JOHN HANNA, AP Political Writer

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas officials say the state will know its underfunded pension system is back on solid financial ground when its revenues and investment earnings are expected to cover 80 percent of the benefits promised retirees over the next two decades.

Their rule of thumb has popped up repeatedly as Republican Gov. Sam Brownback and GOP legislators have touted their efforts to improve the public pension system’s health. The funding figure was only 62 percent at the end of last year but is expected to rise.

The 80 percent benchmark has been cited in federal reports, but its value is questioned by actuaries, a national financial rating agency and a group for state pension system administrators.

Such experts say a pension system’s health depends on multiple factors and not a single benchmark.