California pensions next state financial crisis

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - On the heels of closing a $24 billion state budget deficit, California faces new financial trouble -- from its public pensions.

The loss incurred by California's biggest pension fund in the last year is more than half the size of the state's spending plan, and financial analysts say the market on its own will keep the pension hole open for years or longer, a challenge public pension funds across the United States will also face.

"Pensions will be a major issue, sooner more likely than later, because they're going to bankrupt many jurisdictions," said Bob Stern of the Center for Governmental Studies in Los Angeles.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Saturday in a radio address put the California Public Employees' Retirement System, the biggest U.S. public pension fund that is best known as Calpers, on notice that its cost to the state government is in his sights.

"In these challenging economic times, we cannot afford everything we have funded in the past," he said. "And we will take on pension reform to cut down on unfunded liabilities and save the state billions of dollars."

By Monday, Calpers officials were discussing how to respond to Schwarzenegger -- and others who may take aim at the fund.Full Story