HMEPS' Comments on the League of Women Voter's City of Houston Budget Report

The Houston Municipal Employees Pension System (HMEPS) appreciates the efforts of the League of Women Voters (LWV) to provide a balanced perspective on issues in the public eye, including discussions about public pension funds. Like so many “hot” topics, the media reports surrounding public pension matters are often dominated by misleading anecdotes and sensationalist soundbites. We are grateful that the LWV is willing to try to go deeper into important issues such as this one.

To read the full letter please click here.

HMEPS' Response to April 7th Houston Chronicle Pension Article

HMEPS submitted a letter to the Houston Chronicle regarding its April 7th article titled Worker Sues Houston Pension System for the Right to Retire. It is no secret that public employee pension systems are under fire all across the country, so it is vitally important that we keep HMEPS participants actively engaged and informed about what's going on regarding the pension plan.

To read the full letter please click here.

Message from the Executive Director - "There Are No Pension Secrets!"

A recent Chronicle editorial (“Time for some sunlight on pensions”, 3/15/2012) decries the lack of information available to the public about how the three City of Houston employee pensions operate and blames “secrecy requirements” written into state law.  In fact, all general aspects of the Houston Municipal Employees Pension System (HMEPS) fund are already available to the City and the general public on its website -- www.hmeps.org.

To read the full article please click here.

HMEPS Investment Update

To view the latest information pertaining to HMEPS investments, please click here.

DROP Interest Rate is 7.5% for Calendar Year 2012

The Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) interest rate for calendar year 2012 will be 7.5%, effective January 1, 2012. The rate was approved by the HMEPS Board of Trustees at the October 2011 Board meeting. Click here for more information.