RALEIGH, N.C. – State Treasurer Janet Cowell has new information on what the state’s public employee pension funds need to stay financially sound.

Cowell scheduled a news conference Thursday to discuss the latest study of the $60 billion retirement system and how much lawmakers should contribute to it in 2010.
 
The new treasurer said last month she’ll ask the General Assembly for $29 million above the roughly $400 million it currently gives for the coming year. But she said a steeper increase probably would be needed the following year.

That’s because the pension funds performed poorly in 2008, their value falling $17 billion during the economic crisis.

The system covers 820,000 employees and retirees. It’s been cited among the healthiest in the country.