Funded Ratio
45.8%
actuarial assets / liabilities
Plan
Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund
State
Ohio
Funded Ratio
45.8%
Assets
$16.90B
Members
61,428
Health Grade: D — Severely underfunded — facing funding crisis
FY2023 data Grade D Public Plans Database
Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund
Funded ratio, unfunded liability, member counts, ARC coverage, and 23-year financial history for Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund — sourced from the Public Plans Database (Boston College CRR) and cross-checked against actuarial valuations.
D
Financial Health Grade
Severely underfunded — facing funding crisis
Unfunded Liability
$20.02B
actuarial shortfall
Total Members
61,428
active + retired + vested
1-Year Return
10.7%
net investment return
2.4pp vs 5-yr avg
5-Year Avg Return
8.3%
annualized, net of fees
ARC Payment
35.4%
of actuarially required contribution
How Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund Funded Ratio Compares
Plan Funded Ratio 45.8%
National avg
A ratio of 45.8% 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.
Investment Policy Mix
Public pension plans report their asset allocation in Form 5500 Schedule H Part I disclosures. 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 | 45.8% |
| 2023 | 43.8% |
| 2022 | 42.1% |
| 2021 | 41.3% |
| 2020 | 39.7% |
| 2019 | 40.3% |
| 2018 | 43.1% |
| 2017 | 42.1% |
| 2016 | 47.0% |
| 2015 | 51.1% |
| 2014 | 54.0% |
| 2013 | 57.0% |
| 2012 | 59.3% |
| 2011 | 62.8% |
| 2010 | 67.1% |
| 2009 | 63.8% |
| 2008 | 70.8% |
| 2007 | 74.7% |
| 2006 | 76.3% |
| 2005 | 79.1% |
What the Data Says About Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund
Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund reports a funded ratio of 45.8% as of fiscal year 2023, earning a financial health grade of D in the Public Plans Database. The plan holds $16.90B in market assets against an unfunded liability of $20.02B. As a Police & Fire plan operating under Ohio sponsorship, it covers 61,428 members (29,931 active contributors, 31,217 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 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 35.4% of the Annual Required Contribution in the most recent reporting cycle, while the plan posted a 5-year average investment return of 8.3%. The relationship between contribution adequacy and investment performance determines whether the unfunded liability narrows or expands year over year.
For Ohio taxpayers and plan members, the $20.02B 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 Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund rely on the full faith and credit of Ohio — 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
29,931
Active Members
31,217
Retirees
61,428
Total Members
Plan Details
- Plan Type
- Police & Fire
- State
- Ohio
- Market Assets
- $16.90B
- ARC Payment
- 35.4%
Source: Public Plans Database (PPD)
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Other Ohio Plans
- Cincinnati Employees Retirement System 88.0%
- Ohio Public Employees Retirement System 68.0%
- Ohio School Employees Retirement System 67.2%
- Ohio State Teachers Retirement System 64.8%
Related Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund fully funded?
Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund has a funded ratio of 45.8% 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 Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund runs out of money?
Public pension plans like Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund are backed by the sponsoring government entity — in this case Ohio. 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 45.8% mean?
A funded ratio of 45.8% means that Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund currently has assets equal to 45.8% of its projected benefit obligations. The unfunded liability — the gap between assets and liabilities — stands at $20.02B. This level of underfunding typically requires corrective action such as increased contributions or benefit restructuring.
How does Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund compare to other public pensions?
Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund is a Police & Fire plan in Ohio serving 61,428 members. Nationally, the average funded ratio for public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database is approximately 72–75%. Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund's funded ratio of 45.8% places it below the national average, indicating elevated fiscal pressure.
How many members does Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund have?
Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund covers 61,428 total members, including 29,931 active employees and 31,217 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 Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund?
Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund pays 35.4% 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.
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 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