Agency: 124 - Department of Retirement Systems
Last Updated: 10/08/2025
A001 - Public Pension Administration
The Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) serves nearly 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 almost 1,400 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 2026 | FY 2027 | Biennium Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| FTE | 286.9 | 286.9 | 286.9 |
| 600 - Dept of Retirement Systems Expense | |||
| State | 58,131,000 | 66,857,000 | 124,988,000 |
| Non-Appropriated | 6,556,000 | 6,784,000 | 13,340,000 |
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | Biennium Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| FTES | 286.9 | 286.9 | 286.9 |
| GFS | |||
| Other | 64,687,000 | 73,641,000 | 138,328,000 |
| Totals | 64,687,000 | 73,641,000 | 138,328,000 |
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 investment plans until retirement or termination of public employment. At the end of Fiscal Year 2023, the program had $6.18 billion in assets, serving approximately 132,000 participants from state government, higher education, and political subdivisions. This activity also includes a supplemental retirement program serving 90 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.
| Account | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | Biennium Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| FTE | 19 | 19 | 19 |
| 888 - Deferred Compensation Admin Account | |||
| Non-Appropriated | 2,516,000 | 2,543,000 | 5,059,000 |
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | Biennium Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| FTES | 19 | 19 | 19 |
| GFS | |||
| Other | 2,516,000 | 2,543,000 | 5,059,000 |
| Totals | 2,516,000 | 2,543,000 | 5,059,000 |
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.
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | Biennium Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| FTES | 20.4 | 26.3 | 23.4 |
| GFS | |||
| Other | |||
| Totals |
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.
| Account | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | Biennium Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| FTE | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 |
| 874 - OASI Revolving Account | |||
| Non-Appropriated | 179,000 | 183,000 | 362,000 |
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | Biennium Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| FTES | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 |
| GFS | |||
| Other | 179,000 | 183,000 | 362,000 |
| Totals | 179,000 | 183,000 | 362,000 |
Expected Results
State and local government employees have retirement benefits. State and local governments meet their obligations under the federal law.