions 1.637% 1,212,855
d) Effect of change in payroll - 1,017,790
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)] 1.196% 1,903,458
3. Contribution for 7/1/16 – 6/30/17 [(1)+(2g)] 28.890% 21,404,510
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, 2014
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 17
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
Fiscal
Year
Employer
Normal Cost Unfunded Rate
Total Employer
Contribution Rate
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%
2015 - 2016 10.358% 17.336% 27.694%
2016 - 2017 10.334% 18.556% 28.890%
Funding History
The Funding History below shows the recent history of the actuarial accrued liability, the market value of assets,
the funded ratio and the annual covered payroll.
Valuation
Date
Accrued
Liability
Market Value
of
Assets (MVA)
Unfunded
Liability
Funded
Ratio
Annual
Covered
Payroll
06/30/09 $ 499,199,907 $ 288,524,538 $ 210,675,369 57.8% $ 65,602,083
06/30/10 521,269,469 323,971,012 197,298,457 62.2% 62,496,037
06/30/11 552,715,631 384,056,704 168,658,927 69.5% 60,297,783
06/30/12 576,182,013 373,592,926 202,589,087 64.8% 62,910,810
06/30/13 602,540,178 412,227,784 190,312,394 68.4% 64,439,680
06/30/14 666,978,627 475,566,994 191,411,633 71.3% 67,802,942
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, 2014
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 19
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 (LVR)
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, 2014
1. Market Value of Assets without Receivables $ 472,468,997
2. Payroll 67,802,942
3. Asset Volatility Ratio (AVR = 1. / 2.) 7.0
4. Accrued Liability $ 666,978,627
5. Liability Volatility Ratio (LVR = 4. / 2.) 9.8
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 20
Projected Rates
The estimated rate for 2017-18 is based on a projection of the most recent information we have available,
including an estimated 2.4 percent investment return for Fiscal Year 2014-15.
The table below shows projected employer contribution rates (before cost sharing) for the next five fiscal years,
assuming CalPERS earns 2.4 percent for Fiscal Year 2014-15 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 during the projection period. The projected contribution rates do not
reflect that the plan’s normal cost will decline over time as new employees are hired into PEPRA and other lower
cost benefit tiers.
Required
Rate Projected Future Employer Contribution Rates
2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22
Contribution Rates: 28.890% 31.0% 33.1% 35.2% 35.9% 36.4%
Analysis of Future Investment Return Scenarios
In 2014 CalPERS completed a 2-year asset liability management study incorporating actuarial assumptions and
strategic asset allocation. On February 19, 2014 the CalPERS Board of Administration adopted relatively modest
changes to the current asset allocation that will reduce the expected volatility of returns. The adopted asset
allocation is expected to have a long- term blended return that continues to support a discount rate assumption of
7.5 percent. The newly adopted asset allocation has a lower expected investment volatility which will result in
better risk characteristics than an equivalent margin for adverse deviation. The previous asset allocation had an
expected standard deviation of 12.45 percent while the current asset allocation has a lower expected standard deviation of 11.76 percent.
The investment return for Fiscal Year 2014-15 was announced July 13, 2015. The investment return in Fiscal Year
2014-15 is 2.4 percent before administrative expenses. This year, there will be no adjustment for real estate and
private equities. For purposes of projecting future employer rates, we are assuming a 2.4 percent investment
return for Fiscal Year 2014-15.
The investment return realized during a fiscal year first affects the contribution rate for the fiscal year two years later. Specifically, the investment return for 2014-15 will first be reflected in the June 30, 2015 actuarial valuation
that will be used to set the 2017-18 employer contribution rates. The 2015-16 investment return will first be
reflected in the June 30, 2016 actuarial valuation that will be used to set the 2018-19 employer contribution rates
and so forth.
Based on a 2.4 percent investment return for Fiscal Year 2014-15, the April 17, 2013 CalPERS Board-approved
amortization and rate smoothing method change, the February 18, 2014 new demographic assumptions including 20-year mortality improvement using Scale BB 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 2017-18, the effect on the 2017-18 Employer Rate is as follows:
Estimated 2017-18 Employer Rate Estimated Increase in Employer Rate between
2016-17 and 2017-18
31.0% 2.1%
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 21
As part of this report, a sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the effects of various investment returns
during fiscal years 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 on the 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 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.
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, 2015 through June 30, 2018. The 5th percentile return corresponds to a -3.8 percent return for each of the 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 fiscal years.
The second scenario is what one would expect if the markets were to give us a 25th percentile return
from July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2018. The 25th percentile return corresponds to a 2.8 percent return
for each of the 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 fiscal years.
The third scenario assumed the return for 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 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, 2015 through June 30, 2018. The 75th percentile return corresponds to a 12.0 percent return for each of the 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 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, 2015 through June 30, 2018. The 95th percentile return corresponds to a 18.9 percent
return for each of the 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 fiscal years.
The table below shows the estimated projected contribution rates and the estimated increases for your plan under
the five different scenarios.
2015-18 Investment
Return Scenario
Estimated Employer Rate Estimated Change in
Employer Rate
between 2017-18 and 2020-21 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21
(3.8%) (5th percentile) 34.2% 38.4% 42.1% 11.1%
2.8% (25th percentile) 33.5% 36.5% 38.6% 7.6%
7.5% 33.1% 35.2% 35.9% 4.9%
12.0%(75th percentile) 32.6% 33.8% 33.1% 2.1%
18.9%(95th percentile) 32.0% 31.7% 10.3% (20.6%)
Analysis of Discount Rate Sensitivity
The following analysis looks at the 2016-17 total normal cost rates and liabilities under two different discount rate
scenarios. Shown below are the total normal cost 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 plan impacts 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 contribution rates.
Sensitivity Analysis
As of June 30, 2014 6.50% Discount Rate
(-1%) 7.50% Discount Rate
(assumed rate) 8.50% Discount Rate
(+1%)
Total Normal Cost 22.482% 18.014% 14.615%
Accrued Liability $752,918,029 $666,978,627 $595,625,159
Unfunded Accrued Liability $277,351,035 $191,411,633 $120,058,165
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION - June 30, 2014
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
CalPERS ID: 6373437857
Page 22
Hypothetical Termination Liability
The hypothetical termination liability is an estimate of the financial position of your plan if you had terminated your
contract with CalPERS as of June 30, 2014. Your plan liability on a termination basis is calculated differently
compared to the plan’s ongoing funding liability. For this hypothetical termination liability calculation both compensation and service are frozen as of the valuation date and no future pay increases or service accruals are
included.
For the Terminated Agency Pool the CalPERS Board adopted a more conservative investment policy and asset
allocation strategy. Since the Terminated Agency Pool has limited funding sources due to the fact that no future
employer contributions will be made, expected benefit payments are secured by risk-free assets. With this change,
CalPERS increased benefit security for members while limiting its funding risk. However, 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.
The effective termination discount rate will depend on actual market rates of return for risk-free securities on the
date of termination. As market discount rates are variable the table below shows a range for the hypothetical
termination liability based on the lowest and highest interest rates observed during the period from July 1, 2013
through June 30, 2015.
