Plan

Dallas Police and Fire

State

Texas

Funded Ratio

87.2%

Assets

N/A

Members

10,547

Health Grade: B — Adequately funded — meeting most funding benchmarks

FY2023 data Grade B Public Plans Database

Dallas Police and Fire

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

Financial Health Grade

Adequately funded — meeting most funding benchmarks

Funded Ratio

87.2%

actuarial assets / liabilities

Unfunded Liability

N/A

actuarial shortfall

Total Members

10,547

active + retired + vested

1-Year Return

10.3%

net investment return

1.8pp vs 5-yr avg

5-Year Avg Return

8.5%

annualized, net of fees

ARC Payment

11.3%

of actuarially required contribution

How Dallas Police and Fire Funded Ratio Compares

Plan Funded Ratio 87.2%

National avg

A ratio of 87.2% 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.

Historical Funded Ratio

Year	Funded Ratio	Assets	Unfunded	Members
2024	87.2%	N/A	N/A	N/A
2023	84.3%	N/A	N/A	10,547
2022	83.3%	$1.82B	$366M	10,396
2021	68.2%	$2.18B	$1.02B	10,241
2020	52.1%	$1.96B	$1.80B	10,137
2019	53.1%	$2.08B	$1.83B	10,019
2018	54.1%	$2.04B	$1.73B	9,678
2017	49.5%	$2.10B	$2.14B	9,300
2016	57.3%	$2.15B	$1.60B	8,673
2015	57.3%	$2.68B	$1.99B	8,507
2014	57.3%	$3.07B	$2.29B	8,333
2013	66.9%	$3.34B	$1.65B	8,101
2012	70.7%	$3.26B	$1.35B	7,939
2011	76.6%	$3.02B	$921M	7,867
2010	83.8%	$3.11B	$602M	7,823
2009	86.4%	$2.87B	$452M	7,821
2008	90.3%	$2.53B	$272M	7,554
2007	88.5%	$3.35B	$436M	7,201
2006	93.7%	$3.13B	$211M	7,014
2005	96.4%	$2.74B	$102M	6,854

What the Data Says About Dallas Police and Fire

Dallas Police and Fire reports a funded ratio of 87.2% as of fiscal year 2023, earning a financial health grade of B 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 Texas sponsorship, it covers 10,547 members (4,921 active contributors, 5,372 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 above 80% signals that Dallas Police and Fire has substantial assets to meet projected obligations, placing it above the national public-pension average of roughly 72–75%. Employer contributions covered 11.3% of the Annual Required Contribution in the most recent reporting cycle, while the plan posted a 5-year average investment return of 8.5%. 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 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 Dallas Police and Fire 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

4,921

Active Members

5,372

Retirees

10,547

Total Members

Plan Details

Plan Type: Police & Fire
State: Texas
ARC Payment: 11.3%

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

Other Texas Plans

Houston Municipal 88.0%
Texas County & District Retirement System 77.0%
Houston Firefighters Relief and Retirement Fund 75.9%
Dallas ERS 75.0%
Austin Police 74.3%

All Texas plans →

Related Resources

Pension Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dallas Police and Fire fully funded?

Dallas Police and Fire has a funded ratio of 87.2% as of FY2023, earning a health grade of B. 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 Dallas Police and Fire runs out of money?

Public pension plans like Dallas Police and Fire 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 87.2% mean?

A funded ratio of 87.2% means that Dallas Police and Fire currently has assets equal to 87.2% of its projected benefit obligations. The unfunded liability — the gap between assets and liabilities — stands at N/A. This is considered adequately funded.

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

Dallas Police and Fire is a Police & Fire plan in Texas serving 10,547 members. Nationally, the average funded ratio for public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database is approximately 72–75%. Dallas Police and Fire's funded ratio of 87.2% places it above the national average, reflecting strong fiscal management.

How many members does Dallas Police and Fire have?

Dallas Police and Fire covers 10,547 total members, including 4,921 active employees and 5,372 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 Dallas Police and Fire?

Dallas Police and Fire pays 11.3% 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