REPORT DIGEST

 

TEACHERS’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF

THE STATE OF ILLINOIS

 

FINANCIAL AUDIT

For the Year Ended: June 30, 2011

 

Release Date: January 11, 2012

 

Summary of Findings:

Total this audit: 1

Total last audit:  1

Repeated from last audit: 1

 

State of Illinois, Office of the Auditor General

WILLIAM G. HOLLAND, AUDITOR GENERAL

 

To obtain a copy of the Report contact:

Office of the Auditor General, Iles Park Plaza, 740 E. Ash Street, Springfield, IL 62703

(217)    782-6046 or TTY (888) 261-2887

 

This Report Digest and Full Report are also available on the worldwide web at www.auditor.illinois.gov

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INTRODUCTION

 

This digest covers our financial statement audit of Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Illinois (System) for the year ended June 30, 2011.  A report on the results of the compliance examination covering the year ended June 30, 2011 will be issued in a separate report at a later date. 

 

FUNDED RATIO

 

The actuarial accrued liability was valued at $81.3 billion at June 30, 2011.  The actuarial value of assets (at smoothed value) totaled approximately $37.8 billion at June 30, 2011.  The method for determining the actuarial value of the assets was changed beginning with the June 30, 2009 valuation.  The method was changed from the market value to a smoothed value where the actuarial investment gains or losses for each year are recognized in equal amounts over the ensuing five-year period.

 

The difference between the actuarial accrued liability and the actuarial value of assets of $43.5 billion reflects the unfunded liability of the System at June 30, 2011.  The System had a funded ratio (at smoothed value) of 46.5% at June 30, 2011.  When using the market value the System would have had a funded ratio of 46.1% at June 30, 2011.

 

LEGISLATIVE CHANGE TO PENSION CODE

 

Public Act 96-0889, which was signed into law April 2010, adds a new section to the Pension Code that applies different benefits to anyone first hired in a position covered by the System on or after January 1, 2011.  Changes in the pension law include raising the minimum eligibility to draw a retirement benefit to age 67 with 10 years of service, initiating a cap on the salaries used to calculate retirement benefits, and limiting cost-of-living annuity adjustments to of the lesser of 3% or ˝ of the annual increase in the Consumer Price Index, not compounded.  The pension law changes do not apply to anyone who has System service prior to January 1, 2011. 

 

MARKET VALUE DECLINE

 

The System had a decline in its investment portfolio subsequent to June 30, 2011.  As of October 31, 2011, the System had incurred an approximate $2.004 billion (5.4%) decrease in its investment portfolio since June 30, 2011 due to a worldwide economic slowdown. 

 

AUDITORS’ OPINION

 

The auditors stated the financial statements of the Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Illinois as of June 30, 2011, and for the year then ended, are fairly stated in all material respects.

 

 

WILLIAM G. HOLLAND

Auditor General

 

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SPECIAL ASSISTANT AUDITORS

 

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