Valuation
Date
Market Value
of Assets
(MVA)
Hypothetical Termination
Liability1,2
@ 2.00%
Unfunded Termination
Liability
@ 2.00%
Hypothetical Termination
Liability1,2
@ 3.75%
Unfunded Termination
Liability
@ 3.75%
06/30/14 $ 475,566,994 $ 1,307,783,976 $ 832,216,982 $ 1,016,093,153 $ 540,526,159
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 current discount rate assumption used for termination valuations is a weighted average of the 10-year and 30-year U.S. Treasury yields where the weights are based on matching asset and liability durations as of the termination date. The discount
rates used in the table are based on 20-year Treasury bonds, rounded to the nearest quarter percentage point, which is a good
proxy for most plans. The 20-year Treasury yield was 3.00% on June 30, 2014.
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 strongly advises you to
consult with your plan actuary before beginning this process.
PLAN’S MAJOR BENEFIT PROVISIONS
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014
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
Active
Misc
Active
Misc
Active
Misc
Inactive
Misc
Receiving
Misc
Benefit Provision
Benefit Formula 2.7% @ 55 2.0% @ 60 2.0% @ 62 2.0% @ 55
Social Security Coverage No No No No Full/Modified Full Full Full Full
Employee Contribution Rate 8.00% 7.00% 6.25%
Final Average Compensation Period One Year One Year Three Year One Year
Sick Leave Credit No No No No
Non-Industrial Disability Standard Standard Standard Standard
Industrial Disability No No No No
Pre-Retirement Death Benefits
Optional Settlement 2W No No No No 1959 Survivor Benefit Level Level 1 Level 1 Level 1 Level 1
Special No No No No
Alternate (firefighters) No 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%
Page 24
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014
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
Employee Contribution Rate
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 25
APPENDICES
APPENDIX A – ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
APPENDIX B – PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
APPENDIX C – PARTICIPANT DATA
APPENDIX D – DEVELOPMENT OF PEPRA MEMBER CONTRIBUTION RATES
APPENDIX E – GLOSSARY OF ACTUARIAL TERMS
APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
ACTUARIAL DATA
ACTUARIAL METHODS
ACTUARIAL ASSUMPTIONS
MISCELLANEOUS
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 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 market value of plan assets is called the unfunded
actuarial accrued liability (UAL). Funding requirements are determined by adding the normal cost and an
amortization of the unfunded liability as a level percentage of assumed future payrolls. Commencing with
the June 30, 2013 valuation all new gains or losses are tracked and amortized over a fixed 30-year period
with a 5 year ramp up at the beginning and a 5 year ramp down at the end of the amortization period. All
changes in liability due to plan amendments (other than golden handshakes), changes in actuarial
assumptions, or changes in actuarial methodology are amortized separately over a 20-year period with a 5 year ramp up at the beginning and a 5 year ramp down at the end of the amortization period. Changes in
unfunded accrued liability due to a Golden Handshake will be amortized over a period of 5 years.
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 percent by June 30, 2043; or Reach a level of 75 percent 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. 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 liability (or conversely a negative payment on a positive unfunded actuarial liability); or
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 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
greater than 30 years.
Asset Valuation Method
It is the policy of the CalPERS Board of Administration to use professionally accepted amortization methods
to eliminate unfunded accrued liabilities or surpluses in a manner that maintains benefit security for the members of the System while minimizing substantial variations in employer contribution rates. 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 employs an amortization and smoothing policy that pays 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. CalPERS no
longer uses an actuarial value of assets and only uses the market value of assets. This direct rate smoothing
method is equivalent to a method using a 5 year asset smoothing period with no actuarial value of asset
corridor and a 25-year amortization period for gains and losses.
PEPRA Normal Cost Rate Methodology
Per Government Code Section 7522.30(b) the “normal cost rate” shall mean the annual actuarially
determined normal cost for the plan of retirement benefits provided to the new member and shall be
established based on actuarial assumptions used to determine the liabilities and costs as part of the annual
actuarial valuation. The plan of retirement benefits shall include any elements that would impact the actuarial determination of the normal cost, including, but not limited to, the retirement formula, eligibility
and vesting criteria, ancillary benefit provisions, and any automatic cost-of-living adjustments as determined
by the public retirement system.
Each non-pooled plan is considered to be stable with a sufficiently large demographic of actives. It is
preferable to determine normal cost using a large active population ongoing so that this rate remains
relatively stable. The total PEPRA normal cost will be calculated using all active members within a non-
pooled plan. Accordingly plans will be funded equally between employer and employee based on the demographics of the employees of that employer. As each non-pooled plan builds up to either 100+ active
PEPRA members or half of their active population is under the PEPRA formula, the total PEPRA normal cost
will be based on the active PEPRA population in the plan.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-3
Actuarial Assumptions
In 2014 CalPERS completed a 2-year asset liability management study incorporating actuarial assumptions
and strategic asset allocation. On February 19, 2014 the CalPERS Board of Administration adopted relatively
modest changes to the current asset allocation that will reduce the expected volatility of returns. The
adopted asset allocation is expected to have a long-term blended return that continues to support a
discount rate assumption of 7.5 percent. The Board also approved several changes to the demographic
assumptions that more closely align with actual experience. The most significant of these is mortality
improvement to acknowledge the greater life expectancies we are seeing in our membership and expected continued improvements. The new actuarial assumptions are used in this valuation to set the FY 2016-17
contribution rates for public agency employers. The increase in liability due to new actuarial assumptions is
amortized over a 20-year period with a 5-year ramp-up/ramp-down in accordance with Board policy. These
new actuarial assumptions are set forth below. For more details, please refer to the experience study report
that can be found on the CalPERS website under: Forms and Publications Center; Employers Section. Click
on View employer publications; Actuarial Reports and scroll down to CalPERS Experience Study.
Economic Assumptions
Discount Rate
7.5 percent compounded annually (net of expenses). This assumption is used for all plans.
Termination Liability Discount Rate
The current discount rate assumption used for termination valuations is a weighted average of the
10-year and 30-year U.S. Treasury yields where the weights are based on matching asset and liability durations as of the termination date.
Previously, for purposes of the hypothetical termination liability estimate, the discount rate used was
the yield on the 30-year US Treasury Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of
Securities (STRIPS). However, this point in time estimate for the termination discount rate can be
significantly different from the calculated discount rate for a plan termination based on prevailing
market rates. Rather than using a point estimate the hypothetical termination liabilities in this report are calculated using an observed range of market interest rates. This range is based on the 20-year
Treasury bond which has a similar duration to most plan liabilities and serves as a good proxy for
the termination discount rate.
The securities purchased for the Terminated Agency Pool (TAP), however, consist solely of STRIPS,
TIPS, and cash with varying maturity dates over the next 30 years. As a result, the methodology to
set the discount rate for the TAP needs to be modified to ensure the discount rate is consistent with
the yield rate of the portfolio. Beginning with the June 30, 2014 valuation the discount rate will be calculated by using a weighted average of the yields of the securities effective in the portfolio as of
the last day of the most recent month of termination. This methodology would result in a discount
rate that more closely reflects the yield rate of the TAP. As of June 30, 2014 this discount rate is
2.91 percent as opposed to the yield on the 30-year Strip of 3.55 percent.
