Unfunded Liability
$2.27B
actuarial shortfall
FY2023 data · Public Plans Database
Alameda County Employee's Retirement Association
Funded ratio, unfunded liability, member counts, and 23-year financial history for Alameda County Employee's Retirement Association, sourced from the Public Plans Database (Boston College CRR) and cross-checked against actuarial valuations.
By PlainPension · · California · Municipal Plan · Data through FY2023
- Funded ratio
- 81.8%
- Health grade
- BReported funded ratio above the portfolio average range
- Market assets
- $10.19B
- Members
- 26,411
According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, Alameda County Employee's Retirement Association is one of 197 public pension plans tracked nationwide. The plan card reports FY2023 valuation figures; the multi-year table includes FY2024 where PPD published it; this site’s database copy was last loaded in July 2026. See our methodology for the full source and update cadence.
Total Members
26,411
active + retired + vested
1-Year Return
10.1%
net investment return
1.4pp vs 5-yr avg
5-Year Avg Return
8.7%
annualized, net of fees
How Alameda County Employee's Retirement Association Funded Ratio Compares
Plan Funded Ratio 81.8%
National avg
A ratio of 81.8% compared against the national public-pension average of 75.5%.
Healthy Threshold
Plans above 80% are generally considered adequately funded by NASRA standards.
Participant Composition
The active-to-retiree ratio is a leading indicator of long-term plan sustainability, plans with more retirees than active contributors face mounting cash-flow pressure as benefit payments outpace incoming contributions.
Investment Policy Mix
Public pension plans report their asset allocation in their annual CAFR and actuarial valuation. Equity-heavy mixes capture market upside but introduce volatility; fixed-income tilts protect funded status during downturns at the cost of long-run return.
Historical Funded Ratio
| Year | Funded Ratio |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 82.5% |
| 2023 | 81.8% |
| 2022 | 83.5% |
| 2021 | 83.1% |
| 2020 | 78.8% |
| 2019 | 79.9% |
| 2018 | 86.6% |
| 2017 | 84.8% |
| 2016 | 82.6% |
| 2015 | 81.7% |
| 2014 | 80.0% |
| 2013 | 75.9% |
| 2012 | 78.7% |
| 2011 | 82.5% |
| 2010 | 86.7% |
| 2009 | 94.8% |
| 2008 | 103.0% |
| 2007 | 104.8% |
| 2006 | 104.1% |
| 2005 | 110.3% |
What the Data Says About Alameda County Employee's Retirement Association
Alameda County Employee's Retirement Association reports a funded ratio of 81.8% as of fiscal year 2023, earning a financial health grade of B in the Public Plans Database. The plan holds $10.19B in market assets against an unfunded liability of $2.27B. As a Municipal plan operating under California sponsorship, it covers 26,411 members (11,547 active contributors, 11,026 retirees drawing benefits).
Alameda County Employee's Retirement Association ranks among the better-funded plans in the database, 6 points above the 75.5% national average across tracked plans. A 5-year average investment return of 8.7% factors into the plan's overall trajectory.
For California taxpayers and plan members, the $2.27B unfunded gap is the actuarial shortfall this plan must close over time.
Where this data comes from + how funding gaps get resolved
These figures come from the Public Plans Database, a collaboration between the Boston College Center for Retirement Research and NASRA that compiles them from each plan's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (CAFRs) and actuarial valuations. The relationship between contribution adequacy and investment performance determines whether an unfunded liability narrows or expands year over year, and the gap itself is typically closed through some combination of higher contributions, investment returns, or benefit modifications. See our methodology for how public-pension funding differs from ERISA-backed private plans, and our disclaimer below before acting on this data.
Membership
11,547
Active Members
11,026
Retirees
26,411
Total Members
Plan Details
- Plan Type
- Municipal
- State
- California
- Market Assets
- $10.19B
Source: Public Plans Database (PPD)
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Plans With a Similar Funded Ratio
The closest plans nationwide to Alameda County Employee's Retirement Association's 81.8% funded ratio.
Other California Plans
- Sacramento County ERS 101.7%
- San Diego County Employees Retirement Association 94.3%
- Kern County Employees Retirement Association 93.5%
- San Francisco City and County Retirement System 82.9%
- Los Angeles Water and Power 81.6%
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alameda County Employee's Retirement Association fully funded?
Alameda County Employee's Retirement Association has a funded ratio of 81.8% as of FY2023, earning a health grade of B. A funded ratio compares actuarial assets with actuarial accrued liabilities at a reporting date. A value of 100% means those two reported values are equal; it does not forecast benefits, taxes, or investment performance.
What happens if Alameda County Employee's Retirement Association runs out of money?
Alameda County Employee's Retirement Association is a public plan in California. PlainPension reports the source data and does not determine a plan's legal protections, contribution policy, or future benefit decisions.
What does a funded ratio of 81.8% mean?
A funded ratio of 81.8% means that Alameda County Employee's Retirement Association currently has assets equal to 81.8% of its projected benefit obligations. The unfunded liability, the gap between assets and liabilities, stands at $2.27B. This is considered adequately funded.
How does Alameda County Employee's Retirement Association compare to other public pensions?
Alameda County Employee's Retirement Association is a Municipal plan in California serving 26,411 members. Nationally, the average funded ratio for public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database is approximately 75.5%. Alameda County Employee's Retirement Association's funded ratio of 81.8% places it above the national average, reflecting strong fiscal management.
How many members does Alameda County Employee's Retirement Association have?
Alameda County Employee's Retirement Association covers 26,411 total members, including 11,547 active employees and 11,026 retirees currently receiving benefits. The ratio of active members to retirees is a key indicator of plan sustainability, when the number of retirees grows relative to active contributors, funding pressure increases.
Related
Data sourced from official Public Plans Database and actuarial valuations from federal and state pension systems. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainPension
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Public Plans Database (PPD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data sources used on this page
- Public Plans Database (PPD) - funded ratios, assets, liabilities, and member counts for US state and local public pension plans, maintained by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research with MissionSquare Research Institute and NASRA. publicplansdata.org
- NASRA - National Association of State Retirement Administrators public-pension actuarial and policy references. nasra.org
Every figure on PlainPension is rendered directly from the Public Plans Database (Boston College Center for Retirement Research), no number is typed in by an editor. This page aggregates this plan's funded ratio, unfunded liability, and multi-year financial history, live from the dataset. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.