Unfunded Liability
$377M
actuarial shortfall
FY2023 data · Public Plans Database
Kern County Employees Retirement Association
A full financial snapshot of Kern County Employees Retirement Association: funded ratio, unfunded liability, member counts, and investment returns, drawn from 23 years of history in the Public Plans Database (Boston College CRR) and verified against actuarial valuations.
By PlainPension · · California · Municipal Plan · Data through FY2023
- Funded ratio
- 93.5%
- Health grade
- BReported funded ratio above the portfolio average range
- Market assets
- $5.39B
- Members
- 23,104
According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, Kern County Employees Retirement Association 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
23,104
active + retired + vested
1-Year Return
9.4%
net investment return
1.0pp vs 5-yr avg
5-Year Avg Return
8.5%
annualized, net of fees
How Kern County Employees Retirement Association Funded Ratio Compares
Plan Funded Ratio 93.5%
National avg
A ratio of 93.5% 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 | 93.1% |
| 2023 | 93.5% |
| 2022 | 92.8% |
| 2021 | 93.2% |
| 2020 | 88.8% |
| 2019 | 87.5% |
| 2018 | 87.4% |
| 2017 | 87.7% |
| 2016 | 85.5% |
| 2015 | 85.4% |
| 2014 | 85.8% |
| 2013 | 81.9% |
| 2012 | 77.4% |
| 2011 | 80.1% |
| 2010 | 83.8% |
| 2009 | 87.1% |
| 2008 | 88.0% |
| 2007 | 96.9% |
| 2006 | 97.6% |
| 2005 | 95.2% |
What the Data Says About Kern County Employees Retirement Association
Kern County Employees Retirement Association reports a funded ratio of 93.5% as of fiscal year 2023, earning a financial health grade of B in the Public Plans Database. The plan holds $5.39B in market assets against an unfunded liability of $377M. As a Municipal plan operating under California sponsorship, it covers 23,104 members (9,557 active contributors, 9,156 retirees drawing benefits).
Kern County Employees Retirement Association is one of the more fully funded plans in the Public Plans Database, 18 points above the 75.5% national average across tracked plans. A 5-year average investment return of 8.5% factors into the plan's overall trajectory.
For California taxpayers and plan members, the $377M 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
9,557
Active Members
9,156
Retirees
23,104
Total Members
Plan Details
- Plan Type
- Municipal
- State
- California
- Market Assets
- $5.39B
Source: Public Plans Database (PPD)
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Plans With a Similar Funded Ratio
The closest plans nationwide to Kern County Employees Retirement Association's 93.5% funded ratio.
Other California Plans
- Sacramento County ERS 101.7%
- San Diego County Employees Retirement Association 94.3%
- San Francisco City and County Retirement System 82.9%
- Alameda County Employee's Retirement Association 81.8%
- Los Angeles Water and Power 81.6%
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kern County Employees Retirement Association fully funded?
Kern County Employees Retirement Association has a funded ratio of 93.5% as of FY2023, earning a health grade of B. This funded ratio is an actuarial snapshot, not a solvency prediction. Compare its valuation date, asset method, and actuarial assumptions before drawing conclusions about a plan.
What happens if Kern County Employees Retirement Association runs out of money?
Kern County Employees Retirement Association's reported financial data should be read with the plan's own actuarial valuation and governing documents. This page does not assess legal obligations or predict government action.
What does a funded ratio of 93.5% mean?
A funded ratio of 93.5% means that Kern County Employees Retirement Association currently has assets equal to 93.5% of its projected benefit obligations. The unfunded liability, the gap between assets and liabilities, stands at $377M. This is considered adequately funded.
How does Kern County Employees Retirement Association compare to other public pensions?
Kern County Employees Retirement Association is a Municipal plan in California serving 23,104 members. Nationally, the average funded ratio for public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database is approximately 75.5%. Kern County Employees Retirement Association's funded ratio of 93.5% places it above the national average, reflecting strong fiscal management.
How many members does Kern County Employees Retirement Association have?
Kern County Employees Retirement Association covers 23,104 total members, including 9,557 active employees and 9,156 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.