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Methodology

Burton Research and Strategies conducted a statewide telephone survey in Maryland that measured awareness and opinions regarding Maryland’s State Retirement and Pension System.  The survey was conducted January 4-8, 2021 among 502 registered voters, including 150 interviews with cell phone respondents.  The survey has a margin of error of +4.37%.
 

Key Findings

1. Voters are not too familiar with Maryland’s State Retirement and Pension System.

Currently, 29% of Maryland voters are very or somewhat familiar with the pension system, while 68% are not very or not at all familiar with it.Top voter blocs most familiar are state/local government employees, Baltimore City voters, and union households.

2. A large majority of Marylanders are concerned about the state’s ability to pay for public employee pensions.

By a two-to-one margin (59% very/somewhat concerned – 30% not very/not at all concerned) are concerned about the state’s ability to fund employee pensions.This cuts across political party and geographic lines.

3. Marylanders are divided about shifting current public employees from a guaranteed pension to 401K-style accounts, but nearly one-half support shifting future employees.

A large majority (75%) of Republicans support shifting future employees to 401K-style plans and one-half of Independents support (50% favor/31% oppose) the concept; while one-third of Democrats back the idea and nearly one-half oppose a shift.Surprisingly, a plurality of 18-34 year-olds and seniors are opposed to a shift though other age groups, especially voters between 45-64 favor shifting future public employees to a 401K-style plan.
 

4. Two-thirds of voters are concerned Maryland will have to raise taxes in order to pay for future pension  obligations. 

High levels of concern exist across partisan and geographic lines about raising taxes to fund pensions.  Concern levels among younger voters are divided (44% concerned/46% not concerned) but a majority of other age groups are all concerned.   Even a majority of state/local government employees and union members are concerned the state might need to raise taxes to meet pension obligations.

5. To pay for the estimated $19 billion shortfall to fund current and future Maryland public employee benefits, voters want to reduce the amount of money being paid to hedge fund managers for pension funds, have current public employees contribute more towards their pensions and benefits, and possibly raise taxes.

Large majorities of voters of all political stripes want to reduce the amount of money being paid to fund managers.Nearly sixty percent of Republicans and African Americans back requiring current employees to contribute more to their pensions and benefits.Finally, close to one-third of Democrats support raise taxes but among Democrats it is primarily driven by white Democrats (44%) while African Americans (25%) are less likely to support raising taxes.

There is virtually no support for reducing current employees’ future benefits, reducing spending on services, or cutting pension benefits for current retirees.

The Bottom Line

Maryland voters are concerned about the state’s ability to fund current and future pension benefits for public employees.Opinions are divided about shifting current public employees to a 401K-style plan but there is support for having future Maryland public employees move to a 401K-style plan.Marylanders believe the best way to meet the state’s pension obligations are to lower the fees paid to money managers, have current public employees contribute more to their benefits and there is some support for raising taxes.