MissionSquare Research Institute – In the News

How Local and State Governments are Meeting the Employee Benefits Challenge

In the October 2020 issue of HR News, columnists Katherine Barrett and Richard Greene cited SLGE workforce survey data and comments from President and CEO Joshua Franzel, PhD, in a […]

World Pensions Council Citation of SLGE President Discussing Public Plans Data

SLGE President and CEO Joshua Franzel, PhD, was cited in the World Pensions Council article G7 Pensions: ESG, SDGs, Green Growth and the Road to Camp David, discussing the increasing […]

SLGE Data on Police Recruitment Challenges Cited

New Hampshire Public Radio and ICMA have cited SLGE data on the difficulty of filling police vacancies, which were reported as ‘hard to fill’ by 27 percent of state and […]

SLGE Workforce Projections Featured in US News

U.S. News and World Report published an article based on SLGE’s state and local government workforce projections through 2026.

Podcast – Retirement News Site Interviews SLGE Staff on Workforce Issues

Catch the SLGE workforce survey data discussion online as part of The Weekly Pulse.  Discussion on the findings of the 2018 state and local workforce survey, including gig economy hiring, […]

Gig Economy Data Discussed in Governing

Governing features SLGE’s research on state and local governments’ participation in the gig economy.

Filling the Gaps

American City & County discusses SLGE’s workforce research with a focus on the ongoing wave of public sector retirements.

Workforce findings explored in recent webinar

New SLGE research finds that state and local governments continue to face steep challenges filling a wide array of positions. View the recent webinar which discussed many key workforce issues.

JobsPortalWatch on SLGE Survey and the Gig Economy

Hard to hire positions may lead agencies to fill needs via the gig economy.

Police Salary Discussions and SLGE

Martinez News-Gazette cites SLGE workforce survey in context of police salary discussions.

Pension Cuts Impacting Competitiveness

PlanSponsor covers SLGE issue brief on governments hampered in recruitment efforts by pension cuts.

AARP Cites Workforce Report

SLGE’s state and local government workforce survey highlighted by AARP and the National Retired Teachers Association.

Updated Privacy Policy

SLGE has recently updated our privacy policy.

First Responders’ Compensation

SLGE research cited in Washington Post article about pay for first responders.

Auto Features in Public Sector 457 Plans

Plan Sponsor covers recent SLGE research on automatic enrollment, etc.

Trends to Watch in 2018

SLGE releases its list of top issues facing state and local government in the year ahead.

Pension Reporting and Communications

Research on innovative pension reporting and communications to be presented at the upcoming 2018 World Pensions & Investments Forum.

3 Examples of Excellent Talent Management in Government

Senior Fellow Elizabeth Kellar provides insights for the Association for Talent Development.

Downsized Public Workforce May Be a Permanent Consequence of the Recession

SLGE’s Elizabeth Kellar speaks to Governing about public sector staffing challenges.

Training the Public Safety Workforce of Tomorrow

GovLoop highlights SLGE’s annual “Workforce Trends” survey in its story on public safety workforce challenges.

Sizing Up the Government Workforce

In November’s Public Management Magazine, Gerald Young and Joshua Franzel look at key local government findings from SLGE’s 2017 survey.

Addressing the Retirement Insecurity Crisis

Route Fifty highlights key takeaways from SLGE’s Retirement (In)Security Summit.

States Need $645 Billion to Pay Full Health-Care Costs

The Wall Street Journal cites SLGE in its story on states’ retiree health liabilities.

3 Issues That Worry State and Local Leaders

In her Governing Smart Management Column, SLGE Senior Fellow explores fears of weakening revenues, shifting demographics, and impacts of tax reform.

What Works Well for Public Pension Communications

Plan Sponsor highlights SLGE’s recent report which revealed most pension plans have diverse communication programs.

Managing County Workers: Recruitment, Retention and Retirement

A new report from NACo cites data from SLGE’s annual workforce trends survey.

Study: Government pension plans still losing ground

The Atlanta Journal Constitution highlights SLGE’s annual pension funding update.

