State employees' trust funds to see modest pension increases

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - The trust funds for state employees and retirees will see modest pension and interest rate increases.

The Wisconsin State Journal reports (http://bit.ly/1zhY1uC ) the $88.7 billion Core Fund, with a diverse portfolio, yielded a preliminary return of about 6 percent, putting its five-year return at about 9 percent.

The Variable Fund, a stock fund, ended the year with a preliminary return of about 7 percent and a market value of $7.3 billion.

The board has earned positive returns each year since 2009 for the Core Fund and in five of the last six years for the Variable Fund.

State of Wisconsin Investment Board spokeswoman Vicki Hearing says the changes in retirement checks will occur in May.

The Department of Employee Trust Funds hasn't yet set the final rate.

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Information from: Wisconsin State Journal, http://www.madison.com/wsj