Furthermore, when a plan with a large liability terminates a contingency immunization calculation is
performed using actual cash flows of the terminating agency. Large liability terminations are expected to have large annual cash flows that may have an impact on the TAP’s cash flows thus
creating a need to rebalance the portfolio. Pricing the actual cash flows at current market rates
would have the same effect as a rebalance. A large liability plan is defined as one that would cause
a 50 percent reduction of the existing TAP surplus as of the latest annual valuation. Quotes would
be retrieved from securities necessary to immunize the additional liability. The termination discount
rate is determined using the methodology above with the calculation being based on the yields of
the quoted securities as opposed to the entire TAP portfolio.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-4
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 0.1220 0.1160 0.1020
1 0.0990 0.0940 0.0830
2 0.0860 0.0810 0.0710
3 0.0770 0.0720 0.0630
4 0.0700 0.0650 0.0570
5 0.0640 0.0600 0.0520
10 0.0460 0.0430 0.0390
15 0.0420 0.0400 0.0360
20 0.0390 0.0380 0.0340
25 0.0370 0.0360 0.0330
30 0.0350 0.0340 0.0320
Public Agency Fire
Duration of Service (Entry Age 20) (Entry Age 30) (Entry Age 40)
0 0.2000 0.1980 0.1680
1 0.1490 0.1460 0.1250
2 0.1200 0.1160 0.0990
3 0.0980 0.0940 0.0810
4 0.0820 0.0780 0.0670
5 0.0690 0.0640 0.0550
10 0.0470 0.0460 0.0420
15 0.0440 0.0420 0.0390
20 0.0420 0.0390 0.0360
25 0.0400 0.0370 0.0340
30 0.0380 0.0360 0.0340
Public Agency Police
Duration of Service (Entry Age 20) (Entry Age 30) (Entry Age 40)
0 0.1500 0.1470 0.1310
1 0.1160 0.1120 0.1010
2 0.0950 0.0920 0.0830
3 0.0810 0.0780 0.0700
4 0.0700 0.0670 0.0600
5 0.0610 0.0580 0.0520
10 0.0450 0.0430 0.0370
15 0.0450 0.0430 0.0370
20 0.0450 0.0430 0.0370
25 0.0450 0.0430 0.0370
30 0.0450 0.0430 0.0370
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-5
Salary Growth (continued)
Public Agency County Peace Officers
Duration of Service (Entry Age 20) (Entry Age 30) (Entry Age 40)
0 0.1770 0.1670 0.1500
1 0.1340 0.1260 0.1140
2 0.1080 0.1030 0.0940
3 0.0900 0.0860 0.0790
4 0.0760 0.0730 0.0670
5 0.0650 0.0620 0.0580
10 0.0470 0.0450 0.0410
15 0.0460 0.0450 0.0390
20 0.0460 0.0450 0.0380
25 0.0460 0.0450 0.0380
30 0.0460 0.0440 0.0380
Schools
Duration of Service (Entry Age 20) (Entry Age 30) (Entry Age 40)
0 0.0900 0.0880 0.0820
1 0.0780 0.0750 0.0700
2 0.0700 0.0680 0.0630
3 0.0650 0.0630 0.0580
4 0.0610 0.0590 0.0540
5 0.0580 0.0560 0.0510
10 0.0460 0.0450 0.0410
15 0.0420 0.0410 0.0380
20 0.0390 0.0380 0.0350
25 0.0370 0.0350 0.0330
30 0.0350 0.0330 0.0310
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.
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)
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-6
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 0.00031 0.00020 0.00003
25 0.00040 0.00023 0.00007
30 0.00049 0.00025 0.00010
35 0.00057 0.00035 0.00012
40 0.00075 0.00050 0.00013
45 0.00106 0.00071 0.00014
50 0.00155 0.00100 0.00015 55 0.00228 0.00138 0.00016
60 0.00308 0.00182 0.00017
65 0.00400 0.00257 0.00018
70 0.00524 0.00367 0.00019
75 0.00713 0.00526 0.00020
80 0.00990 0.00814 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, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-7
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 0.00501 0.00466 0.01680 0.01158 0.00501 0.00466
55 0.00599 0.00416 0.01973 0.01149 0.00599 0.00416
60 0.00710 0.00436 0.02289 0.01235 0.00754 0.00518
65 0.00829 0.00588 0.02451 0.01607 0.01122 0.00838
70 0.01305 0.00993 0.02875 0.02211 0.01635 0.01395
75 0.02205 0.01722 0.03990 0.03037 0.02834 0.02319
80 0.03899 0.02902 0.06083 0.04725 0.04899 0.03910
85 0.06969 0.05243 0.09731 0.07762 0.07679 0.06251 90 0.12974 0.09887 0.14804 0.12890 0.12974 0.09887
95 0.22444 0.18489 0.22444 0.21746 0.22444 0.18489
100 0.32536 0.30017 0.32536 0.30017 0.32536 0.30017
105 0.58527 0.56093 0.58527 0.56093 0.58527 0.56093
110 1.00000 1.00000 1.00000 1.00000 1.00000 1.00000
The post-retirement mortality rates above include 20 years of projected on-going mortality improvement using Scale BB published by the Society of Actuaries.