Public plan funding not improving, study finds

Pensions and Investments features SLGE’s annual report on the funded status of public pension plans.

The Pros and Cons of Telecommuting to a Government Gig

Governing Magazine highlights SLGE survey data on telecommuting.

Solving Personnel Problems Through Analytics

HRO highlights SLGE research in its examination of the looming government personnel crisis. 

Technology Ushers Governments into the Age of the Digital Office

American City & COunty highlights findings from SLGE’s annual report on the state and local workforce

Pension Communication Best Practices

Colorado PERA’s “On the Issues” newsletter highlights SLGE’s research on pension reporting standards.

Albemarle Faces Wave of Retirements

SLGE’s research cited in The Daily Progress’ story on a Virginia county experiencing an increase in baby boomer retirements.

First Pensions, Now Government Retiree Health Benefits

PublicWorks cites SLGE’s recent report on state and local OPEB benefits.

Reporting And Disclosure By Public Pension Systems

ASPPA highlights SLGE’s new report on how major pension systems communicate financial, benefit and governance information to stakeholders.

Public Pension Guide Breaks Down Complex Issue for Elected Officials

The new guide discusses the important role policy makers play in making sure their state and local pension plans are well designed and adequately funded.

State Budget Would Target 1 in 5 Workers for Big Raises

SLGE’s Senior Fellow Elizabeth Kellar speaks to the Seattle Times about the recession’s impact on Washington’s state workforce.

Retirement Readiness for Public Sector Workers

Segal Consulting cites Retirement Confidence Survey of the State and Local Government Workforce.

Using Public Plans Data to Understand the Pension Landscape

SLGE’s Joshua Franzel will be offering a presentation about US state and local government pension plan funding and reforms at the upcoming World Pensions Investment Forum.

Government Recruiting for a Post-Baby Boomer Future

Smart Business highlights SLGE’s annual workforce survey findings on increasing retirements in state and local government.

Getting the Right People

IPMA-HR Executive Director Neil Reichenberg cites SLGE’s annual workforce survey in his Government Finance Review article on the challenge of recruiting and retaining talented staff.

Dallas Mayor Calls for Criminal Probe of City’s Police and Fire Pension System

The Wall Street Journal highlights Public Plans Data in its story on the woes facing Dallas’ Police and Fire Pension System.

Joshua Franzel Appointed SLGE’s President/CEO

The Center for State and Local Government Excellence (SLGE) Board of Directors has appointed Joshua Franzel, Ph.D., to serve as the organization’s next President/CEO, effective January 1, 2017.

Most Public Pensions Saw Major Reforms Following Great Recession

PlanSponsor highlights SLGE’s new study on state and local pension plan reforms following the financial crisis.

2016 Retirement Confidence Survey Featured

AFSCME’s Information Highway features SLGE and the TIAA Institute’s public sector retirement confidence survey.

The Civil Service Tsunami

eCivis highlights SLGE’s annual workforce survey in its story on how local governments will handle impending retirements.

The Failed Promise of LA’s Touted Pension Reform

The Los Angeles Times cites SLGE’s annual pension funding report.

Cities, States Need Top Financial Talent, but Fall Short on Pay

President/CEO Elizabeth Kellar speaks to the Wall Street Journal about local government recruiting challenges.

Debunking the Myth of the ‘Teacher Pay Gap,’ Again

American Enterprise Institute cites SLGE’s research on retiree health care.

Should Public Pension Plans Be Subject to Stronger Transparency Obligation?

SLGE’s VP of Research provides insight to Benefits Canada

Why Is Public-Employee Morale So Bad?

Governing story highlights SLGE’s 2016 State and Local Government Workforce Trends survey

Troubled Kentucky State Pension Holds Bankrupt Coal Firm Shares

Bloomberg BNA highlights SLGE’s annual report on the status of public pension funding.

Free Database of Public Plan Data Exists

Pensions and Investments published SLGE President/CEO Elizabeth Kellar’s letter to the editor (August 22, 2016) explaining that free, accurate pension data is already available

Data Analytics Takes on Workforce Automation

GCN highlights SLGE’s annual workforce trends survey in its article on workforce automation in government agencies.

