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Two conflicting reports this week paint drastically different pictures of state and local pension funds in Florida. The state system has been ranked one of the best in the nation,  but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, employees who don’t make a contribution to the plan may see that changing…soon.

The State Pension fund lost less during the recession than the overall market, and it recovered more quickly. Still a Senate panel seems destined to making changes to the system. Chairman Jeremy Ring says everything from vesting time to lowering pensions for judges is on the table, but he is zeroing in on employee contributions.

“We’re one of the last states in the country that doesn’t have a contribution,” Ring said.  “While I think everything is on the table, and I don’t have the number, I can pretty much feel confident that a core part of this discussion is going to be employee contribution.”

Fire, police and teachers appeared at the meeting, arguing the system isn’t broken and doesn’t need fixing at their expense.

“Not many people could stay in a career with five years without a pay raise,” Jim Biardi with the Police Benevolent Association said.  “And now you’re asking them to give up again?”

The AFL-CIO argues making employees pay even a portion of their contribution will have a ripple effect on the economy.

“These are the people that need to shop at the local businesses, that need to patronize your communities,” Rich Templin, with the Florida AFL-CIO, said.

But as far as the Senate is concerned, momentum is building for requiring employees to chip in perhaps as much as 6 percent of the salary.

“If you throw out the number 6 percent, which I’m not saying is the number, it’s very different to the 20,000 dollar school bus driver than it is to the 100,000 dollar DMS workers,” Ring said.

Since June, the state Pension fund has increased by 9 billion dollars, even after paying out a billion and a half to retirees.