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. 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 Miscellaneous Load Factor Safety
50 190% 310%
51 110% 190%
52 110% 105%
53 through 54 100% 105% 55 100% 140%
56 and above 100% (no change) 100% (no change)
Termination with Refund
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-8
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
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-9
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
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, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-10
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 0.0002 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0003 0.0003
25 0.0002 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001
30 0.0002 0.0002 0.0001 0.0002 0.0001 0.0001 0.0002
35 0.0005 0.0008 0.0001 0.0003 0.0004 0.0005 0.0004
40 0.0012 0.0016 0.0001 0.0004 0.0007 0.0015 0.0010
45 0.0019 0.0022 0.0002 0.0005 0.0013 0.0030 0.0019
50 0.0021 0.0023 0.0005 0.0008 0.0018 0.0039 0.0024
55 0.0022 0.0018 0.0010 0.0013 0.0010 0.0036 0.0021
60 0.0022 0.0014 0.0015 0.0020 0.0006 0.0031 0.0014
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 0.0001 0.0000 0.0004
25 0.0003 0.0017 0.0013
30 0.0007 0.0048 0.0025
35 0.0016 0.0079 0.0037
40 0.0030 0.0110 0.0051
45 0.0053 0.0141 0.0067
50 0.0277 0.0185 0.0092
55 0.0409 0.0479 0.0151
60 0.0583 0.0602 0.0174
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, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-11
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 0.010 0.013 0.015 0.018 0.019 0.021
51 0.009 0.011 0.014 0.016 0.017 0.019
52 0.011 0.014 0.017 0.020 0.022 0.024
53 0.010 0.012 0.015 0.017 0.020 0.021
54 0.015 0.019 0.023 0.025 0.029 0.031
55 0.022 0.029 0.035 0.040 0.045 0.049
56 0.018 0.024 0.028 0.033 0.036 0.040
57 0.024 0.032 0.038 0.043 0.049 0.053
58 0.027 0.036 0.043 0.049 0.055 0.061
59 0.033 0.044 0.054 0.061 0.068 0.076
60 0.056 0.077 0.092 0.105 0.117 0.130
61 0.071 0.097 0.118 0.134 0.149 0.166
62 0.117 0.164 0.198 0.224 0.250 0.280
63 0.122 0.171 0.207 0.234 0.261 0.292
64 0.114 0.159 0.193 0.218 0.244 0.271
65 0.150 0.209 0.255 0.287 0.321 0.358
66 0.114 0.158 0.192 0.217 0.243 0.270
67 0.141 0.196 0.238 0.270 0.301 0.337
68 0.103 0.143 0.174 0.196 0.219 0.245
69 0.109 0.153 0.185 0.209 0.234 0.261
70 0.117 0.162 0.197 0.222 0.248 0.277
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-12
Service Retirement
Public Agency Miscellaneous 2% @ 55
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.014 0.018 0.021 0.025 0.027 0.031
51 0.012 0.014 0.017 0.020 0.021 0.025
52 0.013 0.017 0.019 0.023 0.025 0.028
53 0.015 0.020 0.023 0.027 0.030 0.034
54 0.026 0.033 0.038 0.045 0.051 0.059
55 0.048 0.061 0.074 0.088 0.100 0.117
56 0.042 0.053 0.063 0.075 0.085 0.100
57 0.044 0.056 0.067 0.081 0.091 0.107
58 0.049 0.062 0.074 0.089 0.100 0.118
59 0.057 0.072 0.086 0.103 0.118 0.138
60 0.067 0.086 0.103 0.123 0.139 0.164
61 0.081 0.103 0.124 0.148 0.168 0.199
62 0.116 0.147 0.178 0.214 0.243 0.288
63 0.114 0.144 0.174 0.208 0.237 0.281
64 0.108 0.138 0.166 0.199 0.227 0.268
65 0.155 0.197 0.238 0.285 0.325 0.386
66 0.132 0.168 0.203 0.243 0.276 0.328
67 0.122 0.155 0.189 0.225 0.256 0.304
68 0.111 0.141 0.170 0.204 0.232 0.274
69 0.114 0.144 0.174 0.209 0.238 0.282
70 0.130 0.165 0.200 0.240 0.272 0.323
Public Agency Miscellaneous 2.5% @ 55
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.004 0.009 0.019 0.029 0.049 0.094
51 0.004 0.009 0.019 0.029 0.049 0.094
52 0.004 0.009 0.020 0.030 0.050 0.095
53 0.008 0.014 0.025 0.036 0.058 0.104
54 0.024 0.034 0.050 0.066 0.091 0.142
55 0.066 0.088 0.115 0.142 0.179 0.241
56 0.042 0.057 0.078 0.098 0.128 0.184
57 0.041 0.057 0.077 0.097 0.128 0.183
58 0.045 0.061 0.083 0.104 0.136 0.192
59 0.055 0.074 0.098 0.123 0.157 0.216
60 0.066 0.088 0.115 0.142 0.179 0.241
61 0.072 0.095 0.124 0.153 0.191 0.255
62 0.099 0.130 0.166 0.202 0.248 0.319
63 0.092 0.121 0.155 0.189 0.233 0.302
64 0.091 0.119 0.153 0.187 0.231 0.299
65 0.122 0.160 0.202 0.245 0.297 0.374
66 0.138 0.179 0.226 0.272 0.329 0.411
67 0.114 0.149 0.189 0.229 0.279 0.354
68 0.100 0.131 0.168 0.204 0.250 0.322
69 0.114 0.149 0.189 0.229 0.279 0.354
70 0.127 0.165 0.209 0.253 0.306 0.385
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-13
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 0.004 0.009 0.014 0.035 0.055 0.095
51 0.002 0.006 0.011 0.030 0.050 0.090
52 0.006 0.012 0.017 0.038 0.059 0.099
53 0.010 0.017 0.024 0.046 0.068 0.110
54 0.032 0.044 0.057 0.085 0.113 0.160
55 0.076 0.101 0.125 0.165 0.205 0.265
56 0.055 0.074 0.093 0.127 0.160 0.214
57 0.050 0.068 0.086 0.118 0.151 0.204
58 0.055 0.074 0.093 0.127 0.161 0.215
59 0.061 0.082 0.102 0.138 0.174 0.229
60 0.069 0.093 0.116 0.154 0.192 0.250
61 0.086 0.113 0.141 0.183 0.225 0.288
62 0.105 0.138 0.171 0.218 0.266 0.334
63 0.103 0.135 0.167 0.215 0.262 0.329
64 0.109 0.143 0.177 0.226 0.275 0.344
65 0.134 0.174 0.215 0.270 0.326 0.401
66 0.147 0.191 0.235 0.294 0.354 0.433
67 0.121 0.158 0.196 0.248 0.300 0.372
68 0.113 0.147 0.182 0.232 0.282 0.352
69 0.117 0.153 0.189 0.240 0.291 0.362
70 0.141 0.183 0.226 0.283 0.341 0.418
Public Agency Miscellaneous 3% @ 60
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.012 0.018 0.024 0.039 0.040 0.091
51 0.009 0.014 0.019 0.034 0.034 0.084
52 0.014 0.020 0.026 0.043 0.044 0.096
53 0.016 0.023 0.031 0.048 0.050 0.102
54 0.026 0.036 0.045 0.065 0.070 0.125
55 0.043 0.057 0.072 0.096 0.105 0.165