The Growing Urgency of Government’s Quest for Talent

SLGE’s President/CEO writes in Governing about the challenges of recruiting and retaining the qualified workers governments urgently need.

The Politics of Pensions

SLGE’s President/CEO Kellar participated in a panel during GFOA’s annual conference.

What does Baby Boomer Retirement Wave Mean for States?

SLGE President/CEO Kellar joins Wisconsin Public Radio’s Joy Cardin Show

Governments Grapple with Exiting Executives

Atlanta Journal Constitution highlights SLGE’s annual workforce trends survey.

Beating the Brain Drain

Pew’s Stateline features SLGE’s research on state and local government workforce trends.

Is a National IRA Needed?

BenefitsPro examines the findings of SLGE’s new report on the private sector retirement savings gap.

Report Favors National Plan Over State Efforts

PlanSponsor highlights SLGE’s new report on state efforts to address private sector retirement savings gap.

Top Management Challenges

VP of Research Joshua Franzel joined Route Fifty for a discussion of current management challenges in state and local government.

Free Webinar: Preparing for the Workforce of Tomorrow

Is your organization prepared for the increased competition and demands of attracting and retaining the future workforce?

GASB Proposes Changes to Pension Standards

The Governmental Accounting Standards Board proposed new guidance for governments that participate in certain multiple-employer pension plans.

Public Plans Data in the Wall Street Journal

WSJ features data from Public Plans Data in its story on Kentucky’s pension woes.

Retirement Tsunami

SLGE’s Elizabeth Kellar explains to American City & County that, rather than as a tsunami, public sector retirements are coming wave after wave.

Pittsburgh still needs ICA oversight

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette cites SLGE’s 2015 “Success Strategies for Well-Funded Pension Plans”

Sacramento County bond debt highest in state

Analysis features SLGE research on pension obligation bonds.

Public Hiring Trends Up After Recession

For the second year in a row, state and local governments increased hiring from the previous year, according to a newly released survey of public-sector HR professionals by SLGE.

After Years of Cuts, Cities and States Are Hiring Again

SLGE’s new survey finds that nearly three-quarters of states and localities reported making new hires in the past year.

State and Local Workforce: Analysis and Forecast

The challenges of the past decade have required the state and local sector to make many significant adjustments to its workforce.

Public Workers’ Reliance on DC Plans Grows

SLGE’s Joshua Franzel talks to PIMCO about changes in state and local government retirement programs in the United States.

Public plans doing better on funding

Most public pension plans improved their funded status in 2014 and are likely to be more than 80% funded by 2018, according to a report by SLGE.

States working to solve ‘crisis of unpreparedness’

Reductions in pension funds’ cost-of-living allowances have affected new and existing employees about the same, but retirees have been hit hardest by this policy.

GASB Issues New Statements on Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB)

New rules mean that local governments will have to record the cost of health insurance and other benefits on their financial statements.

Are Some Government Jobs Gone for Good?

In some localities badly hurting for revenue, public employment may never return to pre-recession levels.

State and Local Wages Lag

After years of wage stagnation, state and local governments are finally seeing room in their budgets for slight wage increases and bonuses.

SLGE Research Featured in Story on MA Retiree Health Costs

Massachusetts has committed to paying more than $15 billion over the next 30 years for health insurance for its retirees. But the state has set aside almost none of the money needed to pay for it.

Center VP of Research Speaks to WSJ re: NJ “Cash Balance” Proposal

SLGE’s VP of Research Joshua Franzel speaks to Wall Street Journal re: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s pension study committee proposal to move state’s public employee retirement system toward “cash balance” plans as a way to control costs and control liabilities. http://on.wsj.com/1EQlaDE

State and Local Fiscal Facts 2015

How widespread are municipal bankruptcies?  Are municipal defaults increasing?  What about state and local pension funding? State and local government revenues have been slowly improving, making it possible for many […]

The Hard Work of Restoring Trust in Government

Center President/CEO Elizabeth Kellar writes in Governing Magazine about the need for government leaders and the public to have honest and open communication.  

