Plan

Austin Police

State

Texas

Funded Ratio

74.3%

Assets

$1.01B

Members

2,994

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

FY2023 data Grade C Public Plans Database

Austin Police

Funded ratio, unfunded liability, member counts, ARC coverage, and 23-year financial history for Austin Police — 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 · Texas · Police & Fire Plan · Data through FY2023

Financial Health Grade

Underfunded — significant gap between assets and liabilities

Funded Ratio

74.3%

actuarial assets / liabilities

Unfunded Liability

$351M

actuarial shortfall

Total Members

2,994

active + retired + vested

1-Year Return

11.9%

net investment return

4.6pp vs 5-yr avg

5-Year Avg Return

7.3%

annualized, net of fees

ARC Payment

1002.8%

of actuarially required contribution

How Austin Police Funded Ratio Compares

Plan Funded Ratio 74.3%

National avg

A ratio of 74.3% 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	74.3%	N/A	N/A	N/A
2023	80.5%	$1.01B	$245M	2,994
2022	83.7%	$933M	$182M	2,952
2021	82.8%	$1.08B	$225M	2,896
2020	80.6%	$938M	$226M	2,869
2019	83.3%	$858M	$172M	2,865
2018	86.1%	$719M	$116M	2,837
2017	86.1%	$769M	$124M	2,778
2016	84.8%	$686M	$123M	2,722
2015	84.3%	$644M	$120M	2,603
2014	81.6%	$638M	$144M	2,531
2013	76.4%	$595M	$184M	2,441
2012	83.9%	$539M	$103M	2,380
2011	90.0%	$484M	$54M	2,295
2010	87.8%	$493M	$68M	2,188
2009	73.2%	$432M	$158M	2,185
2008	98.4%	$387M	$6M	2,117
2007	99.8%	$515M	$1M	1,989
2006	90.5%	$461M	$48M	1,887
2005	91.2%	$390M	$38M	1,824

What the Data Says About Austin Police

Austin Police reports a funded ratio of 74.3% as of fiscal year 2023, earning a financial health grade of C in the Public Plans Database. The plan holds $1.01B in market assets against an unfunded liability of $351M. As a Police & Fire plan operating under Texas sponsorship, it covers 2,994 members (1,551 active contributors, 1,371 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 1002.8% of the Annual Required Contribution in the most recent reporting cycle, while the plan posted a 5-year average investment return of 7.3%. The relationship between contribution adequacy and investment performance determines whether the unfunded liability narrows or expands year over year.

For Texas taxpayers and plan members, the $351M 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 Austin Police rely on the full faith and credit of Texas — 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

1,551

Active Members

1,371

Retirees

2,994

Total Members

Plan Details

Plan Type: Police & Fire
State: Texas
Market Assets: $1.01B
ARC Payment: 1002.8%

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

Other Texas Plans

Houston Municipal 88.0%
Dallas Police and Fire 87.2%
Texas County & District Retirement System 77.0%
Houston Firefighters Relief and Retirement Fund 75.9%
Dallas ERS 75.0%

All Texas plans →

Related Resources

Pension Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Austin Police fully funded?

Austin Police has a funded ratio of 74.3% 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 Austin Police runs out of money?

Public pension plans like Austin Police are backed by the sponsoring government entity — in this case Texas. 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 74.3% mean?

A funded ratio of 74.3% means that Austin Police currently has assets equal to 74.3% of its projected benefit obligations. The unfunded liability — the gap between assets and liabilities — stands at $351M. This represents a moderate funding gap that requires ongoing monitoring.

How does Austin Police compare to other public pensions?

Austin Police is a Police & Fire plan in Texas serving 2,994 members. Nationally, the average funded ratio for public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database is approximately 72–75%. Austin Police's funded ratio of 74.3% places it near the national average.

How many members does Austin Police have?

Austin Police covers 2,994 total members, including 1,551 active employees and 1,371 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 Austin Police?

Austin Police pays 1002.8% of its Annual Required Contribution (ARC). Meeting or exceeding 100% of ARC means the plan is fully contributing what actuaries recommend, which supports long-term funding stability. 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