Mariana Trujillo
Policy Analyst, Pension Integrity Project, Reason Foundation
Mariana Trujillo is a policy analyst with Reason Foundation's Pension Integrity Project.
She holds a B.A. in economics from George Mason University. Before joining Reason Foundation, she interned at JP Morgan, The Mercatus Center, and The Cato Institute.
Trujillo’s research focuses on the fiscal health of federal, state, and local governments, particularly the impact of pension liabilities on fiscal condition and the effect of retirement benefits on public-employee recruitment and retention. Her work has appeared in outlets such as Reason magazine, the San Diego Tribune, Hartford Courant, Los Angeles Daily News, CQ Researcher, and more. She has also testified on these issues before the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Connecticut General Assembly.
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Public employees are not underpaid
When adjusted for work hours, benefits, and aptitude, there is no meaningful compensation gap between equivalent public and private-sector employees.
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With additional plans reporting, total unfunded public pension liabilities in the U.S. grow to $1.61 trillion
Information added to the Annual Pension Solvency and Performance Report finds the median funded ratio across public pension plans decreased marginally to 75.8%.
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San Diego doesn’t have to accept spiraling public pension costs
By creating a new pension tier that shares pension risks with employees, San Diego can prevent escalating liabilities and ensure a more balanced distribution of costs.
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How Brazil’s X ban signals growing control over online free speech
Brazil should be viewed as a cautionary tale for the United States regarding the consequences of unchecked discretionary power over digital speech.
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Connecticut bill would redirect $1 billion away from debt reduction
Governor’s Bill No. 1246 proposes changes that would weaken a key component of the structural fiscal safeguards that have served Connecticut so well.
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The U.S. national debt could end low interest rates
The projected surge in treasury bill issuances to finance fiscal deficits may hinder the Federal Reserve’s ability to lower interest rates.
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Alaska is retaining public workers better than most states
Alaska's public sector turnover rates are significantly lower than both statewide and national private-sector averages and lower than most states offering defined benefit pensions.
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As pension costs rise, San Diego must choose between raising taxes, cutting services, or more debt
Without reforming its pension system, San Diego will only get further trapped in this cycle of rising pension costs for taxpayers and challenging budget trade-offs.
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CalPERS takes unnecessary risks that could cost taxpayers
The California Public Employees’ Retirement System has $180 billion in unfunded liabilities.
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Public pension debt rankings for state and local governments
The median public pension system is equipped to finance 76% of its pension obligations.
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Debt trends for state and local governments 2020-2022
This tool provides debt and spending insights for the 100 largest municipalities, counties and school districts in America and all 50 states for fiscal years 2020, 2021 and 2022.
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City debt: New York has more than four times the liabilities of Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston and other cities
New York City, the District of Columbia, Chicago, Atlanta, Yonkers and Austin have the most per capita liabilities.
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County debt: Los Angeles, Miami-Dade and Cook counties among worst in nation
Los Angeles County had $54 billion in liabilities at the end of 2022. Miami-Dade County had $29 billion in total liabilities.
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State debt: California, Illinois, New York, New Jersey and Texas each have over $200 billion in total liabilities
On a per capita basis, Connecticut's $27,031 total liabilities per capita are worst in the nation, followed by New Jersey.
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Health care retirement debt surpasses state and local government pension debt
In 2022, state and local government other post-employment benefits (OPEB) liabilities reached $789 billion, surpassing $753 billion in unfunded pension liabilities.
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Webinar: 2024 Public pension solvency and performance report
Discussing the 2024 Pension Solvency and Performance Report's findings on public pension debt, investment return trends and more.
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Connecticut’s fiscal guardrails are a solution, not the problem
Public pension contributions made through the fiscal guardrails have freed up approximately $738 million in Connecticut's yearly budget.
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Pension fund size doesn’t matter: Large public pension systems don’t have better investment returns
Asset size is not meaningfully related to investment performance.