Baby boomer retirement creates pension, hiring challenges

Center Vice President of Research Joshua Franzel recently talked with US Bank’s newsletter about public sector Baby Boomers and retirement. (10/27/14)

Good returns ease public pension fund fears as GASB changes take hold

Center President/CEO Elizabeth Kellar tells Pensions&Investments that even good GASB numbers should not take attention away from the need for elected officials to focus on funding plans and decisions about […]

Retirement Concerns Grow Among Public Sector Employees

Plansponsor.com reports that as more state and local governments reform pensions following the recession, public sector employees have more concerns about retirement. (8/20/14)

Health-Care Cuts Driving Public Workers’ Retirement Delays

Governing covers the joint Center/TIAA-CREF Institute survey of public sector employees’ retirement confidence. (8/20/14)

Pension bonds draw debt-laden governments

BenefitsPro.com reports on the Center’s new issue brief on pension obligation bonds. (7/7/14)

Public Plans Slower to Adopt Automatic Enrollment

PlanSponsor on the Center’s new report on the use of automatic enrollment by retirement plans offered by local governments. (7/1/14)

States facing rising tide of retirement

Center Vice President of Research Joshua Franzel tells Stateline that people who postponed retirement because of the recession are now starting to leave the workforce. (6/20/14)

An Effortless Way to Save for Retirement

Governing highlights Center research in an article on state governments adopting automatic enrollment and escalation in the defined contribution plans they offer employees. (6/19/14)

Recovery still under way for many public pensions

BenefitsPro reports on the Center’s 2014 update on state and local government pension funding. (6/6/14)

Local, state governments are hiring again

Azcentral.com uses the Center’s new workforce report as the basis for an overall look at government employment numbers in Arizona and nationwide. (5/27/14)

Government Jobs: Slow Hiring + More Retirements = Tepid Recovery

The Wall Street Journal reports on the Center’s annual workforce survey. (5/20/14)

How much are public-sector pensions shrinking? Often, a lot

Reuters covers the joint Center/NASRA study on the effects of changes in state pension plans on retirees’ income. (5/20/14)

States’ Pension Reform Reduced Potential Retirement Income

PlanSponsor features the Center’s new report on how changes in state pension plans affected retirees’ income. (4/29/14)

Retirement confidence bounces back, but only among wealthy savers

Reuters cites the Center’s public sector research in its coverage of EBRI’s 2014 Retirement Confidence Survey. (3/18/14)

Fiscal pressures drive benefit changes

Center President & CEO Elizabeth Kellar tells American City & County magazine that state and local governments face significant challenges in containing the costs of pensions and employee benefits within budgets that are stretched thin. (2/25/14)

Municipalities Use Medicare to Reduce OPEB Costs

Moody’s cites the Center’s annual workforce surveys in a report on how municipal governments can use Medicare to lower their OPEB costs (see page 5). (3/6/14)

GovLoop Talks Next Gen Retirement Planning with the Center

Chris Dorobek of the DorobekINSIDER program talks with Center President/CEO Elizabeth Kellar and Vice President of Research Joshua Franzel about their PM magazine cover story on how post-recession benefit changes are affecting the retirement strategies of new hires. (2/3/14)

Retirement: Why the Next Generation Needs a Plan

Center President/CEO Elizabeth Kellar and Vice President of Research Joshua Franzel look at how post-recession benefit changes affect the retirement strategies of new hires and what government employers can do to help them in this PM magazine cover story. (Jan/Feb. 2014)

The Health of State and Local Pensions

Center V.P. Joshua Franzel and NASRA Research Manager Alex Brown talk pension funding status with NARFE. Posted with permission of NARFE magazine, the monthly publication of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, www.narfe.org (1/17/14)

So, I can retire when?

