ITEM: |
PUBLIC
HEARING |
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13. |
RECEIVE
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD STATEMENT NO. 75 ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL REPORTING FOR POSTEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS OTHER THAN PENSIONS |
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Meeting
Date: |
December 11, 2023 |
Budgeted: |
N/A |
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From: |
David J.
Stoldt, |
Program/ |
N/A |
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General
Manager |
Line Item No.: |
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Prepared
By: |
Suresh
Prasad |
Cost Estimate: |
N/A |
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General Counsel Review: N/A |
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Committee Recommendation: The Finance and Administration Committee reviewed this item on December 4, 2023 and recommended approval. |
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CEQA Compliance: This action does not constitute a project
as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section
15378. |
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SUMMARY: In July 2004, the
Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) issued Statement Nos. 43 &
45, establishing financial reporting requirement for post-employment benefits
other than pensions. The District
currently provides health insurance benefits as a post-employment benefit and
has complied with GASB 43 & 45 requirements by including current and future
cost information in its financial statements beginning with Fiscal Year 2009-2010. Previously, for GASB 45 purposes, District used
the actuarial firm Milliman, Inc. to compile the required data using the
alternative measurement report method.
In June 2015, GASB issued
Statement No. 75 replacing GASB 45, financial reporting requirement for
post-employment benefits other than pensions, which now includes
information with respect to the total obligation to provide future retiree
health and welfare benefits with fiscal year beginning June 15, 2017. Since this is a
report that requires a full actuarial report, District used GovInvest to
prepare this report to meet GASB Statement No. 75 for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 2023, attached as Exhibit 13-A. It is noteworthy to mention that the
GASB 75 standard only applies to reporting the liability and does not stipulate
any requirement for funding the liability.
As reported
in the Executive Summary, page 3, the District’s Net OPEB Liability as of June
30, 2023 is estimated at $4,991,860. In
comparison, District’s Net OPEB Liability as of June 30, 2022 was
estimated at $5,056,238. The decrease in
liability is attributed to (1) lower healthcare cost increase than expected
that produced a liability decrease; (2) increase in discount rate based on
updated municipal bond index produced a liability decrease.
The
District’s annual OPEB expense of $343,545 would fully fund the current and
future costs amortized over time. In FY
2022-2023, the District paid premium contributions towards medical coverage for
fourteen retirees in the amount of $142,235.
This actual cost would be deducted from any contribution made for the
year. For example, if the District had
fully funded its contribution in FY 2022-2023, the $142,235 would have been
deducted from the $343,545 resulting in an additional net contribution of $201,310. It should be noted that both current and
future costs must be recalculated on an annual basis based on then current
employee data and District benefit levels, so the contribution amounts may vary
somewhat each subsequent year. The
District can elect to either partially fund, fully fund or continue to fund the
costs on a pay-as-you-go basis. The
District’s budget in the past has included funds for pay-as-you-go basis. The District budget starting with fiscal year
2018-2019 has also included an additional $100,000 set aside towards OPEB
reserve funds. The OPEB reserve balance
as of 06/30/2023 was $500,000.
The
District has two tiered plans for retiree healthcare costs. Details of existing employees in the tired
plan are as follows:
Tier 1 Plan (hired prior to 01/01/2013) 11 employees
Tier 2 Plan (hired after 01/01/2013) 13 employees
RECOMMENDATION: The Finance and Administration Committee recommends that the Board receive the GASB 75 OPEB
Valuation Report prepared by GovInvest.
BACKGROUND: In July 2004, GASB
issued Statement Nos. 43 & 45, establishing financial reporting
requirements for post-employment benefits other than pensions. The District provides health insurance as a
post-employment benefit and is required to comply with GASB 43 & 45 and
include the required information in its audited financial statements beginning
in FY 2009-10.
In June
2015, GASB issued Statement No. 75 replacing GASB 45, financial reporting
requirement for post-employment benefits other than pensions, which now includes
information with respect to the total obligation to provide future retiree
health and welfare benefits with fiscal year beginning June 15, 2017.
The
main thrust of GASB OPEB standard is to require that public-sector employees
recognize the cost of other post-employment benefits over the service life of
their employees rather than on a pay-as-you-go basis. While the liability amount must be included
in each entities annual audited financial statements, the GASB statements do
not require that the amount actually be funded. Government entities can either
partially fund, fully fund or continue to fund the costs on a pay-as-you-go
basis.
Beginning with the fiscal year 2018-2019 budget, District has started setting aside funds towards the unfunded pension and other postemployment benefits (OPEB). With each budget cycle, staff will continue to recommend adding additional funds to these reserve accounts.
13-A GASB 75 OPEB Valuation Report
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Hearings\13\Item-13.docx