Unfunded Liability
$-212M
actuarial shortfall
FY2023 data · Public Plans Database
Sacramento County ERS
The Public Plans Database's 23-year record for Sacramento County ERS: funded ratio, unfunded liability, member counts, and investment returns, compiled by Boston College CRR and cross-checked against actuarial valuations.
By PlainPension · · California · Municipal Plan · Data through FY2023
- Funded ratio
- 101.7%
- Health grade
- BReported funded ratio above the portfolio average range
- Market assets
- $12.36B
- Members
- 31,803
According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, Sacramento County ERS 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
31,803
active + retired + vested
1-Year Return
5.2%
net investment return
-5.1pp vs 5-yr avg
5-Year Avg Return
10.3%
annualized, net of fees
How Sacramento County ERS Funded Ratio Compares
Plan Funded Ratio 100.0%
National avg
A ratio of 101.7% 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 | N/A |
| 2023 | 101.7% |
| 2022 | 103.7% |
| 2021 | 104.3% |
| 2020 | 112.5% |
| 2019 | 110.9% |
| 2018 | 108.2% |
| 2017 | 108.6% |
| 2016 | 104.7% |
| 2015 | 105.5% |
| 2014 | 107.1% |
| 2013 | 114.6% |
| 2012 | 118.9% |
| 2011 | 118.7% |
| 2010 | 119.0% |
| 2009 | 127.9% |
| 2008 | 133.4% |
| 2007 | 128.8% |
| 2006 | 115.7% |
| 2005 | 113.5% |
What the Data Says About Sacramento County ERS
Sacramento County ERS reports a funded ratio of 101.7% as of fiscal year 2023, earning a financial health grade of B in the Public Plans Database. The plan holds $12.36B in market assets against an unfunded liability of $-212M. As a Municipal plan operating under California sponsorship, it covers 31,803 members (13,167 active contributors, 13,934 retirees drawing benefits).
Sacramento County ERS is one of the more fully funded plans in the Public Plans Database, 26 points above the 75.5% national average across tracked plans. A 5-year average investment return of 10.3% factors into the plan's overall trajectory.
For California taxpayers and plan members, the $-212M 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
13,167
Active Members
13,934
Retirees
31,803
Total Members
Plan Details
- Plan Type
- Municipal
- State
- California
- Market Assets
- $12.36B
Source: Public Plans Database (PPD)
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Plans With a Similar Funded Ratio
The closest plans nationwide to Sacramento County ERS's 101.7% funded ratio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sacramento County ERS fully funded?
Sacramento County ERS has a funded ratio of 101.7% as of FY2023, earning a health grade of B. The reported ratio shows actuarial assets divided by actuarial accrued liabilities for the stated fiscal year. Its interpretation depends on the plan's assumptions, valuation date, and contribution history.
What happens if Sacramento County ERS runs out of money?
A public plan's reported ratio is only one part of its financial picture. PlainPension does not predict actions by Sacramento County ERS, California, or any public body.
What does a funded ratio of 101.7% mean?
A funded ratio of 101.7% means that Sacramento County ERS currently has assets equal to 101.7% of its projected benefit obligations. The unfunded liability, the gap between assets and liabilities, stands at $-212M. This is considered adequately funded.
How does Sacramento County ERS compare to other public pensions?
Sacramento County ERS is a Municipal plan in California serving 31,803 members. Nationally, the average funded ratio for public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database is approximately 75.5%. Sacramento County ERS's funded ratio of 101.7% places it above the national average, reflecting strong fiscal management.
How many members does Sacramento County ERS have?
Sacramento County ERS covers 31,803 total members, including 13,167 active employees and 13,934 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.