Governing features a new paper by Center President/CEO Elizabeth Kellar and Vice President of Research Joshua Franzel on how post-recession benefit changes affect the retirement strategies of new hires and what government employers can do to help them. (1/13/14)

Vancouver pensions least burdensome in study

The Vancouver Columbian features Center research in a look at how the city’s pension costs compare with other cities. (12/21/13)

How Did 2013 Treat Public Employees?

Governing writes that the environment for state and local government employees began to improve in 2013, as evidenced by Center research. (12/11/13)

A new local pension calculus

Reuters MuniLand calls the Center’s brief “Gauging the Burden of Public Pensions on Cities” a new standard in how local pension burdens should be reported in financial documents like CAFRs. (10/28/13)

Is the public pension crisis overstated?

Center President & CEO Elizabeth Kellar tells benefitpro.com that the glass is more than half full when it comes to pension funding. While a few cities have serious challenges, most are in reasonably good shape, making the status of public pensions much more nuanced than is usually portrayed. (10/25/13)

Inflation Assumptions Under the Spotlight

Asset International’s Chief Investment Officer covers a new paper co-authored by Center Vice President of Research Joshua Franzel, “Public Pension Plans and Inflation: Assumptions Used at the State and Local […]

Are Retiree Health Care Benefits Empty Promises?

Center Vice President of Research Joshua Franzel tells Governing that while pensions are a fairly static benefit, retiree health benefits are dependent on a number of variables and, thus, more susceptible to outside forces. (10/3/13)

Webinar: Retirement in 2050: Generation Y Planning

Join ICMA-RC and the Center on Thursday, Oct. 17, at 3:00 ET for a special webinar to kick off National Save for Retirement Week. (10/3/13)

While Others Underfunded Pensions, Milwaukee Held Firm

Center President & CEO Elizabeth Kellar tells National Public Radio it’s not surprising that Milwaukee has a well-funded pension plan, since the city consistently pays the annual required contribution. (10/3/13)

Keys to Pension Sustainability and Communications

Are growing pension liabilities the reason Detroit, Stockton, and San Bernardino had to declare bankruptcy? Center President & CEO Elizabeth Kellar took part in a webinar, “Getting a Grip on GASB and Pension Funding,” that tried to answer that and other questions. (9/5/13)

No call to panic, but be prepared

An Iowa Gazette editorial uses Center research to make the case for why the state should prepare for its baby boomer employees retiring in larger numbers. (8/27/13)

Irvine, Calif. Plans to Prepay Its Pension Bill

Governing cites Center research in its report on Irvine’s plan to pay off 30 years worth of pension liabilities in 10 years time. (7/31/13)

The B&G Report: Paychecks feeling a bit lighter?

Governing covers the Center’s 2013 workforce trends report. (6/20/13)

Survey: Governments rely less on hiring freezes and pay cuts

The Sacramento Bee’s State Worker blog covers the Center’s new workforce survey. (5/16/13)

State, local governments step up pension plan changes

Forty-four percent of state and local governments made pension plan changes over a 12-month period, up from 37% in the previous 12 months, according to an annual survey released Wednesday by the Center for State and Local Government Excellence. (5/15/13)

Public pensions on the mend?

From the Bankrate.com Retirement Blog: The fiscal stability of state and local government pensions has been the source of much retirement planning consternation, but the recent Future of Retirement summit, sponsored by the Center for State and Local Government Excellence, was upbeat about the issue. (4/29/13)

Retiree Health-Care Benefits: The Next Shoe to Drop?

Center Vice President of Research Joshua Franzel tells Governing that because it’s easier for governments to change or eliminate retiree health care benefits, governments are shifting more costs to retirees. (4/22/13)

Will pension reform chase away talent?

MarketWatch covers the Center’s Future of Retirement Summit. (4/19/13)

Center Summit Debates Widespread Changes to Retirement Plans

Nationally recognized experts and practitioners gathered in Washington, DC, at the Future of Retirement Summit to examine how demographic, workforce, legal, financial, policy, and political challenges are changing local and state government retirement strategies. (4/24/13)

Has Pension Reform Gone Too Far?

