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KTRS Officials Ask Kentucky Lawmakers to Boost Sagging Pension Plan

Leaders of the Kentucky Teachers’ Retirement System are again asking state lawmakers to shore up the underfunded pension plan when the legislature convenes in January.  KTRS has just 51 percent of the money it’s expected to need for future payouts.

"It's not a risk, it's an absolute certainty," cautioned KTRS General Counsel Beau Barnes.  "If we don't start getting some additional funding for the pension fund, the funding level is going to start declining and it's going to get much harder to fix."

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports state lawmakers are being asked to consider issuing 30-year bonds worth $1.9 billion and $3.3 billion. 

Lawmakers rejected a similar proposal from KTRS in the last legislative session, arguing the state couldn’t afford the additional debt service.  

The award-winning news team at WKU Public Radio consists of Dan Modlin, Kevin Willis, Lisa Autry, and Joe Corcoran.