56 0.042 0.056 0.070 0.094 0.103 0.162
57 0.049 0.065 0.082 0.108 0.119 0.180
58 0.057 0.076 0.094 0.122 0.136 0.199
59 0.076 0.100 0.123 0.157 0.175 0.244
60 0.114 0.148 0.182 0.226 0.255 0.334
61 0.095 0.123 0.152 0.190 0.214 0.288
62 0.133 0.172 0.211 0.260 0.294 0.378
63 0.129 0.166 0.204 0.252 0.285 0.368
64 0.143 0.185 0.226 0.278 0.315 0.401
65 0.202 0.260 0.318 0.386 0.439 0.542
66 0.177 0.228 0.279 0.340 0.386 0.482
67 0.151 0.194 0.238 0.292 0.331 0.420
68 0.139 0.179 0.220 0.270 0.306 0.391
69 0.190 0.245 0.299 0.364 0.414 0.513
70 0.140 0.182 0.223 0.274 0.310 0.396
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-14
Service Retirement
Public Agency Miscellaneous 2% @ 62
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
51 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
52 0.010 0.013 0.016 0.019 0.022 0.024
53 0.013 0.017 0.020 0.024 0.027 0.031
54 0.021 0.027 0.033 0.039 0.045 0.050
55 0.044 0.056 0.068 0.080 0.092 0.104
56 0.030 0.039 0.047 0.055 0.063 0.072
57 0.036 0.046 0.056 0.066 0.076 0.086
58 0.046 0.059 0.072 0.085 0.097 0.110
59 0.058 0.074 0.089 0.105 0.121 0.137
60 0.062 0.078 0.095 0.112 0.129 0.146
61 0.062 0.079 0.096 0.113 0.129 0.146
62 0.097 0.123 0.150 0.176 0.202 0.229
63 0.089 0.113 0.137 0.162 0.186 0.210
64 0.094 0.120 0.145 0.171 0.197 0.222
65 0.129 0.164 0.199 0.234 0.269 0.304
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
Service Retirement
Public Agency Fire ½ @ 55 and 2% @ 55
Age
50
51 52
53
54
55
Rate
0.0159
0.0000 0.0344
0.0199
0.0413
0.0751
Age
56
57 58
59
60
Rate
0.1108
0.0000 0.0950
0.0441
1.00000
Public Agency Police ½ @ 55 and 2% @ 55
Age
50
51
52 53
54
55
Rate
0.0255
0.0000
0.0164 0.0272
0.0095
0.1667
Age
56
57
58 59
60
Rate
0.0692
0.0511
0.0724 0.0704
1.0000
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-15
Service Retirement
Public Agency Police 2% @ 50
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.005 0.005 0.005 0.005 0.017 0.089
51 0.005 0.005 0.005 0.005 0.017 0.087
52 0.018 0.018 0.018 0.018 0.042 0.132
53 0.044 0.044 0.044 0.044 0.090 0.217
54 0.065 0.065 0.065 0.065 0.126 0.283
55 0.086 0.086 0.086 0.086 0.166 0.354
56 0.067 0.067 0.067 0.067 0.130 0.289
57 0.066 0.066 0.066 0.066 0.129 0.288
58 0.066 0.066 0.066 0.066 0.129 0.288
59 0.139 0.139 0.139 0.139 0.176 0.312
60 0.123 0.123 0.123 0.123 0.153 0.278
61 0.110 0.110 0.110 0.110 0.138 0.256
62 0.130 0.130 0.130 0.130 0.162 0.291
63 0.130 0.130 0.130 0.130 0.162 0.291
64 0.130 0.130 0.130 0.130 0.162 0.291
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.
Service Retirement
Public Agency Fire 2% @ 50
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.009 0.009 0.009 0.009 0.013 0.020
51 0.013 0.013 0.013 0.013 0.020 0.029
52 0.018 0.018 0.018 0.018 0.028 0.042
53 0.052 0.052 0.052 0.052 0.079 0.119
54 0.067 0.067 0.067 0.067 0.103 0.154
55 0.089 0.089 0.089 0.089 0.136 0.204
56 0.083 0.083 0.083 0.083 0.127 0.190
57 0.082 0.082 0.082 0.082 0.126 0.189
58 0.088 0.088 0.088 0.088 0.136 0.204
59 0.074 0.074 0.074 0.074 0.113 0.170
60 0.100 0.100 0.100 0.100 0.154 0.230
61 0.072 0.072 0.072 0.072 0.110 0.165
62 0.099 0.099 0.099 0.099 0.152 0.228
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
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-16
Service Retirement
Public Agency Police 3% @ 55
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.004 0.004 0.004 0.004 0.015 0.086
51 0.014 0.014 0.014 0.014 0.034 0.114
52 0.026 0.026 0.026 0.026 0.060 0.154
53 0.038 0.038 0.038 0.038 0.083 0.188
54 0.071 0.071 0.071 0.071 0.151 0.292
55 0.061 0.061 0.061 0.061 0.131 0.261
56 0.072 0.072 0.072 0.072 0.153 0.295
57 0.065 0.065 0.065 0.065 0.140 0.273
58 0.066 0.066 0.066 0.066 0.142 0.277
59 0.118 0.118 0.118 0.118 0.247 0.437
60 0.065 0.065 0.065 0.065 0.138 0.272
61 0.084 0.084 0.084 0.084 0.178 0.332
62 0.108 0.108 0.108 0.108 0.226 0.405
63 0.084 0.084 0.084 0.084 0.178 0.332
64 0.084 0.084 0.084 0.084 0.178 0.332
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.
Service Retirement
Public Agency Fire 3% @ 55
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.006 0.016 0.069
51 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.006 0.018 0.071
52 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.021 0.040 0.098
53 0.032 0.032 0.032 0.049 0.085 0.149
54 0.057 0.057 0.057 0.087 0.144 0.217
55 0.073 0.073 0.073 0.109 0.179 0.259
56 0.064 0.064 0.064 0.097 0.161 0.238
57 0.063 0.063 0.063 0.095 0.157 0.233
58 0.065 0.065 0.065 0.099 0.163 0.241
59 0.088 0.088 0.088 0.131 0.213 0.299
60 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.155 0.251 0.344
61 0.118 0.118 0.118 0.175 0.282 0.380
62 0.087 0.087 0.087 0.128 0.210 0.295
63 0.067 0.067 0.067 0.100 0.165 0.243
64 0.067 0.067 0.067 0.100 0.165 0.243
65 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-17
Service Retirement
Public Agency Police 3% @ 50
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.050 0.050 0.050 0.099 0.240 0.314
51 0.034 0.034 0.034 0.072 0.198 0.260
52 0.033 0.033 0.033 0.071 0.198 0.259
53 0.039 0.039 0.039 0.080 0.212 0.277
54 0.045 0.045 0.045 0.092 0.229 0.300
55 0.052 0.052 0.052 0.105 0.248 0.323
56 0.042 0.042 0.042 0.087 0.221 0.289
57 0.043 0.043 0.043 0.088 0.223 0.292
58 0.054 0.054 0.054 0.109 0.255 0.333
59 0.054 0.054 0.054 0.108 0.253 0.330
60 0.060 0.060 0.060 0.121 0.272 0.355
61 0.048 0.048 0.048 0.098 0.238 0.311
62 0.061 0.061 0.061 0.122 0.274 0.357
63 0.057 0.057 0.057 0.115 0.263 0.343
64 0.069 0.069 0.069 0.137 0.296 0.385
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.
