Investigating Public Pensions by Craig Harris
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Transcript of Investigating Public Pensions by Craig Harris
Winner of the 2011 GoldAward in the Barlett & SteeleAwards for InvestigativeBusiness Journalism
Winner of the firstToner Prize for Excellencein Political Reporting
Session sponsor
Investigating Public Pensions
Quick Pension Quiz
How familiar are you with public pensions?
By Flickr user Nevada Tumbleweed (Mark Holloway)
3
Quick Pension Quiz
How many states have underfunded public pension systems?
By Flickr user Nevada Tumbleweed (Mark Holloway)
Quick Pension Quiz
How many states have underfunded public pension systems?
By Flickr user Nevada Tumbleweed (Mark Holloway)
Answer: 34
6
6Source: Pew Center on the States, 2012
Quick Pension Quiz
Which state fully funded its pension cost in 2010?
By Flickr user Nevada Tumbleweed (Mark Holloway)
Quick Pension Quiz
Which state fully funded its pension cost in 2010?
By Flickr user Nevada Tumbleweed (Mark Holloway)
Answer: Wisconsin
What Does It Mean?
•Taxpayers likely are paying more to fund public pensions.
•Widespread interest from readers.
•Great enterprising stories.
By Flickr user Mayor McGinn
What You Will Learn•How to uncover abuses in public pension
systems•How to spot red flags in an unhealthy public pension system •How to win battles with public records
requests•How to do quick-hit stories and a series
with impact
Photo by Flickr user kjarrett
Getting Started Do the homework/Learn
the terms:▫Cheat-sheet handout
(Milstead – Defined Benefit Plan, Defined Contribution Plan)
▫Unique local issues – DROP (Deferred Retirement Option Plan), Return to Work.
▫Explain the terms as if you were teaching Pensions 101. Always do the math for the reader.
By Flickr user smbuckley23
Biggest Things We Found
•1. Arizona elected officials make more in retirement than when they served in office.
•2. Police officers and firefighters can retire after 20 years and receive six-figure lump-sum retirement payments and annual pensions.
•3. Convicted felons were receiving healthy public pensions.
Finding Red Flags•Look at funded ratios: If they
are low and contribution rates are high, you have a story.
•See who is receiving large public pensions. The information may be surprising, e.g., former college football coaches and felons.
•Fights over public records.
By Flickr user Victoria Reay
Filing Public Records Requests• Start small and work your way up/focus on
one system.• Arizona Republic Project: 67 requests
▫A. One with each of the four state systems/two municipal systems (some multiple times).
▫B. All 57 school districts in Maricopa County.▫If you have multiple systems, use strategy to
get records.
What do you ask for?
•A. Be specific in what you are seeking.•B: Cite the law that entitles you to get the
information.
What do you ask for?•C. Ask for the information electronically. •D. Ask the public entity to put into writing the
law that would allow information to be withheld.•E. Set a deadline to get the information.
x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x
x x xx x x x x x
x x x O
Photo by flickr user Joe Lanman
Seeking Information•1. Be specific in what you want
▫A. The list of names of any and all public employees who are currently receiving a pension check from a retirement system.
▫B. The monthly and/or annual amounts of each pension for each one those employees.
▫C. The year the individual retired.▫D. The years of service for each retiree.▫E. The last place of employment and last
job for each retiree.
