Unfunded Liability
$482M
actuarial shortfall
FY2023 data · Public Plans Database
Houston Municipal
Houston Municipal's complete funding picture: assets, unfunded liability, member counts, and investment returns over a 23-year span, as reported to the Public Plans Database (Boston College CRR) and cross-referenced with actuarial valuations.
By PlainPension · · Texas · Municipal Plan · Data through FY2023
- Funded ratio
- 89.4%
- Health grade
- BReported funded ratio above the portfolio average range
- Market assets
- $4.07B
- Members
- 27,557
According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, Houston Municipal is one of 197 public pension plans tracked nationwide. The plan card reports FY2023 valuation figures; the multi-year table includes FY2024 where PPD published it; this site’s database copy was last loaded in July 2026. See our methodology for the full source and update cadence.
Total Members
27,557
active + retired + vested
1-Year Return
16.6%
net investment return
7.3pp vs 5-yr avg
5-Year Avg Return
9.3%
annualized, net of fees
How Houston Municipal Funded Ratio Compares
Plan Funded Ratio 89.4%
National avg
A ratio of 89.4% compared against the national public-pension average of 75.5%.
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 their annual CAFR and actuarial valuation. 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 |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 88.0% |
| 2023 | 89.4% |
| 2022 | 90.3% |
| 2021 | 93.6% |
| 2020 | 92.8% |
| 2019 | 90.8% |
| 2018 | 90.9% |
| 2017 | 94.3% |
| 2016 | 92.9% |
| 2015 | 93.8% |
| 2014 | 94.9% |
| 2013 | 93.1% |
| 2012 | 91.0% |
| 2011 | 92.5% |
| 2010 | 95.5% |
| 2009 | 96.3% |
| 2008 | 100.1% |
| 2007 | 110.5% |
| 2006 | 110.2% |
| 2005 | 110.6% |
What the Data Says About Houston Municipal
Houston Municipal reports a funded ratio of 89.4% as of fiscal year 2023, earning a financial health grade of B in the Public Plans Database. The plan holds $4.07B in market assets against an unfunded liability of $482M. As a Municipal plan operating under Texas sponsorship, it covers 27,557 members (11,578 active contributors, 11,972 retirees drawing benefits).
Houston Municipal ranks among the better-funded plans in the database, 14 points above the 75.5% national average across tracked plans. A 5-year average investment return of 9.3% factors into the plan's overall trajectory.
For Texas taxpayers and plan members, the $482M unfunded gap is the actuarial shortfall this plan must close over time.
Where this data comes from + how funding gaps get resolved
These figures come from the Public Plans Database, a collaboration between the Boston College Center for Retirement Research and NASRA that compiles them from each plan's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (CAFRs) and actuarial valuations. The relationship between contribution adequacy and investment performance determines whether an unfunded liability narrows or expands year over year, and the gap itself is typically closed through some combination of higher contributions, investment returns, or benefit modifications. See our methodology for how public-pension funding differs from ERISA-backed private plans, and our disclaimer below before acting on this data.
Membership
11,578
Active Members
11,972
Retirees
27,557
Total Members
Plan Details
- Plan Type
- Municipal
- State
- Texas
- Market Assets
- $4.07B
Source: Public Plans Database (PPD)
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Plans With a Similar Funded Ratio
The closest plans nationwide to Houston Municipal's 89.4% funded ratio.
Other Texas Plans
- Dallas Police and Fire 84.3%
- Austin Police 80.5%
- Texas County & District Retirement System 75.1%
- Dallas ERS 75.0%
- Texas Employees Retirement System 72.8%
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Houston Municipal fully funded?
Houston Municipal has a funded ratio of 89.4% as of FY2023, earning a health grade of B. At 100%, reported actuarial assets equal reported accrued liabilities. Plans use different assumptions and valuation methods, so ratios should be read alongside the underlying actuarial valuation.
What happens if Houston Municipal runs out of money?
This profile is not a legal or retirement-benefit assessment. For a decision affecting Houston Municipal, consult the plan administrator, governing documents, and a qualified professional.
What does a funded ratio of 89.4% mean?
A funded ratio of 89.4% means that Houston Municipal currently has assets equal to 89.4% of its projected benefit obligations. The unfunded liability, the gap between assets and liabilities, stands at $482M. This is considered adequately funded.
How does Houston Municipal compare to other public pensions?
Houston Municipal is a Municipal plan in Texas serving 27,557 members. Nationally, the average funded ratio for public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database is approximately 75.5%. Houston Municipal's funded ratio of 89.4% places it above the national average, reflecting strong fiscal management.
How many members does Houston Municipal have?
Houston Municipal covers 27,557 total members, including 11,578 active employees and 11,972 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.
Related
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 PlainPension
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.
Data sources used on this page
- Public Plans Database (PPD) - funded ratios, assets, liabilities, and member counts for US state and local public pension plans, maintained by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research with MissionSquare Research Institute and NASRA. publicplansdata.org
- NASRA - National Association of State Retirement Administrators public-pension actuarial and policy references. nasra.org
Every figure on PlainPension is rendered directly from the Public Plans Database (Boston College Center for Retirement Research), no number is typed in by an editor. This page aggregates this plan's funded ratio, unfunded liability, and multi-year financial history, live from the dataset. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.