Plan

Arkansas Police and Fire

State

Alaska

Funded Ratio

68.5%

Assets

$3.19B

Members

17,392

Health Grade: C — Underfunded — significant gap between assets and liabilities

FY2023 data Grade C Public Plans Database

Arkansas Police and Fire

Funded ratio, unfunded liability, member counts, ARC coverage, and 23-year financial history for Arkansas Police and Fire — sourced from the Public Plans Database (Boston College CRR) and cross-checked against actuarial valuations.

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By Kiznis Studio Editorial · June 2026 · Alaska · Police & Fire Plan · Data through FY2023

Financial Health Grade

Underfunded — significant gap between assets and liabilities

Funded Ratio

68.5%

actuarial assets / liabilities

Unfunded Liability

$1.47B

actuarial shortfall

Total Members

17,392

active + retired + vested

1-Year Return

5.5%

net investment return

-0.4pp vs 5-yr avg

5-Year Avg Return

5.9%

annualized, net of fees

ARC Payment

12.0%

of actuarially required contribution

How Arkansas Police and Fire Funded Ratio Compares

Plan Funded Ratio 68.5%

National avg

A ratio of 68.5% compared against the national public-pension average of 73.5%.

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 Form 5500 Schedule H Part I disclosures. 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	Assets	Unfunded	Members
2024	68.5%	N/A	N/A	N/A
2023	69.1%	$3.19B	$1.43B	17,392
2022	68.4%	$2.77B	$1.28B	16,620
2021	69.4%	$3.27B	$1.44B	15,833
2020	66.5%	$2.81B	$1.42B	15,211
2019	63.3%	$2.47B	$1.44B	14,571
2018	66.2%	$2.08B	$1.06B	13,872
2017	69.2%	$2.07B	$924M	13,276
2016	69.7%	$1.77B	$769M	12,580
2015	77.6%	$1.65B	$475M	11,876
2014	79.9%	$1.61B	$405M	11,462
2013	81.2%	$1.47B	$340M	10,629
2012	80.2%	$1.16B	$286M	10,118
2011	84.9%	$1.00B	$178M	9,422
2010	93.1%	$956M	$71M	7,100
2009	99.4%	$828M	$5M	6,935
2008	103.5%	$657M	$-22M	6,673
2007	109.3%	$832M	$-71M	6,623
2006	100.8%	$737M	$-6M	6,340
2005	101.0%	$647M	$-6M	6,120

What the Data Says About Arkansas Police and Fire

Arkansas Police and Fire reports a funded ratio of 68.5% as of fiscal year 2023, earning a financial health grade of C in the Public Plans Database. The plan holds $3.19B in market assets against an unfunded liability of $1.47B. As a Police & Fire plan operating under Alaska sponsorship, it covers 17,392 members (7,199 active contributors, 4,846 retirees drawing benefits). These figures aggregate from Form 5500 filings submitted to the Department of Labor and actuarial valuations reported through NASRA.

A funded ratio in the 60–80% range indicates moderate underfunding that falls near the national average of 72–75% but leaves the plan exposed to market downturns and demographic shifts. Employer contributions covered 12.0% of the Annual Required Contribution in the most recent reporting cycle, while the plan posted a 5-year average investment return of 5.9%. The relationship between contribution adequacy and investment performance determines whether the unfunded liability narrows or expands year over year.

For Alaska taxpayers and plan members, the $1.47B unfunded gap represents the actuarial shortfall that must eventually be closed through a combination of contributions, investment returns, or benefit modifications. Unlike private-sector pensions governed by ERISA and backstopped by the PBGC, public plans like Arkansas Police and Fire rely on the full faith and credit of Alaska — meaning funding shortfalls flow through to state and local budgets rather than a federal insurance program. This information summarizes official Public Plans Database disclosures and is provided for research and educational purposes only. It is not financial, legal, or retirement-planning advice; active and retired members with specific benefit questions should consult their plan administrator directly.

Membership

7,199

Active Members

4,846

Retirees

17,392

Total Members

Plan Details

Plan Type: Police & Fire
State: Alaska
Market Assets: $3.19B
ARC Payment: 12.0%

Source: Public Plans Database (PPD)
Boston College CRR / NASRA

Other Alaska Plans

All Alaska plans →

Related Resources

Pension Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Arkansas Police and Fire fully funded?

Arkansas Police and Fire has a funded ratio of 68.5% as of FY2023, earning a health grade of C. A funded ratio of 100% means the plan has enough assets to cover all projected liabilities. Ratios above 80% are generally considered adequately funded; ratios below 60% indicate significant underfunding and risk to future benefits.

What happens if Arkansas Police and Fire runs out of money?

Public pension plans like Arkansas Police and Fire are backed by the sponsoring government entity — in this case Alaska. If a plan's assets are insufficient, the state or local government is typically required to make up the difference through increased contributions, benefit adjustments, or tax measures. Unlike private pensions, public pensions are not insured by the PBGC, but they do carry the full faith and credit of the sponsoring government.

What does a funded ratio of 68.5% mean?

A funded ratio of 68.5% means that Arkansas Police and Fire currently has assets equal to 68.5% of its projected benefit obligations. The unfunded liability — the gap between assets and liabilities — stands at $1.47B. This represents a moderate funding gap that requires ongoing monitoring.

How does Arkansas Police and Fire compare to other public pensions?

Arkansas Police and Fire is a Police & Fire plan in Alaska serving 17,392 members. Nationally, the average funded ratio for public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database is approximately 72–75%. Arkansas Police and Fire's funded ratio of 68.5% places it near the national average.

How many members does Arkansas Police and Fire have?

Arkansas Police and Fire covers 17,392 total members, including 7,199 active employees and 4,846 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.

What is the ARC payment percentage for Arkansas Police and Fire?

Arkansas Police and Fire pays 12.0% of its Annual Required Contribution (ARC). Consistently underpaying the ARC accelerates the growth of unfunded liabilities and places future benefits at greater risk. Employer contribution patterns are tracked annually in the Public Plans Database.

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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 Kiznis Studio Editorial

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.

All federal data sources used on this page

U.S. Census Bureau ACS — demographic + housing + income data. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage + employment by occupation. bls.gov/oes
BEA Regional Economic Accounts — GDP + personal income by state/metro. bea.gov/data/regional
U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns — establishment + employment by industry. census.gov/cbp
IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) — tax-return aggregate data. irs.gov/statistics
data.gov — U.S. federal open-data portal — discovery layer for additional federal sources. data.gov