Oregon task force brainstorms ways to lessen pension deficit

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - Oregon Gov. Kate Brown's special task force is looking at ways to ensure the state has enough money to pay pensions for eligible state employees amid a multi-billion-dollar pension fund deficit.

The Register-Guard reported Tuesday that the state is considering commercializing its state-run liquor system, pulling money from public reserves or imposing new surcharges of up to 10 percent on all state-issued permits, licenses and registrations.

The advisory task force, made up of seven private- and public-sector executives, is charged with drafting a plan to lop $5 billion off the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System's $24.5 billion unfunded liability without touching government workers' retirement benefits.

The task force stressed that Oregon school districts, local governments and universities should take a greater stake in paying down individual pension unfunded liability.