Committee votes to advance measure increasing public-employee retirement contributions by 0.25%; governor urges delay

The Appropriations Committee voted to advance Senate File 0187, a bill that raises contribution rates to the state's large public-employee retirement plan by one-quarter of a percentage point for both employers and employees.

Senator Hicks, the bill sponsor, told the committee the measure is the same policy the legislature approved last year but vetoed by the governor. “All that it does is increase the contribution rate by both the employer and the employee by 1 quarter of a percent,” he said. Hicks described the change as a way to jump-start progress toward actuarial soundness for a plan with an unfunded liability the director described as “about $2,500,000,000.”

David Swindell, executive director of the Wyoming Retirement System, said the board had no formal position on the bill and provided factual context. Swindell explained that the funding law enacted last year (House Bill 83) established an actuarially determined contribution (ADC) mechanism designed to move the plan to full funding on a scheduled timeline. He told the committee that, under the statute and board process, accelerating contributions now would reduce future contribution pressure but would not change the legislatively established full‑funding date.

Betsy Anderson, deputy chief of staff and general counsel for Governor Gordon, urged the committee to rely on the ADC already adopted. “The governor doesn't believe that this bill is necessary at this time,” Anderson said, citing the statutory ADC and concerns about near-term budget pressure on local employers and state pay adjustments.

The fiscal note included in committee materials shows the state (employer) share of the one-quarter percentage-point increase would cost about $1.7 million from the general fund and about $3.4 million from the public school foundation fund; employees would also see a 0.25 percentage-point contribution increase. Swindell said the change would slightly reduce long-run steady-state rates but imposes an upfront cost that some local employers have warned could strain budgets.

The committee held public testimony and questions before taking a roll-call vote. Recorded votes in the transcript were: Senator Driscoll — Aye; Senator Garou — No; Senator Larson — No; Senator Smith — Aye; Chairman Salazar — Aye. The clerk announced 3 ayes and 2 nos; the committee reported the bill do-pass.

Votes at a glance

Senate File 0187 — Increase contribution rates to the large public-employee retirement plan by 0.25 percentage points for employers and employees (one year). Outcome: committee do-pass (3–2).