The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) today welcomed Bill Slaton to the pension fund’s Board of Administration.
Slaton, a publicly elected director on the Board of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), was appointed today by Governor Jerry Brown to serve on the CalPERS Board as the local government elected official, one of two seats appointed by the Governor.
"We look forward to Mr. Slaton joining our Board," said CalPERS Board President Rob Feckner. "His experience and perspective as a local government official will be valuable as we work with our contracting cities, counties and special districts to deliver long-term pension and health benefits."
Slaton is the current Vice President of the SMUD Board and was first elected as a director in November 2002 to represent Ward 7, which includes North Highlands, Carmichael, Antelope and Foothill Farms. He served as the Board's President in 2005.
"We welcome Mr. Slaton to CalPERS," said Anne Stausboll, the pension fund’s Chief Executive Officer. "Our local employers are facing some difficult fiscal challenges and we are eager for his contributions to help us find long-term solutions that meet the needs of CalPERS, our members and local government."
Slaton is a former chairman of the board of KVIE-Channel 6, Sacramento's public television station, and is the current Audit Chair for the station. He is a former member of Point West Rotary and the WEAVE Business Advisory Council. He is a former president of the Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region and is a co-founder of the Jewish Community Foundation of the West.
Slaton graduated from the University of Texas with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He has 25 years of experience in arranging financing for public agency information technology projects. He also formerly served on the board of directors of two community banks, Sacramento Commercial Bank and Placer Sierra Bancshares.
CalPERS is the largest public pension fund in the U.S. with assets totaling $233 billion. It administers retirement benefits for more than 1.6 million California State, local government, and public school employees, retirees, and their families on behalf of more than 3,000 public employers, and health benefits for more than 1.3 million enrollees. The average CalPERS pension benefit is $2,332 per month. The average benefit for those who retired in the most recent fiscal year that ended June 30, 2011, is $3,065 per month.