Public pension plans hold more than $3 trillion in assets in trust on behalf of more than 15 million working and 8 million retired state and local government employees and their surviving family members. This guide provides key facts about public pension plans, why it is essential to have a pension funding policy, a brief overview of the new GASB standards, and which issues state and local officials need to address. The guide also offers guidance for policy makers to use when developing their pension plan’s funding policy.

• Publication date: January 2013