State Retiree Benefits Fact Sheet – Kansas
Kansas is lagging behind many other states when it comes to managing its long-term bill coming due for pensions. The state has fallen short of meeting its annual payments toward its long-term pension obligation for each of the last 10 years. In the last several years, Kansas' payments have dropped to a little less than 70% of what the state's own actuaries say is needed to keep up, hitting a low of 63% of the required contribution in 2006. Kansas has undertaken significant pension reform in the last year, however. On the non-pensions side, Kansas is one of seven states that had not completed its actuarial valuation of the long-term costs of retiree health benefits at the time of Pew's report. But the liability likely will be small relative to that of other states. Kansas does not offer a cash subsidy, but only the “implicit subsidy” that comes from including retirees and typically healthier active employees in the same health plan.
Spotlight on Mental Health
MORE FROM PEW
Explore Pew’s new and improved
Fiscal 50 interactive
Your state's stats are more accessible than ever with our new and improved Fiscal 50 interactive:
- Maps, trends, and customizable charts
- 50-state rankings
- Analysis of what it all means
- Shareable graphics and downloadable data
- Proven fiscal policy strategies
Welcome to the new Fiscal 50
Key changes include:
- State pages that help you keep track of trends in your home state and provide national and regional context.
- Interactive indicator pages with highly customizable and shareable data visualizations.
- A Budget Threads feature that offers Pew’s read on the latest state fiscal news.