RALEIGH – The latest Civitas poll has found that a majority of North Carolina likely voters believe new state employees should be enrolled in a 401(k) style plan.
The full text of the question is below.
Currently, state employees in North Carolina receive a defined-benefit pension, meaning that they receive fixed payments until death after they retire. They must work at least 5 years to qualify for a pension. This pension fund currently has unfunded liabilities of $5.2 billion dollars, which state taxpayers will likely have to fund. Which of the following options would be BEST, when it comes to NEW North Carolina state employees… (ROTATE)
63% New state employees should be enrolled into a 401(k) style plan which does not carry with it any risk of unfunded liabilities.
25% New state employees should continue to receive defined-benefit pension plans, and taxpayers should cover any shortfall or liability.
12% Don’t know/need more information
1% Refused
Civitas President Francis De Luca said, “North Carolina making the transition for state employees to 401(k) plans is probably not an if; it’s a when.”
Cross tabs for this question can be found here.
This poll surveyed 600 registered, likely voters (30% on cell phones) with a margin of error of +/- 4.00%. This survey was taken May 18, 20-21, 2017.
To arrange an interview with Civitas President Francis De Luca, email Demi Dowdy at demi.dowdy@nccivitas.org or call (919) 747-8064.
Civitas has conducted live-caller voting in North Carolina since May 2005, and we are the only organization offering independent, nonpartisan data on current opinion. In the decade we’ve been conducting them, our polls have provided vital insights on what North Carolina voters think of the leaders and issues facing the state and nation.
Founded in 2005, the Civitas Institute is a Raleigh, NC-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit policy organization committed to advancing conservative ideas and shrinking the size of government. Civitas fights to eliminate government barriers to freedom so that North Carolinians can live a better life.
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