Category Archives: Pensions

Fairness and Flexibility Not Addressed in Pension Reform

Posted on September 14, 2012 by Greg R. Lawson

The General Assembly just passed a significant package of reforms for each of the five public pension systems in Ohio.  While each bill was somewhat different, in general, the changes included: * modifying cost of living adjustments, * increasing the number of …

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Pension Reforms Can Help Employment Flexibility

Posted on June 29, 2012 by Greg R. Lawson

In calling for fundamental pensions reform Buckeye has argued that only a shift from defined benefit plans to defined contribution, or hybrid, plans must be considered if Ohio is to move beyond the old, “Blue Model” of organization that no …

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Several Ohio Pensions Decline Under New GASB Standards

Posted on June 27, 2012 by Greg R. Lawson

The Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) has just adopted new rules for the calculation of pension liabilities.  This move has been long expected.  It has also been long dreaded by most public sector pensions because as the Wall Street Journal …

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Demystifying a Big Road Block to Real Pension Reform

Posted on June 14, 2012 by Greg R. Lawson

Meaningful public pension reform requires moving from defined-benefit (DB) pension systems, where taxpayers bear all the risk and public sector employees reap benefits not available in the private sector, to 401(k) like defined-contribution (DC) plans that more equitably allocate risk …

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What do the Wisconsin results mean for Ohio?

Posted on June 7, 2012 by Kevin Holtsberry

This is a question a lot of people are asking themselves in light of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s strong victory in the recall election Tuesday night. I offered some thoughts and reactions for ABC 6/Fox 28 here in Columbus yesterday …

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Ohio’s Pension Choice: Status Quo or Real Reform?

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Kevin Holtsberry

“The question Ohio faces on pension reform is simple: Do we want to continue to avoid difficult issues in the hope that a devastating crisis never comes, or do we want to act now to reform the system before a crisis can develop?”

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Cincinnati Coming to Grips with Pension Costs

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Adam Schwiebert

With the public pension reform debate heating up in the Statehouse, it’s fitting timing for another pension crisis to arise—this time, in Cincinnati. Cincinnati’s situation is unique. Unlike Ohio’s other municipalities, Cincinnati city employees do not participate in one of …

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