LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Livonia Public Schools contributions to the state’s public school employees’ pension system have increased from $29.5 million in 2019 to $50.1 million in 2023, a 70% increase over the four-year period.

The increase of $20.6 million over those four years would pay the annual average salaries of about 252 teachers within the district. To put the $50.1 million pension cost in 2023 into context, Livonia’s General Fund revenues were $202.7 million in 2023.

MORE NEWS: Detroit to Accept Cryptocurrency for Taxes, Expand Blockchain Innovations

Livonia is not alone. School districts across the state share in the rising pension costs. In 2023, for every dollar a Michigan school district paid a public-school employee, the district had to set aside 48 cents to cover that employee’s pension system costs.

The Michigan Public Schools Employees’ Retirement System (MPSERS) is one of the largest costs school districts in Michigan face.

MPSERS has undergone legislative efforts to reform the system to control the costs in 2010, 2012 and 2017.

But still, the unfunded liability of the pension system has grown from $26.5 billion in 2017 when the last reform was implemented to $32.4 billion in 2023. Employer contributions to the plan increased from $4.6 billion in 2022 to $5.6 billion in 2023, a one billion increase in just one year.

There are 226,087 retirees and beneficiaries receiving benefits as of 2024, according to the state.