Governing covers the Center’s Future of Retirement Summit (4/19/13)

Center and National Associations Issue Pension Funding Guide

A new guide from the Center, the “Big 7″ state and local government associations, and the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) provides key facts about public pension plans and a brief overview of the issues that state and local officials should address.

Pulling Back: Budget tug of war means pension cuts

Center President & CEO Elizabeth Kellar tells American City & County that some states are making reforms that will support their pension plans’ sustainability.

New speakers added: The Future of Retirement Summit – Register now!

Registration is now open for the Center’s Future of Retirement Summit. The April 16 event will address the workforce, legal, financial, policy, and political challenges facing local and state governments as they retool their retirement benefits.

Public pension plan funding dips thanks to increased liabilities — study

Pensions&Investments featured the Center’s newly reissued and updated primer, State & Local Pensions: An Overview of Funding Issues and Challenges (login may be required). (1/18/13)

Government Unprepared for Boomers’ Mass Exodus

Governing cites Center research in a look at how prepared governments are for the Baby Boomers’ delayed but imminent retirement. (12/2012)

Upcoming Webinar: The Evolving Role of Defined Contribution Plans in the Public Sector

This webcast will discuss the results of a research paper published last fall by the Center, National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators (NAGDCA), and ANC Foundation.

Public pension funds face vast shortfall

Marketwatch cites Center research with partners ICMA-RC, the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, and NAGDCA/ANC as it looks at how state and local pension plans are making changes to meet their funding obligations. (11/13/12)

The Evolving Role of Defined Contribution Plans in the Public Sector

This report reviews the current and future role of defined contribution plans for state and local government employees and the governments that provide the retirement benefit. (10/10/12)

Public Sector Retirement Plan Changes Identified in ICMA-RC/SLGE Brief

According to a brief released by ICMA-RC and the Center for State and Local Government Excellence (SLGE), one-third of human resource executives made changes to the retirement plans they offer to employees within the past 12 months. (10/8/12)

Full-Time Government Jobs Down, Part-Time Employment Up

Center President & CEO Elizabeth Kellar tells Governing magazine that hiring part-time workers is an attractive option for governments looking to scale back costs. (8/23/12)

Associations Tackle Public Pension Funding Issue

Center President & CEO Elizabeth Kellar explains why the national associations of state and local governments established a pension funding task force after GASB issued new pension accounting standards. (8/22/12)

Managing People in Tough Times: Time to Move in a New Direction

A PA Times column on the effects of state and local government workforce cuts and hiring freezes references Center research. (8/10/12)

Report: Public employees are pessimistic about their retirement

American City & County covers the Center’s new retirement confidence survey. (8/6/12)

New Center/TIAA-CREF Report Finds Public Sector Employees Uncertain about Retirement

Survey conducted by the Center for State and Local Government Excellence and TIAA-CREF Institute finds health care costs are a major source of concern. (7/26/12)

Cities and counties cut jobs by thousands

The Minneapolis StarTribune mentions the Center’s most recent workforce study in a look at how job cuts are affecting public services. (6/30/12)

The Pension Reform Landscape

Webinar PowerPoint presentation now available

Public Workers Face New Rash of Layoffs, Hurting Recovery

The New York Times cites Center research as it looks at how government layoffs have larger effects on the economic recovery. (6/19/12)

GASB Set to Vote on New Pension Standards

Center President & CEO Elizabeth Kellar spoke to the Government Finance Officers Association annual conference about proposed new GASB accounting requirements for public pension plans. (6/13/12)

GASB rules have pension execs prepping own accounting standards

To help decision-makers make long-range decisions, the Center for State and Local Government Excellence convened a task force of public pension employer and administrator groups to develop their own recommended […]

Government budgets may ease workers’ sacrifices

Center President & CEO Elizabeth Kellar talks about the results of the Center’s most recent workforce study. (5/26/12)

A Mixed Bag: New Issue Brief on Public Plan Funding

What’s wrong with this picture? The stock market is up; state and local government revenues are on the rise; and governmental pension plans have made record numbers of changes, raising […]

Public Pensions Struggle to Make Required Contributions

An issue brief from the Center for State and Local Government Excellence looks at the effects of the 2008-2009 stock market decline on state and local pensions. (5/7/12)

More Local Governments Cuts Accelerate in Jobs Report

A new survey shows state and local governments have sought to stave off job cuts by pushing down payroll expenses in other ways. The survey by the Center for State […]

Survey: Layoffs ease in local governments, but big challenges remain

American City and County magazine covers the Center’s newest workforce survey. (5/3/12)

Are Local Government Cuts Nearing An End?

