Report: Public pension plans on Missouri auditor's watch list

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri Auditor Tom Schweich released a report Tuesday examining the financial health of 89 public pension plans set up to pay defined contributions to 546,000 people.

He placed 15 pension plans on a "watch list" based on concerns about their financial health. Those pension plans either had assets equal to less than 70 percent of the present value of their future retirement payments (their funded ratio), or received less than 95 percent of the funding that actuaries recommended was necessary to ensure their long-term financial stability (their contribution rate).

Here is a list of the pension plans on Schweich's watch list, with the number of people they cover, their funded ratios, and the percentage of the recommended contribution actually funded by governmental entities.

Bi-State Development Agency Division 788 Amalgamated Transit Union

Members: 2,341.

Funded ratio: 52 percent.

Contribution rate: 100 percent.

Bridgeton Employees Retirement Plan

Members: 262.

Funded ratio: 62 percent.

Contribution rate: 57 percent.

Columbia Firemen's Retirement Plan

Members: 255.

Funded ratio: 54 percent.

Contribution rate: 100 percent.

Columbia Police Retirement Plan

Members: 293.

Funded ratio: 54 percent.

Contribution rate: 100 percent.

Joplin Police and Fire Pension Plan

Members: 326.

Funded ratio: 54 percent.

Contribution rate: 112 percent.

Kansas City Transportation Authority Union Employees Pension Plan

Members: 806.

Funded ratio: 69 percent.

Contribution rate: 89 percent.

Kansas City Police Retirement Plan

Members: 2,613.

Funded ratio: 76 percent.

Contribution rate: 52 percent.

Kansas City Civilian Police Employees' Retirement System

Members: 763.

Funded ratio: 76 percent.

Contribution rate: 64 percent.

Kansas City Firefighter's Pension System

Members: 1,802.

Funded ratio: 79 percent.

Contribution rate: 91 percent.

Kansas City Employees' Retirement System

Members: 5,639.

Funded ratio: 79 percent.

Contribution rate: 78 percent.

Kansas City School District Retirement System

Members: 9,682.

Funded ratio: 80 percent.

Contribution rate: 68 percent.

Missouri Department of Transportation and Highway Patrol Employees' Retirement System

Members: 17,869.

Funded ratio: 46 percent.

Contribution rate: 100 percent.

St. Louis County Employees Retirement Plan

Members: 7,537.

Funded ratio: 67 percent.

Contribution rate: 100 percent.

Springfield Police and Fire Retirement Fund

Members: 891.

Funded ratio: 59 percent.

Contribution rate: 171 percent.

University City Non-Uniformed Retirement Plan Members: 225.

Funded ratio: 78 percent.

Contribution rate: 84 percent.