pensions

The U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission is appealing a ruling that Baltimore County does not have to pay back thousands of employees who overpaid into the pension system.

Removing fossil fuel industry from public pension funds only costs taxpayers more

The managers of Maryland's pension fund have begun considering the impact their investments have on climate change and how to minimize the carbon footprint of the state's $45 billion portfolio.

The Baltimore County government will not have to pay millions of dollars to employees who overpaid into the county pension system for years, a federal judge ruled this week.

Ironworkers Local 16, which represents 1,100 retirees and workers in the Baltimore area, has asked the federal government for permission to cut pension benefits in a move designed to save, or at least extend the life of, the union's severely underfunded pension fund.

Pension contribution rates will change for many Baltimore County employee under a settlement meant to resolve claims that the retirement system discriminated against older workers.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan signed the first three bills of this legislative session Monday — two praised by environmentalists and one that helps the survivors of two slain Harford County sheriff's deputies.

Employee pension returns show Baltimore is moving in the correct direction

As the pension fund for Baltimore's rank-and-file workers continued to struggle in 2015, the fund for city elected officials posted a large improvement, new reports released Wednesday said.

Education, finances top commissioners' concerns for 2016

Just one person from the public spoke during the Harford County Board of Education's first of three budget work sessions Wednesday evening, and she urged school officials to find ways to get more people involved in the budget process, but later on when there is actual money on the table.

Baltimore's Fire and Police Retirement System's unfunded long-term liabilities rose this year to $1 billion, up from $880 million a year ago, according to a new report.

"Too big to fail" means bail outs for banks and the shaft for union pension funds, says Mary Sanchez.

The Labor Department is releasing a proposed rule that will clarify a path forward for state retirement plans, providing guidance about how to create systems that would be consistent with the current ERISA structure.

A Pennsylvania court is ordering the state government to restore the pension of former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, who was convicted of sexually abusing 10 boys.

The tax code has different rules for corporate executives and ordinary workers when it comes to these "deferred compensation" retirement plans. The vast majority of us face strict limits on the amount of money we can set aside each year in these tax-deferred plans (up to $24,000 per year for older workers). CEOs face no such limits and can sock away millions.

An improving economy leaves Gov. Larry Hogan with no reason other than stubbornness to hold on to $68 million in school funding.

In announcing that she would not seek re-election, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said Friday she's proud of her record.

Gov. Larry Hogan just got $240 million dropped in his lap. What's his excuse now not to fund education?

Baltimore inspector general investigations targeting fraud — largely in the fire and police departments — saved city taxpayers more than $2.3 million last year, the agency says in a new report.

Does a mediocre year in the stock market put retirement checks in jeopardy?

Maryland's pension system for state employees earned just 2.68 percent in returns in the past fiscal year, missing its target by about 5 percentage points.

Hogan is right not to release more money for Baltimore schools

Yes, the governor won based on his promise to rein in spending, but even on those terms, his decision on school funding makes no sense

Gov. Larry Hogan said Thursday he would not spend the money lawmakers set aside for the state's most costly school districts and accused the state's teachers union of a launching "a heavily financed smear campaign" against him.

Do you approve of Gov. Larry Hogan's decision to put $68 million that lawmakers set aside for schools into the state pension system instead?

An announcement made by Gov. Larry Hogan on Thursday that he won't allocate $68 million in Geographic Cost of Education Index funding to Maryland's costliest 13 public school systems came as a disappointment to Carroll County Public Schools Superintendent Stephen Guthrie.

Gov. Larry Hogan can stand tough and play into the hands of those who would defeat him, or he can compromise and set himself on a path to a second term.

House and Senate fiscal leaders agreed Friday on a budget plan with what they hope are enough sweeteners to break an impasse with Gov. Larry Hogan and restore money for education, health and state employee pay raise.

The rift between Gov. Larry Hogan and lawmakers over the state budget widened further Thursday, with the governor and House Speaker Michael E. Busch digging in their heels and both sides making provocative moves and statements.

Pension manager gets government-funded overseas travel while those who paid into the fund get considerably less

City workers' pension funds are well managed

Pension fund mess

City's pension system treats elected leaders much better than rank-and-file

Raiding state worker pensions

Nearly three-quarters of Maryland's retirement debt is not clearly disclosed on its balance sheet. When this $20 billion of retirement debt is included, Maryland's state debt actually amounts to $44 billion.

Though the House of Delegates voted overwhelmingly to pass Gov. Larry Hogan's proposed $40 billion budget 129-10, the 10 who voted against it were all Republicans — and that includes three Carroll County legislators.

Baltimore's spending panel agreed Wednesday to send a city pension director to London for a week — the latest of nearly $100,000 in travel expenses for top pension officials since 2013.

Are Maryland's policies on undocumented immigrants putting state pensions at risk?

For 70 years, Baltimore County relied on Buck Consultants for advice on how to manage the government's pension plans for county workers. The county recently dropped its contract with Buck and sued the company, arguing the firm should pay millions of dollars in damages resulting from a pension discrimination lawsuit the county lost.

For 70 years, Baltimore County relied on Buck Consultants for advice on how to manage the government's pension plans for county workers. The county recently dropped its contract with Buck and sued the company, arguing the firm should pay millions of dollars in damages resulting from a pension discrimination lawsuit the county lost.

Maryland lawmakers are on the verge of breaking the same promise for the second time in two years.

The Carroll County Board of Commissioners is unified in opposition to several proposed tax cuts in the General Assembly that would affect the retirement incomes of military personnel, first responders, the elderly, the disabled and property taxes for small business.

The General Assembly's budget committees are weighing a proposal to change the way it funds its state employee pension system, a move that would free up as much as $60 million that Democratic lawmakers would like to redirect to education and other programs.

Gov. Larry Hogan pledged Thursday to make Maryland more welcoming to veterans, though he acknowledged it may be tough to pass some of his proposals to help them.