Center President & CEO Elizabeth Kellar tells Governing magazine that local governments may begin hiring again very gradually in the next year or two. (3/9/12)

W.Va. reins in public retiree health benefit costs

The Associated Press cites Center research as it looks at how West Virginia is controlling health costs. (2/27/12)

Many Workers in Public Sector Retiring Sooner

The New York Times cites Center research as it finds that as governments cut back, their employees have fewer reasons to stay on the job. (12/5/11)

San Francisco Accepts Workforce Award in National Competition

The Center for State and Local Government Excellence (Center) recognized San Francisco’s comprehensive approach to its workforce challenges at the National League of Cities (NLC) Congress of Cities in Phoenix, Arizona, on November 11. (11/11/11)

Center Recognizes Local Governments for Workforce Excellence

The City and County of San Francisco has been selected for the inaugural Local Government Workforce Excellence Award, the Center for State and Local Government Excellence announced today. Two other […]

Do Unions Really Spur More Pension Benefits?

Governing columnist Girard Miller on the Center’s newest issue brief. (7/21/11)

Fearing cuts, public workers retire early

Center President & CEO Elizabeth Kellar comments on why state and local government employees are speeding their retirements in this NBC Nightly News story. (6/11)

State Workers Run for the Exits

Center President & CEO Elizabeth Kellar tells Bloomberg Business Week that states are facing a demographic brain drain exacerbated by benefit cuts. (4/21/11)

Middle Ground in the Public Pension Fight?

The Wall Street Journal covers a Center issue brief on the role of defined contribution plans in the public sector. (4/21/11)

Budget Fight: What Public Employees Really Cost

Center President & CEO Elizabeth Kellar tells Time magazine that there’s no magic to creating a stable pension system — it just takes discipline. (3/7/11)

Attacking Teachers Reveals Cost Less Than in ’81: Albert R. Hunt

Albert Hunt, Washington executive editor for Bloomberg News, factors Center research into the debate over public sector compensation. (3/6/11)

Who’s Paid More? Experts Can Disagree

The New York Times cites Center research as it considers whether state workers are paid more than private sector employees. (2/25/11)

Are Government Employees Too Well Paid?

National Public Radio uses Center research as it analyzes how public sector compensation compares with the private sector. (2/23/11)

States Aim Ax at Health Cost of Retirement

The New York Times cites Center research as it looks at how states and cities are grappling with the cost of retiree benefits. (2/13/11)

Map offers 24/7 access to state, local pension reforms

Employee Benefit News features the Center’s interactive map showing a sample of state and local governments that have made major reforms to their pension plans. (2/1/11)

State did not plan ahead for workers’ retirement

The Honolulu Star Advertiser cites Center research on retiree health care. (11/18/10)

Rx for controlling costs

The private sector has a lot to learn from the public sector about keeping employees healthy, Center President & CEO Elizabeth Kellar tells American City and County magazine. (10/1/10)

The Muni-Debt Bomb…and how to dismantle it

This Wall Street Journal feature on state and local debt cites Center research on pension obligation bonds. (7/31/10)

America’s Municipal Debt Racket

Blogging for the Wall Street Journal, Steven Malanga of the Manhattan Institute mentions Center research on pension obligation bonds in this look at the debt crisis facing too many municipal governments. (6/14/10)

Budget squeeze sours job picture

CNNMoney.com/Fortune cites Center research in an article on how state and local governments have cut hiring and benefits in the face of reduced tax revenues. (3/10/10)