Service Retirement
Public Agency Fire 3% @ 50
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.020 0.020 0.020 0.040 0.130 0.192
51 0.008 0.008 0.008 0.023 0.107 0.164
52 0.023 0.023 0.023 0.043 0.136 0.198
53 0.023 0.023 0.023 0.043 0.135 0.198
54 0.027 0.027 0.027 0.048 0.143 0.207
55 0.043 0.043 0.043 0.070 0.174 0.244
56 0.053 0.053 0.053 0.085 0.196 0.269
57 0.054 0.054 0.054 0.086 0.197 0.271
58 0.052 0.052 0.052 0.084 0.193 0.268
59 0.075 0.075 0.075 0.116 0.239 0.321
60 0.065 0.065 0.065 0.102 0.219 0.298
61 0.076 0.076 0.076 0.117 0.241 0.324
62 0.068 0.068 0.068 0.106 0.224 0.304
63 0.027 0.027 0.027 0.049 0.143 0.208
64 0.094 0.094 0.094 0.143 0.277 0.366
65 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-18
Service Retirement
Public Agency Police 2% @ 57
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.020 0.036
51 0.009 0.009 0.009 0.009 0.016 0.028
52 0.018 0.018 0.018 0.018 0.034 0.060
53 0.037 0.037 0.037 0.037 0.067 0.119
54 0.049 0.049 0.049 0.049 0.089 0.159
55 0.063 0.063 0.063 0.063 0.115 0.205
56 0.045 0.045 0.045 0.045 0.082 0.146
57 0.064 0.064 0.064 0.064 0.117 0.209
58 0.047 0.047 0.047 0.047 0.086 0.154
59 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.130 0.191
60 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.129 0.188
61 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.129 0.188
62 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.129 0.188
63 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.129 0.188
64 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.129 0.188
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.
Service Retirement
Public Agency Fire 2% @ 57
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.005 0.005 0.005 0.005 0.008 0.012
51 0.006 0.006 0.006 0.006 0.009 0.013
52 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.019 0.028
53 0.033 0.033 0.033 0.033 0.050 0.075
54 0.045 0.045 0.045 0.045 0.069 0.103
55 0.061 0.061 0.061 0.061 0.094 0.140
56 0.055 0.055 0.055 0.055 0.084 0.126
57 0.081 0.081 0.081 0.081 0.125 0.187
58 0.059 0.059 0.059 0.059 0.091 0.137
59 0.055 0.055 0.055 0.055 0.084 0.126
60 0.085 0.085 0.085 0.085 0.131 0.196
61 0.085 0.085 0.085 0.085 0.131 0.196
62 0.085 0.085 0.085 0.085 0.131 0.196
63 0.085 0.085 0.085 0.085 0.131 0.196
64 0.085 0.085 0.085 0.085 0.131 0.196
65 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-19
Service Retirement
Public Agency Police 2.5% @ 57
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 0.021 0.038
52 0.025 0.025 0.025 0.025 0.046 0.081
53 0.047 0.047 0.047 0.047 0.086 0.154
54 0.063 0.063 0.063 0.063 0.115 0.205
55 0.076 0.076 0.076 0.076 0.140 0.249
56 0.054 0.054 0.054 0.054 0.099 0.177
57 0.071 0.071 0.071 0.071 0.130 0.232
58 0.057 0.057 0.057 0.057 0.103 0.184
59 0.126 0.126 0.126 0.126 0.156 0.229
60 0.126 0.126 0.126 0.126 0.155 0.226
61 0.126 0.126 0.126 0.126 0.155 0.226
62 0.126 0.126 0.126 0.126 0.155 0.226
63 0.126 0.126 0.126 0.126 0.155 0.226
64 0.126 0.126 0.126 0.126 0.155 0.226
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.
Service Retirement
Public Agency Fire 2.5% @ 57
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 0.012 0.018
52 0.016 0.016 0.016 0.016 0.025 0.038
53 0.042 0.042 0.042 0.042 0.064 0.096
54 0.057 0.057 0.057 0.057 0.088 0.132
55 0.074 0.074 0.074 0.074 0.114 0.170
56 0.066 0.066 0.066 0.066 0.102 0.153
57 0.090 0.090 0.090 0.090 0.139 0.208
58 0.071 0.071 0.071 0.071 0.110 0.164
59 0.066 0.066 0.066 0.066 0.101 0.151
60 0.102 0.102 0.102 0.102 0.157 0.235
61 0.102 0.102 0.102 0.102 0.157 0.236
62 0.102 0.102 0.102 0.102 0.157 0.236
63 0.102 0.102 0.102 0.102 0.157 0.236
64 0.102 0.102 0.102 0.102 0.157 0.236
65 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-20
Service Retirement
Public Agency Police 2.7% @ 57
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.0138 0.0138 0.0138 0.0138 0.0253 0.0451
51 0.0123 0.0123 0.0123 0.0123 0.0226 0.0402
52 0.0249 0.0249 0.0249 0.0249 0.0456 0.0812
53 0.0497 0.0497 0.0497 0.0497 0.0909 0.1621
54 0.0662 0.0662 0.0662 0.0662 0.1211 0.2160
55 0.0854 0.0854 0.0854 0.0854 0.1563 0.2785
56 0.0606 0.0606 0.0606 0.0606 0.1108 0.1975
57 0.0711 0.0711 0.0711 0.0711 0.1300 0.2318
58 0.0628 0.0628 0.0628 0.0628 0.1149 0.2049
59 0.1396 0.1396 0.1396 0.1396 0.1735 0.2544
60 0.1396 0.1396 0.1396 0.1396 0.1719 0.2506
61 0.1396 0.1396 0.1396 0.1396 0.1719 0.2506
62 0.1396 0.1396 0.1396 0.1396 0.1719 0.2506
63 0.1396 0.1396 0.1396 0.1396 0.1719 0.2506
64 0.1396 0.1396 0.1396 0.1396 0.1719 0.2506
65 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000
These rates also apply to Local Prosecutors, Local Sheriff, School Police and Other Safety.
Service Retirement
Public Agency Fire 2.7% @ 57
Duration of Service
Age 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years
50 0.0065 0.0065 0.0065 0.0065 0.0101 0.0151
51 0.0081 0.0081 0.0081 0.0081 0.0125 0.0187
52 0.0164 0.0164 0.0164 0.0164 0.0254 0.0380
53 0.0442 0.0442 0.0442 0.0442 0.0680 0.1018
54 0.0606 0.0606 0.0606 0.0606 0.0934 0.1397
55 0.0825 0.0825 0.0825 0.0825 0.1269 0.1900
56 0.0740 0.0740 0.0740 0.0740 0.1140 0.1706
57 0.0901 0.0901 0.0901 0.0901 0.1387 0.2077
58 0.0790 0.0790 0.0790 0.0790 0.1217 0.1821
59 0.0729 0.0729 0.0729 0.0729 0.1123 0.1681
60 0.1135 0.1135 0.1135 0.1135 0.1747 0.2615
61 0.1136 0.1136 0.1136 0.1136 0.1749 0.2618
62 0.1136 0.1136 0.1136 0.1136 0.1749 0.2618
63 0.1136 0.1136 0.1136 0.1136 0.1749 0.2618
64 0.1136 0.1136 0.1136 0.1136 0.1749 0.2618
65 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-21
Service Retirement
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
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 expected benefits in
excess of limits imposed by federal tax law.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX A
ACTUARIAL METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A-22
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 were first reflected in the June 30, 2013 non-pooled plan valuations. New members in pooled plans were first 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. Assumptions for PEPRA members are disclosed in Appendix A tables.
