The brief's key findings are: 

• State and local plans, which were headed toward full funding, were knocked off track by the financial crisis.
• Their funding ratio dropped to an estimated 78 percent in 2009 from 84 percent in 2008.
• Funding will likely continue to decline to 72 percent by 2013.
• Reversing this decline will be difficult, as plans face constraints in increasing revenues from either employee contributions or taxes.