Plan

Birmingham Retirement & Relief System

State

Alabama

Funded Ratio

72.9%

Assets

N/A

Members

N/A

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

FY2023 data Grade C Public Plans Database

Birmingham Retirement & Relief System

Funded ratio, unfunded liability, member counts, ARC coverage, and 23-year financial history for Birmingham Retirement & Relief System — 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 · Alabama · General State Plan · Data through FY2023

Financial Health Grade

Underfunded — significant gap between assets and liabilities

Funded Ratio

72.9%

actuarial assets / liabilities

Unfunded Liability

N/A

actuarial shortfall

Total Members

N/A

active + retired + vested

1-Year Return

8.9%

net investment return

1.5pp vs 5-yr avg

5-Year Avg Return

7.4%

annualized, net of fees

ARC Payment

37.0%

of actuarially required contribution

How Birmingham Retirement & Relief System Funded Ratio Compares

Plan Funded Ratio 72.9%

National avg

A ratio of 72.9% compared against the national public-pension average of 73.5%.

Healthy Threshold

Plans above 80% are generally considered adequately funded by NASRA standards.

Historical Funded Ratio

Year	Funded Ratio	Assets	Unfunded	Members
2024	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
2023	72.9%	N/A	N/A	N/A
2022	68.9%	$1.07B	$484M	N/A
2021	68.9%	$1.24B	$560M	N/A
2020	N/A	$1.01B	N/A	7,463
2019	63.2%	$1.06B	$618M	7,392
2018	N/A	$1.07B	N/A	7,457
2017	62.9%	$1.05B	$622M	7,392
2016	N/A	$997M	N/A	7,290
2015	61.6%	$1.05B	$652M	7,146
2014	N/A	$1.05B	N/A	7,089
2013	59.5%	$948M	$647M	7,018
2012	61.9%	$901M	$555M	6,959
2011	61.5%	$912M	$572M	6,856
2010	62.2%	$824M	$500M	6,860
2009	60.2%	$771M	$509M	6,744
2008	59.3%	$902M	$620M	6,451
2007	67.6%	$970M	$465M	6,324
2006	66.5%	$957M	$482M	6,241
2005	64.4%	$901M	$498M	6,272

What the Data Says About Birmingham Retirement & Relief System

Birmingham Retirement & Relief System reports a funded ratio of 72.9% as of fiscal year 2023, earning a financial health grade of C in the Public Plans Database. The plan holds N/A in market assets against an unfunded liability of N/A. As a General State plan operating under Alabama sponsorship, it covers an undisclosed member base. 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 37.0% of the Annual Required Contribution in the most recent reporting cycle, while the plan posted a 5-year average investment return of 7.4%. The relationship between contribution adequacy and investment performance determines whether the unfunded liability narrows or expands year over year.

For Alabama taxpayers and plan members, the N/A 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 Birmingham Retirement & Relief System rely on the full faith and credit of Alabama — 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.

Plan Details

Plan Type: General State
State: Alabama
ARC Payment: 37.0%

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

Other Alabama Plans

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Related Resources

Pension Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Birmingham Retirement & Relief System fully funded?

Birmingham Retirement & Relief System has a funded ratio of 72.9% 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 Birmingham Retirement & Relief System runs out of money?

Public pension plans like Birmingham Retirement & Relief System are backed by the sponsoring government entity — in this case Alabama. 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 72.9% mean?

A funded ratio of 72.9% means that Birmingham Retirement & Relief System currently has assets equal to 72.9% of its projected benefit obligations. The unfunded liability — the gap between assets and liabilities — stands at N/A. This represents a moderate funding gap that requires ongoing monitoring.

How does Birmingham Retirement & Relief System compare to other public pensions?

Birmingham Retirement & Relief System is a General State plan in Alabama. Nationally, the average funded ratio for public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database is approximately 72–75%. Birmingham Retirement & Relief System's funded ratio of 72.9% places it near the national average.

How many members does Birmingham Retirement & Relief System have?

Birmingham Retirement & Relief System covers an undisclosed number of members. 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 Birmingham Retirement & Relief System?

Birmingham Retirement & Relief System pays 37.0% 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