APPENDIX B
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 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. For a full listing of all optional benefits refer to the PERS-CON-40 available on CalPERS
website by choosing Employer Information > Retirement Benefit Programs & Contracting Services > Retirement
Benefits Program > Contract Information > Optional Benefits
Service Retirement
Eligibility
A classic CalPERS member or PEPRA Safety 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 percent at 65 formula, eligibility for service retirement is age 55 with at least 5 years of service. PEPRA miscellaneous
members become eligible for Service Retirement upon attainment of age 52 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
PEPRA
2% at 62
50 0.5000% 1.092% 1.426% 2.000% 2.000% 2.000% N/A
51 0.5667% 1.156% 1.522% 2.100% 2.140% 2.100% N/A
52 0.6334% 1.224% 1.628% 2.200% 2.280% 2.200% 1.000%
53 0.7000% 1.296% 1.742% 2.300% 2.420% 2.300% 1.100%
54 0.7667% 1.376% 1.866% 2.400% 2.560% 2.400% 1.200%
55 0.8334% 1.460% 2.000% 2.500% 2.700% 2.500% 1.300%
56 0.9000% 1.552% 2.052% 2.500% 2.700% 2.600% 1.400%
57 0.9667% 1.650% 2.104% 2.500% 2.700% 2.700% 1.500%
58 1.0334% 1.758% 2.156% 2.500% 2.700% 2.800% 1.600%
59 1.1000% 1.874% 2.210% 2.500% 2.700% 2.900% 1.700%
60 1.1667% 2.000% 2.262% 2.500% 2.700% 3.000% 1.800%
61 1.2334% 2.134% 2.314% 2.500% 2.700% 3.000% 1.900%
62 1.3000% 2.272% 2.366% 2.500% 2.700% 3.000% 2.000%
63 1.3667% 2.418% 2.418% 2.500% 2.700% 3.000% 2.100%
64 1.4334% 2.418% 2.418% 2.500% 2.700% 3.000% 2.200%
65 1.5000% 2.418% 2.418% 2.500% 2.700% 3.000% 2.300%
66 1.5000% 2.418% 2.418% 2.500% 2.700% 3.000% 2.400%
67 & up 1.5000% 2.418% 2.418% 2.500% 2.700% 3.000% 2.500%
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 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% 2.000% 2.400% 3.000%
51 1.903% 1.522% 2.140% 2.520% 3.000%
52 2.035% 1.628% 2.280% 2.640% 3.000%
53 2.178% 1.742% 2.420% 2.760% 3.000%
54 2.333% 1.866% 2.560% 2.880% 3.000%
55 & Up 2.500% 2.000% 2.700% 3.000% 3.000%
* 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 percent 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.
PEPRA Safety Plan Formulas
Retirement Age 2% at 57 2.5% at 57 2.7% at 57
50 1.426% 2.000% 2.000%
51 1.508% 2.071% 2.100%
52 1.590% 2.143% 2.200%
53 1.672% 2.214% 2.300%
54 1.754% 2.286% 2.400%
55 1.836% 2.357% 2.500%
56 1.918% 2.429% 2.600%
57 & Up 2.000% 2.500% 2.700%
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 had the option of providing a final compensation equal to the highest 12 consecutive months
for classic plans only. Final compensation must be defined by the highest 36 consecutive months’ pay under the
1.5% at 65 formula. PEPRA members have a cap on the annual salary that can be used to calculate final
compensation for all new members based on the Social Security Contribution and Benefit Base. For employees
that participate in Social Security this cap is $115,064 for 2014 and for those employees that do not participate
in social security the cap for 2014 is $138,077, the equivalent of 120 percent of the 2013 Contribution and
Benefit Base. Adjustments to the caps are permitted annually based on changes to the CPI for All Urban Consumers.
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 compensation
is less than $400). Employers may contract for the Full benefit with Social Security that will eliminate the offset
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX B
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-3
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).
Eligibility to Start Receiving Benefits
The CalPERS classic members and Safety PEPRA members become 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). PEPRA Miscellaneous members become eligible to receive the deferred retirement
benefit upon satisfying the eligibility requirements for Deferred Status and upon attainment of age 52.
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.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX B
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-4
Improved Benefit
Employers have the option of providing the improved Non-Industrial Disability Retirement benefit. This benefit
provides a monthly allowance equal to 30 percent of final compensation for the first 5 years of service, plus 1 percent
for each additional year of service to a maximum of 50 percent 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.
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.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX B
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-5
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) made 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.
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.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX B
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-6
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 for Classic and Safety PEPRA members and age 52 for Miscellaneous PEPRA members,
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 benefit.
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.
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 for Classic and Safety PEPRA members and age 52 for Miscellaneous
PEPRA members, 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.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX B
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-7
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 percent 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 percent of final compensation
if 2 eligible children: 20.0 percent of final compensation
if 3 or more eligible children: 25.0 percent of final compensation
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.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX B
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-8
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
Retirement and survivor allowances are adjusted each year in May for cost of living, beginning the second calendar year after the year of retirement. The standard cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is 2 percent. Annual adjustments
are calculated by first determining the lesser of 1) 2 percent compounded from the end of the year of retirement or
2) actual rate of inflation. The resulting increase is divided by the total increase provided in prior years. For any
particular year, the COLA adjustment may be less than 2 percent (when the rate of inflation is low), may be greater
than the rate of inflation (when the rate of inflation is low after several years of high inflation) or may even be
greater than 2 percent (when inflation is high after several years of low inflation).
Improved Benefit
Employers have the option of providing a COLA of 3 percent, 4 percent, or 5 percent, determined in the same
manner as described above for the standard 2 percent COLA. An improved COLA is not available with the 1.5% at 65
formula.
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.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX B
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-9
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.
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%
Miscellaneous, 2% at 62 50% of the Total Normal Cost
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%
Safety, 2% at 57 50% of the Total Normal Cost
Safety, 2.5% at 57 50% of the Total Normal Cost
Safety, 2.7% at 57 50% of the Total Normal Cost
The employer may choose to “pick-up” these contributions for the employees (Employer Paid Member Contributions
or EPMC). EPMC is prohibited for new PEPRA members.
An employer may also include Employee Cost Sharing in the contract, where employees agree to share the cost of
the employer contribution. These contributions are paid in addition to the member contribution.
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.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX B
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PRINCIPAL PLAN PROVISIONS
B-10
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 not 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, 2014 APPENDIX C
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PARTICIPANT DATA
C-1
Summary of Valuation Data
June 30, 2013 June 30, 2014
1. Active Members
a) Counts 789 802
b) Average Attained Age
46.31 46.15
c) Average Entry Age to Rate Plan 35.30 35.01
d) Average Years of Service 11.01 11.14
e) Average Annual Covered Pay $ 81,673 $ 84,542
f) Annual Covered Payroll 64,439,680 67,802,942
g) Projected Annual Payroll for Contribution Year 70,414,978 74,090,105
h) Present Value of Future Payroll 504,789,216 520,997,982
2. Transferred Members
a) Counts 295 328
b) Average Attained Age 45.76 46.00
c) Average Years of Service 3.48 3.55
d) Average Annual Covered Pay $ 106,639 $ 109,195
3. Terminated Members
a) Counts 334 335
b) Average Attained Age 47.27 47.91
c) Average Years of Service 3.43 3.27
d) Average Annual Covered Pay $ 61,875 $ 63,122
4. Retired Members and Beneficiaries
a) Counts 989 1,011
b) Average Attained Age 68.56 68.88
c) Average Annual Benefits $ 30,968 $ 31,739
5. Active to Retired Ratio [(1a) / (4a)] 0.80 0.79
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.
