If the retirement age is raised, government workers in California would contribute to pensions for more years. Also, delaying payments until workers are older will cut total costs. Brown's proposed change would apply only to newly hired workers.
The retirement age for California workers not in public- safety jobs was 65 in 1932, when the state created its pension system, according to a summary of Brown's proposals. At that time, a 20-year-old wasn't projected to survive beyond 70.
Changes since then reduced the retirement age, even though longevity rose, Brown said. The average American's life expectancy is almost 78 years, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"These pension reforms will go a long way to making our pension system more sustainable," Brown said last week.