Plan

Charlotte (NC) Law Enforcement

State

North Carolina

Funded Ratio

54.0%

Assets

N/A

Members

N/A

Health Grade: D — Severely underfunded — facing funding crisis

FY2023 data Grade D Public Plans Database

Charlotte (NC) Law Enforcement

Funded ratio, unfunded liability, member counts, ARC coverage, and 23-year financial history for Charlotte (NC) Law Enforcement — 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 · North Carolina · Police & Fire Plan · Data through FY2023

Financial Health Grade

Severely underfunded — facing funding crisis

Funded Ratio

54.0%

actuarial assets / liabilities

Unfunded Liability

N/A

actuarial shortfall

Total Members

N/A

active + retired + vested

1-Year Return

5.9%

net investment return

-0.8pp vs 5-yr avg

5-Year Avg Return

6.8%

annualized, net of fees

ARC Payment

18.7%

of actuarially required contribution

How Charlotte (NC) Law Enforcement Funded Ratio Compares

Plan Funded Ratio 54.0%

National avg

A ratio of 54.0% 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	54.0%	N/A	N/A	N/A
2022	53.4%	N/A	N/A	N/A
2021	53.7%	N/A	N/A	N/A
2020	53.3%	N/A	N/A	2,211
2019	52.4%	N/A	N/A	2,184
2018	51.8%	N/A	N/A	2,144
2017	53.0%	N/A	N/A	2,074
2016	55.5%	N/A	N/A	2,053
2015	55.7%	N/A	N/A	2,053
2014	56.2%	N/A	N/A	2,036
2013	53.7%	N/A	N/A	2,036
2012	54.0%	N/A	N/A	2,024
2011	56.3%	N/A	N/A	2,012
2010	58.7%	N/A	N/A	1,972
2009	59.8%	N/A	N/A	1,940
2008	62.9%	N/A	N/A	1,892
2007	75.5%	N/A	N/A	1,840
2006	76.0%	N/A	N/A	1,776
2005	78.7%	N/A	N/A	1,725

What the Data Says About Charlotte (NC) Law Enforcement

Charlotte (NC) Law Enforcement reports a funded ratio of 54.0% as of fiscal year 2023, earning a financial health grade of D in the Public Plans Database. The plan holds N/A in market assets against an unfunded liability of N/A. As a Police & Fire plan operating under North Carolina 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 below 60% reflects significant underfunding relative to the national average of 72–75%, which typically triggers escalating employer contributions or legislative reform conversations. Employer contributions covered 18.7% of the Annual Required Contribution in the most recent reporting cycle, while the plan posted a 5-year average investment return of 6.8%. The relationship between contribution adequacy and investment performance determines whether the unfunded liability narrows or expands year over year.

For North Carolina 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 Charlotte (NC) Law Enforcement rely on the full faith and credit of North Carolina — 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: Police & Fire
State: North Carolina
ARC Payment: 18.7%

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

Other North Carolina Plans

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Related Resources

Pension Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Charlotte (NC) Law Enforcement fully funded?

Charlotte (NC) Law Enforcement has a funded ratio of 54.0% as of FY2023, earning a health grade of D. 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 Charlotte (NC) Law Enforcement runs out of money?

Public pension plans like Charlotte (NC) Law Enforcement are backed by the sponsoring government entity — in this case North Carolina. 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 54.0% mean?

A funded ratio of 54.0% means that Charlotte (NC) Law Enforcement currently has assets equal to 54.0% of its projected benefit obligations. The unfunded liability — the gap between assets and liabilities — stands at N/A. This level of underfunding typically requires corrective action such as increased contributions or benefit restructuring.

How does Charlotte (NC) Law Enforcement compare to other public pensions?

Charlotte (NC) Law Enforcement is a Police & Fire plan in North Carolina. Nationally, the average funded ratio for public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database is approximately 72–75%. Charlotte (NC) Law Enforcement's funded ratio of 54.0% places it below the national average, indicating elevated fiscal pressure.

How many members does Charlotte (NC) Law Enforcement have?

Charlotte (NC) Law Enforcement 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 Charlotte (NC) Law Enforcement?

Charlotte (NC) Law Enforcement pays 18.7% 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