How One City Fixed Its Pension Crisis

Episode 47 of The Fiscal Policy Podcast with Fexingo looks at how one American city dug itself out of a pension funding crisis without cutting benefits or raising taxes. Lucas and Luna walk through the specific playbook used by Fort Worth, Texas, which had a funded ratio below 50 percent in 2024. Three years later, through a combination of a dedicated property tax override, a shift to a conservative investment glide path, and a five-year contribution ramp, the city pulled its funded ratio above 80 percent. The episode breaks down the numbers, the political trade-offs, and why the same approach might not work in a state with stricter tax limits. Also, a quick reflection on how listener support keeps the show independent. #FortWorth #PensionCrisis #PublicPensions #FiscalPolicy #Economics #StateAndLocal #FundedRatio #InvestmentReturns #TaxOverride #GASB #FiduciaryDuty #RiskManagement #GovernmentFinance #Budget #Retirement #Actuarial #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo