Here is a look at how each system performed in 2017:
Ohio Public Employees Retirement System, 16.61 percent overall return, assets now stand at $99.56 billion.
State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio, 15.9 percent overall return, assets now stand at $78.3 billion.
Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund, 13.82 percent overall return, assets now stand at $16.18 billion.
School Employees Retirement System, 17.36 percent overall return, assets now stand at $14.7 billion.
Ohio Highway Patrol Retirement System, 14.2 percent overall return, assets now stand at $901 million.
“We know the markets will produce a range of returns. The rally the stock markets are experiencing now helps the retirement system weather the periods when returns are low,” said Nick Treneff, spokesman for State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio. “Our goal is to meet our assumed rate of return – 7.45 percent — over the long term. One good year alone doesn’t make up for the 2008-2009 market downturn, but it can help meet STRS Ohio’s long-term objective.”
The money is invested to benefit nearly 2 million current or former government workers and retirees and their beneficiaries.
Four of the five systems exceeded their “benchmarks” — a target return they hope to hit based on their mix of investments. Highway patrol system director Mark Atkeson said when final audited numbers are submitted, he expects his system’s 14.2 percent return to improve and beat the 14.3 percent benchmark.
The pension funds, which invest for the long haul, have an asset mix that includes stocks, bonds, real estate, private equity and other financial instruments. Pension benefits are paid for with investment returns as well as contributions from workers and employers.
The investment returns, though, don’t happen by magic. Each system pays out significant money to outside consultants and managers — collectively more than $5.7 billion in total since 2007.
OPERS: 2016 fees to external managers totaled $513.5 million; 2007 to 2016 fees totaled $2.6 billion.
STRS: 2017 fees totaled $212.2 million; 2007 to 2017 fees totaled $1.72 billion.
OPF: 2016 fees totaled $83.5 million; 2007 to 2016 fees totaled $580.3 million.
SERS: 2017 fees totaled $86.25 million; 2007 to 2017 fees totaled $809.2 million.
OHPRS: 2016 fees totaled $5.4 million; 2007 to 2016 fees totaled $48.29 million.
Fees paid to outside consultants has irritated some members of SERS who filed a lawsuit against the pension fund.
Related: Ohio school workers and retirees sue to stop pension benefit cuts
Six years after landmark pension reforms forced workers and retirees to pay more and accept fewer benefits, the five systems are again looking at ways to stretch their resources.
Last year, the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio voted in April to eliminate cost of living allowances indefinitely and the Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund began restructuring the health care benefits for retirees beginning in January 2019. Ohio Public Employees Retirement System is considering COLA cuts. In October 2017, the SERS board of trustees voted to freeze the cost of living allowances given to retirees for three years as a means of shoring up its financial position.
Ohio’s five public pension systems are defined benefit plans, meaning participants are guaranteed certain pension benefits based on age, years of service and final average pay. The benefits are prescribed by law and each system — not union contracts. Each fund is responsible for its liabilities — not Ohio taxpayers.
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