Average Annual Benefits represents benefit amounts payable by this plan only. Some members may have
service with another agency and would therefore have a larger total benefit than would be included as part
of the average shown here.
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 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 11 0 0 0 0 0 11
25-29 45 3 0 0 0 0 48
30-34 52 27 10 1 0 0 90
35-39 38 27 30 9 2 0 106
40-44 35 18 26 12 7 0 98
45-49 35 15 26 23 16 4 119
50-54 22 27 31 24 33 22 159
55-59 16 25 9 18 12 14 94
60-64 8 7 8 11 13 5 52
65 and over 3 2 8 1 7 4 25
All Ages 265 151 148 99 90 49 802
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 $53,712 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $53,712
25-29 65,965 86,333 0 0 0 0 67,238
30-34 74,152 79,949 78,184 65,334 0 0 76,241
35-39 71,718 79,714 86,111 84,875 82,346 0 79,146
40-44 84,169 89,610 92,622 101,859 103,526 0 90,960
45-49 83,991 80,406 82,569 88,380 105,795 86,086 87,079
50-54 80,021 91,220 84,699 87,185 88,889 105,336 89,259
55-59 105,258 83,272 83,941 86,152 103,048 104,245 93,278
60-64 67,402 99,436 83,204 97,933 80,209 100,908 87,028
65 and over 68,119 7,200 70,804 73,106 100,518 102,353 78,853
All Ages $76,280 $83,736 $84,685 $89,675 $94,426 $102,757 $84,542
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 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 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 $73,898
25-29 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 89,689
30-34 35 3 1 0 0 0 39 97,700
35-39 42 7 0 0 0 0 49 103,457
40-44 41 7 0 3 0 0 51 101,864
45-49 39 15 2 1 1 0 58 111,615
50-54 39 10 3 1 1 0 54 120,727
55-59 24 7 5 1 1 0 38 130,146
60-64 12 7 1 1 0 0 21 103,556
65 and over 3 2 1 0 0 0 6 99,882
All Ages 247 58 13 7 3 0 328 109,195
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 $68,008
25-29 7 1 0 0 0 0 8 70,020
30-34 32 4 0 0 0 0 36 58,633
35-39 38 2 0 0 0 0 40 61,099
40-44 30 9 0 0 1 0 40 62,256
45-49 44 15 2 1 0 0 62 66,758
50-54 46 11 7 2 1 0 67 66,865
55-59 31 7 3 1 0 0 42 66,546
60-64 17 3 1 2 0 0 23 55,225
65 and over 11 2 2 0 0 0 15 48,034
All Ages 258 54 15 6 2 0 335 63,122
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 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 1 2 0 0 0 3
45-49 0 4 0 0 0 0 4
50-54 30 11 4 0 0 2 47
55-59 108 10 1 0 0 5 124
60-64 169 8 1 0 0 12 190
65-69 187 12 2 0 0 10 211
70-74 153 7 2 0 0 17 179
75-79 84 6 0 0 0 8 98
80-84 50 5 1 0 0 14 70
85 and Over 51 1 0 0 0 27 79
All Ages 832 65 15 0 0 99 1,011
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 $12,296 $12,296
30-34 0 0 245 0 0 11,121 5,683
35-39 0 0 225 0 0 0 225
40-44 0 8,776 260 0 0 0 3,098
45-49 0 12,754 0 0 0 0 12,754
50-54 30,176 11,601 766 0 0 21,487 22,956
55-59 40,075 14,067 11,112 0 0 11,420 36,588
60-64 42,579 18,188 2,071 0 0 34,022 40,798
65-69 35,696 16,072 9,086 0 0 16,908 33,437
70-74 30,277 18,754 1,794 0 0 23,158 28,832
75-79 31,661 13,655 0 0 0 26,735 30,157
80-84 26,508 17,978 4,095 0 0 19,068 24,091
85 and Over 22,605 19,094 0 0 0 21,568 22,206
All Ages $34,705 $15,210 $2,873 $0 $0 $22,043 $31,739
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 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 251 6 6 0 0 31 294
5-9 249 15 3 0 0 28 295
10-14 149 9 2 0 0 13 173
15-19 77 13 4 0 0 12 106
20-24 66 16 0 0 0 9 91
25-29 23 2 0 0 0 4 29
30 and Over 17 4 0 0 0 2 23
All Years 832 65 15 0 0 99 1,011
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 $40,522 $10,695 $256 $0 $0 $28,919 $37,868
5-9 40,783 15,550 9,758 0 0 18,970 37,114
10-14 30,230 17,811 1,646 0 0 20,917 28,554
15-19 26,545 20,155 2,247 0 0 18,883 23,977
20-24 18,761 12,729 0 0 0 16,669 17,493
25-29 17,954 11,291 0 0 0 19,848 17,755
30 and Over 20,521 10,669 0 0 0 13,358 18,185
All Years $34,705 $15,210 $2,873 $0 $0 $22,043 $31,739
* 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
DEVELOPMENT OF PEPRA MEMBER CONTRIBUTION RATE
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX D
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
PARTICIPANT DATA
D-1
DEVELOPMENT OF PEPRA MEMBER CONTRIBUTION RATE
The table below shows the determination of the Member contribution rates based on 50 percent of the Total Normal
Cost for each respective plan on June 30, 2014.
Assembly Bill (AB) 340 created PEPRA that implemented new benefit formulas and a final compensation period as
well as new contribution requirements for new employees. In accordance with Section Code 7522.30(b), “new
members … shall have an initial contribution rate of at least 50 percent of the normal cost rate.” The normal cost for
the plan is dependent on the benefit levels, actuarial assumptions and demographics of the plan particularly the entry
age into the plan. The PEPRA total normal cost for your plan is calculated assuming the entire active population,
including classic members, were subject to the adopted PEPRA formula and applicable compensation limits. Should
the total normal cost of your plan change by one percent or more from the original total normal cost established for
your plan this change in normal cost shall be equally shared between employer and member.
Basis for Current Rate Rates Effective July 1, 2016
Rate Plan
Identifier Plan Total Normal
Cost
Member
Rate
Total Normal
Cost
Change Change
Needed
Member
Rate
26004 Miscellaneous PEPRA 12.500% 6.250% 11.785% 0.715% No 6.250%
APPENDIX E
GLOSSARY OF ACTUARIAL TERMS
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX E
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
GLOSSARY OF ACTUARIAL TERMS
E-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 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.
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.
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).
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.)
CALPERS ACTUARIAL VALUATION – June 30, 2014 APPENDIX E
MISCELLANEOUS PLAN OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
GLOSSARY OF ACTUARIAL TERMS
E-2
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 versus 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.
GASB 27
Statement No. 27 of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board. The prior 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.
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 (UAL)
When a plan or pool’s 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.