Pension Reform

Pension Reform Special Election Results

Phoenix voters went to the polls on March 12, 2013, to vote on three issues - two relating to pension reform and amending the Phoenix City Charter.  The results were accepted by the Phoenix City Council at a canvass of vote on March 20, 2013.

  • Proposition 201 - Reform of the City of Phoenix Employees’ Retirement  Plan

Yes – 71,086 (79.54 percent); No – 18,284 (20.46 percent)

  • Proposition 202 – Reform of Investment Standards, Legal Status, and Funding Provisions for the City of Phoenix Employees’ Retirement Plan

Yes – 68,029 (77.17 percent); No – 20,130 (22.83 percent)

The amendments to the Phoenix City Charter are now awaiting approval by the Arizona Governor's Office.  

Background

The City of Phoenix began a pension reform process with the creation of the Pension Reform Task Force in January 2011.   For almost a year, the Pension Reform Task Force worked with management, outside consultants, and other stakeholders to comprehensively review and recommend changes to the City of Phoenix Employees’ Retirement System (COPERS).  Following this review of the plan and extensive actuarial and legal analysis, Task Force recommendations were presented to the City Council in February 2012. 

Since that time, the Phoenix City Council has reviewed additional information, reform alternatives, and legal issues.  On June 19, City Council adopted a timeline for reform of COPERS, and requested that staff return with additional actuarial modeling and analysis of several additional reform options.  These options were considered by the Council at its September 25, 2012 meeting and referred to a March 2013 ballot.

Additionally, residents were invited to attend and offer feedback at two community meetings on the City of Phoenix Employees Retirement System pension reform process.  Summary minutes of those meetings are included in the Sept. 25, 2012 City Council Report below.

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