April 11, 2017
The fate of reform measures hangs on ballot language written by the state attorney general, usually a Democrat elected with strong union support.
February 9, 2017 | Ali Budner
The general assumption for retirement security is a job in the public sector. The trade-off means lower pay, however. Meanwhile, the private sector has strayed from pension promises, but is a 401(k) worth it?
February 8, 2017
How are cities across California responding to the ballooning cost of pensions in the state? CALmatters Reporter Judy Lin explores a case study in Richmond where priority police and library services are already being cut.
February 6, 2017 | Ashley Gross
Many cities across California face rising costs for public employee retirement benefits. And for some, that’s laying bare a stark reality — it’s getting tougher to provide basic services and meet the pension obligations promised years ago.
January 26, 2017
The mayor of El Monte, a cash-strapped San Gabriel Valley city with many retired employees drawing two pensions, says there’s "no rational justification" for the double pensions.
January 5, 2017
One in four El Monte residents lives in poverty. Yet taxpayers pay a steep price to fund bonus pensions and other perks for city workers.
December 29, 2016 | Ali Budner
Cities and states across the country are facing public employee pension debt that is challenging and, in some cases, crippling their budgets. But some municipalities are experimenting with ways to solve that problem.
December 28, 2016
Pension costs for state and local government will begin to rise in 2017 after CalPERS officials voted to throttle back the expectations on profits earned from its $299 billion portfolio.
November 28, 2016
California faces a $240 billion unfunded pension liability. But retired state workers who receive pensions say they are tired of drawing public blame.
November 28, 2016
Retirement benefits now eat up 20% of city’s general fund revenue. Touted cost controls won't have real impact for decades.
February 8, 2017
How are cities across California responding to the ballooning cost of pensions in the state? CALmatters Reporter Judy Lin explores a case study in Richmond where priority police and library services are already being cut.
November 29, 2016
In our ongoing series on California’s Pension Crisis, we hear the stories of some retirees who argue the benefits aren’t excessive. Reporter Sam Harnett guides us through the tales of three California retirees.
November 3, 2016
Gov. Jerry Brown was confident his-12 point plan could reform California’s pension crisis. Five years later, the state’s unfunded liabilities continue to pile up with little change. CALmatter’s Judy Lin explains why the plan failed to progress.
October 13, 2016
As California continues to navigate the shaky waters of funding billions in state pensions, Illinois could serve as an example of what to avoid. WBEZ’s Dan Weissmann and Cheryl Eason from CalPERS have different opinions on the comparison.
September 19, 2016
When California lawmakers cut a deal to increase public employee pensions, the state had a very different economic climate. We’ll talk with LA Times reporter Jack Dolan about the pension gap and what he’s learned about it.
