MCAG No. 0774
Plan Description
WASHINGTON COUNTIES RISK POOL
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
October 1, 2006 Thru September 30, 2007
PERS is a cost-sharing multiple-employer retirement system comprised of three separate plans for
membership purposes: Plans 1 and 2 are defined benefit plans and Plan 3 is a combination defined
benefit/defined contribution plan. Membership in the system includes: elected officials; state employees;
employees of the Supreme, Appeals, and Superior courts (other than judges currently in a judicial
retirement system); employees of legislative committees; community and technical colleges, college and
university employees (not in national higher education retirement programs); judges of district and
municipal courts; and employees of local governments. PERS participants who joined the system by
September 30, 1977, are Plan 1 members. Those who joined on or after October 1, 1977 and by either,
February 28, 2002 for state and higher education employees, or August 31, 2002 for local government
employees, are Plan 2 members unless they exercise an option to transfer their membership to Plan 3.
PERS participants joining the system on or after March 1, 2002 for state and higher education
employees, or September 1, 2002 for local government employees have the irrevocable option of
choosing membership in either PERS Plan 2 or PERS Plan 3. The option must be exercised within 90
days of employment. An employee is reported in Plan 2 until a choice is made. Employees who fail to
choose within 90 days default to PERS Plan 3. PERS defined benefit retirement benefits are financed
from a combination of investment earnings and employer and employee contributions. PERS retirement
benefit provisions are established in state statute and may be amended only by the State Legislature.
Plan 1 retirement benefits are vested after an employee completes five years of eligible service. Plan 1
members are eligible for retirement at any age after 30 years of service, or at the age of 60 with five years
of service, or at the age of 55 with 25 years of service. The annual pension is 2 percent of the average
final compensation per year of service, capped at 60 percent. The average final compensation is based
on the greatest compensation during any 24 eligible consecutive compensation months. If qualified, after
reaching the age of 66 a cost-of-living allowance is granted based on years of service credit and is
capped at 3 percent annually.
Plan 2 retirement benefits are vested after an employee completes five years of eligible service. Plan 2
members may retire at the age of 65 with five years of service, or at the age of 55 with 20 years of
service, with an allowance of 2 percent of the average final compensation per year of service. The
average final compensation is based on the greatest compensation during any eligible consecutive 60-
month period. Plan 2 retirements prior to the age of 65 receive reduced benefits. If retirement is at age
55 or older with at least 30 years of service, a 3 percent per year reduction applies; otherwise an actuarial
reduction will apply. There is no cap on years of service credit; and a cost-of-living allowance is granted
(indexed to the Seattle Consumer Price Index), capped at 3 percent annually.
Plan 3 has a dual benefit structure. Employer contributions finance a defined benefit component, and
member contributions finance a defined contribution component. The defined benefit portion provides a
benefit calculated at 1 percent of the average final compensation per year of service. The average final
compensation is based on the greatest compensation during any eligible consecutive 60-month period.
Plan 3 members become eligible for retirement if they have: at least ten years of service; or five years
including twelve months that were earned after age 54; or five service credit years earned in PERS Plan
2 prior to June 1, 2003. Plan 3 retirements prior to the age of 65 receive reduced benefits. If retirement
is at age 55 or older with at least 30 years of service, a 3 percent per year reduction applies; otherwise an
actuarial reduction will apply. There is no cap on years of service credit; and Plan 3 provides the same
cost-of-living allowance as Plan 2. The defined contribution portion can be distributed in accordance with
an option selected by the member, either as a lump sum or pursuant to other options authorized by the
Employee Retirement Benefits Board.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Washington State Auditor's Office
21