ASRS SpreadsheetLAST NAME FIRST NAME EMPLOYER
NAMERETIRE_DATE TOTAL SERVICE Monthly
Benefit
Years of Service Purchase
Cost of Purchased Service
Annual Benefit
Peck Carol
Alhambra Elementary District 68 7/4/2002 35.12 18,868.51 4.12 97201.66 226,422.12
Duvall Debra Mesa Unif Dist 4 10/17/2008 36.55 18,032.99 14.99 124761.6 216,395.88
Snyder GeraldArizona State University 6/27/2009 44.25 16,872.11 6.75 91395.79 202,465.32
Hoskisson RobertArizona State University 6/29/2009 34.78 16,447.40 29.78 1225496 197,368.80
Krahenbuhl GaryArizona State University 7/1/2003 38 15,256.80 8.00 178206.5 183,081.60
Tindall Jr RobertUniversity Of Arizona 7/31/2003 40.32 15,021.97 3.05 35490.71 180,263.64
Randolph Phillip
Maricopa Co Community College Dist 7/6/2005 41.21 14,692.82 1.00 16262.4 176,313.84
Aranda LuisArizona State University 7/31/2002 32.13 14,155.52 5.08 132395.5 169,866.24
Nicodemus Karen
Cochise Community College 8/1/2009 30.22 13,836.42 7.00 109666 166,037.04
Expect a fight• 1. Arizona State Retirement System initially denied
parts of the request.• 2. Use strategy. • 3. Be prepared to get your lawyer involved• 4. Newspapers in other states (Oregon and
Nevada) have filed suits.
Photo by flickr user Joe Shlabotnik
Pension Project/School Districts
• 1. Filed 57 Public Records Requests: One with each school district in Maricopa County▫ A. Goal to see if anyone was
double-dipping and the cost to Arizona State Retirement System
▫ B. Resistance
Photo by flickr user scott1723
Quick Pension Quiz
By Flickr user Nevada Tumbleweed (Mark Holloway)
Who makes more in a public pension? The former city manager in Phoenix or ex-presidents of the United States?
Former Phoenix city manager vs. former president?
Frank Fairbanks, $246,813
George W. Bush, $199,700
Managing Data•1. Keep track of data
with spreadsheet▫A. When request was
sent out▫B. Who received the
request▫C. When the
information was returned
▫D. Compile the information
Photo by flickr user IvanWalsh
Organizing the data
•1. Keep data in separate spreadsheets.
•2. Keep notes in separate folders.
•3. Map out stories with editors.
Photo by flickr user numberjuan2
Executing a project/series1. Plan firm deadlines for
stories and graphics.2. Do graphics with
corresponding stories.3. Coordinate with data
editor.4. Expect long hours.5. Always, always, always
do the math.6. Don’t be afraid to double-
and triple-check.7. Make it simple.
The Series: A Soaring Burden•1. Overview•2. Elected Officials•3. Public Safety•4. City of Phoenix•5. Educators•6. Convicted
Felons•7. Other States•8. Solutions/Op-Ed
Pieces
Expect criticism/praise
•1. No one likes others messing with their money.
•2. Allow critics to write op-ed pieces.
Photo by flickr user Grant.C
Love Letter
“Why don't you go with the dept. of Corrections employees on a week shift at the Maximum Security. Take the day shift so you won't have to work from midnight till 8.
“Let them throw feces and urine in your face, wonderif they are going to shank you when your back is turned, deal with the crazy people that are taken off the street by brave people, the police.
“Do that for 20 years and see if you earn your pension.
“The most dangerous thing you do is drive to work, and make more money writing articles in your climate controlled office then they do.”
Photo by flickr user Vectorportal
Results
• 1. Laws changed
Arizona lawmakers OK bill on public pensions systems
Craig Harris Apr. 19, 2011 The Arizona Republic
• The state Senate has sent sweeping changes to Arizona's public retirement systems to Gov. Jan Brewer for her likely signature into law, but a public employees' lawsuit challenging the reforms looms on the horizon.
• Arizona is at least the 11th state this year to make changes to its public-pension programs as states across the country are struggling with the soaring costs associated with public retirement plans.
Results
A. Savings for taxpayers
B. Harder to double-dip/return to work
C. Felons no longer can get pensions
D. Changes to DROP (Deferred Retirement Option Plan)
E. Elected officials pay more
F. Spin-off stories/lawsuits
Photo by flickr user DonkeyHotey
What I would have done differently
• Better online presence/interactive graphics. • Stories on average pensioners.• Done an online chat early in series to talk with readers.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-10-11-1A-state-lawmakers-pump-pensions.htm
Contact info
•[email protected]•602-444-8478 – direct•602-509-3613 – cell •Series link:
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/arizona-pension-funds.html