By Yaël Ossowski | Florida Watchdog

TAMPA—In the Supreme Court of Florida on June 11, attorneys for Gov. Rick Scott filed the first brief in their appeal against a lower court’s ruling barring mandatory pension contributions from state employees.

A 2011 National Bureau of Economic Research study first alarmed state officials to the magnitude of the pension problem, calculating that yearly contributions to the Florida Retirement System would have to increase from $5.5 billion to $11 billion to be fully financed, or face an massive increase in household taxes to pay off future retirees.

The state listed numerous reasons for appealing the decision by Leon County Circuit Court Judge Jackie Fulford, but ultimately defended its actions by arguing that they are “within their authority” to enact pension reform because of financial constraints.

Before the legislative reform passed in 2011, state employees contributed no portion of their salary to their retirement costs.

Read more: Florida Watchdog