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Efficient, Effective and Accountable Government

Last Updated: 01/05/2024

Provide a capable workforce to execute government functions

Strategy: Provide a capable workforce to execute government functions

Agency: 124 - Department of Retirement Systems

A001 - Public Pension Administration

The Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) serves over half a million active, retired, and inactive members of the Public Employees, School Employees, Teachers, Law Enforcement and Firefighters, Washington State Patrol, Public Safety Employees, and Judicial retirement systems. Services include receiving and processing essential member information submitted by more than 1,300 public employers, determining member eligibility for retirement, educating and counseling prospective retirees, processing disability and death adjustments, and computing retirement benefits, deductions, and benefit adjustments. The authority for DRS is established by RCW 41.50. Authority for administering the retirement systems is contained in RCW 2.10, 2.12, 41.26, 41.32, 41.34, 41.35, 41.37, 41.40, and 43.43. DRS also must conform to legislative mandates established in RCW 28.B10, 41.44, 41.45, 41.54, and 44.44.

Account FY 2022 FY 2023 Biennium Total
FTE 22.5 11.3
600 - Dept of Retirement Systems Expense
State 2,108,000 2,108,000
FY 2022 FY 2023 Biennium Total
FTES 251.7 261.9 256.8
GFS
Other 35,558,000.0 37,431,000.0 72,989,000.0
Totals 35,558,000.0 37,431,000.0 72,989,000.0
Expected Results

Comply with federal and state statutes, as well as fiduciary responsibilities. Maintain administrative costs at an amount that is lower than those for other public pension systems in the United States; given complexity and service levels. Obtain timely and accurate member contribution and service credit information from employers. Maintain high satisfaction ratings from employers, as measured by an annual survey. Provide benefit services that are a constitutionally guaranteed contract between members and the state. Provide prompt service to members, as measured by responsiveness to: walk in customers, phone calls, and correspondence. Maintain high member satisfaction, as measured by monthly customer interviews. Maintain accurate and efficient pension systems. Secure member information and data. Complete timely and accurate programming associated with legislatively mandated benefit changes, and implementation of new plans. Provide timely and accurate pension payments to retirees, and accurate reporting to the Internal Revenue Service. Maintain industry standard record keeping for members participating the Public Employees', School Employees' and Teachers' Retirement Systems Plan 3's.

A002 - Deferred Compensation Management for Public Employees

This program enables eligible public employees to defer a portion of their earnings under a series of before tax investment plans until retirement or termination of public employment. At the end of Fiscal Year 2017, the program had $4.1 billion in assets, serving approximately 60,000 employees of state government, higher education, and political subdivisions. This activity also includes a supplemental retirement program serving more than 120 judges. Authority for the Deferred Compensation Plan is contained in RCW 41.50 and Section 457 of the Internal Revenue Code, while authority for the Judges program is contained in RCW 2.12.

FY 2022 FY 2023 Biennium Total
FTES 18.5 18.5 18.5
GFS
Other 2,174,000.0 2,273,000.0 4,447,000.0
Totals 2,174,000.0 2,273,000.0 4,447,000.0
Expected Results

Increase participation in the program. Implement program changes necessitated by changes in federal law. Maintain low administrative fees. Maintain high participant satisfaction, as measured by an annual survey. Maintain industry standard record keeping for DCP participants. Maintain program compliance with federal law.

A006 - One-Time Projects

This activity contains the one-time costs associated with legislative projects approved and funded each session, which are then removed in the carry forward level calculation process each biennium.

Account FY 2022 FY 2023 Biennium Total
FTE 3.4 1.7
001 - General Fund
State 609,000 609,000
600 - Dept of Retirement Systems Expense
State 93,000 93,000
FY 2022 FY 2023 Biennium Total
FTES 16.2 20.2 18.2
GFS 609,000.0 609,000.0
Other 3,525,000.0 4,937,000.0 8,462,000.0
Totals 3,525,000.0 5,546,000.0 9,071,000.0
Expected Results

Implement projects on time and within budget.

A010 - Old Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Program

This activity administers the Social Security and Medicare coverage program, also known as Old Age Survivor Insurance (OASI), for all state and local (public) government employers throughout the state of Washington, by serving as a facilitator and communication bridge between those employers and the Social Security Administration and Internal Revenue Service.

FY 2022 FY 2023 Biennium Total
FTES 1.3 1.3 1.3
GFS
Other 165,000.0 177,000.0 342,000.0
Totals 165,000.0 177,000.0 342,000.0
Expected Results

State and local government employees have retirement benefits. State and local governments meet their obligations under the federal law.