Item 3C: Resolution on FY11 CAFR

Home Browse Search

CITY OF EUGENE, OREGON Notes to Basic Financial Statements (5) Other Information, continued (D) Other Post-employment Benefits (OPEB) Oregon Public Employees Retirement Systems’ (PERS) Retiree Health Insurance Account (RHIA) Plan Description The City contributes to the Oregon Public Employees Retirement Systems’ (PERS) Retiree Health Insurance Account (RHIA), a cost-sharing multiple-employer defined benefit post-employment healthcare plan administered by the Oregon Public Employees Retirement Board (OPERB). The plan, which was established under Oregon Revised Statutes 238.420, provides a payment of up to $60 per month towards the costs of health insurance for eligible PERS retirees. RHIA post-employment benefits are set by state statue. A comprehensive annual financial report of the funds administered by the OPERB may be obtained by writing to Oregon Public Employees Retirement System, P.O. Box 23700, Tigard, OR 97281-3700, by calling (503) 598- 7377, or by accessing the PERS web site at http://oregon.gov/PERS/. Funding Policy Participating employers are contractually required to contribute at a rate assessed bi-annually by the OPERB, currently 0.35% of annual covered payroll. The OPERB sets the employer contribution rate based on the annual required contribution of the employers (ARC), an amount actuarially determined in accordance with the parameters of GASB Statement 45. The ARC represents a level of funding that, if paid on an ongoing basis, is projected to cover normal cost each year and amortize any unfunded actuarial liabilities (or funding excess) of the plan over a period not to exceed thirty years. The City’s contributions to PERS’ RHIA for the past three years were as follows, all of which equaled the required contributions for that year: Fiscal year Contribution ending June 30 2009$309,134 2010236,218 2011236,631 City Healthcare Plan Plan Description The City administers a single-employer defined benefit healthcare plan that provides post-retirement medical, dental, and vision coverage for eligible retirees, their spouses, domestic partners, and dependents on a self- pay basis. Benefit provisions are established through negotiations between the City and representatives of collective bargaining units. Eligible participants may select from one of the City’s two self-insured healthcare plans: the City Health Plan or the City Managed Care Plan. The level of benefits provided by the plans are the same as those afforded to active employees. Coverage is provided to retirees, spouses, and domestic partners until they become eligible for Medicare, typically age 65, and to eligible dependents until age 26. The City’s post-retirement healthcare plan was established in accordance with Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) 243.303. ORS stipulate that for the purpose of establishing healthcare premiums, the rate must be based on all plan members, including both active employees and retirees. Due to the effect of age, retiree claim costs are generally higher than claim costs for all members as a whole. The difference between retiree claims costs and the amount of retiree healthcare premiums represents the City’s implicit employer contribution. continued 72