Unfunded Liability at June 30, 1997 Totals $390 million

Investments now reported at fair value

FY 96 Marked 1^st Year for New State Funding Law

Significant changes in actuarial assumptions

INTRODUCTION

This digest covers our financial audit of the System for the year ended June 30, 1997. A compliance audit covering the year ending June 30, 1997 is being issued separately.

The System shares administrative staff and common administrative expenses with the General Assembly Retirement System (GARS). The GARS reimburses the System for 40 percent of the administrative costs incurred.

It should be noted that, pursuant to the Illinois Pension Code, investments of the System are managed by the Illinois State Board of Investment.

UNDERFUNDING OF THE SYSTEM

The actuarial accrued liability was valued at $705 million at June 30, 1997. The actuarial value of assets (at market) totaled approximately $315 million at June 30, 1997. The difference between the liability and the assets of $390 million reflects the unfunded liability of the System at June 30, 1997. The Judges' Retirement System had a funded ratio of 44.7% at June 30, 1997.

Effective July 1, 1996, the System elected to adopt the provisions of Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 25 "Financial Reporting for Defined Benefit Pension Plans and Note Disclosures for Defined Contribution Plans". The provisions of this statement require reporting investments at fair value rather than at cost. The adoption of this statement had the cumulative effect of increasing the value of the assets at June 30, 1997 by $64 million.

A new State funding law became effective in FY 1996 changing State retirement funding practices. Public Act 88-0593 provides for a stated 50-year funding plan which includes a 15 year phase-in period. State contributions are to be made through a continuing appropriation instead of the annual budgetary process. The law is designed to increase pension funding incrementally until a 90% funded level is achieved.

The June 30, 1997 actuarial valuation reflects significant changes in actuarial assumptions utilized in previous valuations. Such changes had the effect of increasing the actuarial accrued liability and the related unfunded actuarial accrued liability by approximately $83 million.

AUDITORS' OPINION

Our auditors state that the June 30, 1997 financial statements of the System are fairly presented.

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WILLIAM G. HOLLAND, Auditor General

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SPECIAL ASSISTANT AUDITORS

McGladrey & Pullen, LLP were our special assistant auditors for this audit.