As legislators struggle to come up with viable ways to head off major increases in public pension costs, Gov. Kate Brown on Wednesday identified the seven-member panel she's tasked with reducing Oregon's $22 billion unfunded liability.

The previously announced task force is being asked to slice $5 billion off the Public Employees Retirement System's deficit. Its members include:

- Donald Blair, former chief financial officer at Nike.

- Monica Enand, chief executive and founder of Portland-based legal software provider Zapproved.

- Lawrence Furnstahl, chief financial officer of Oregon Health & Science University.

- Bob Livingston, a battalion chief in the Salem Fire Department.

- Rick Miller, founder and chairman of the board of the Avamere Group, a senior care and housing provider.

- Cory Streisinger, former director of Oregon's Department of Consumer and Business Services.

- Charles Wilhoite, managing director with Willamette Management Associates, a financial consulting firm.

Public employers are facing a series of budget-busting pension cost increases in the next six years to dig out of their deep actuarial deficits with the pension system. Collectively, the increased contributions could take an additional $6 billion out of state and local budgets during that period, and more in the following decade.

The Oregon Legislature has discussed potential money-saving ideas, including new employee cost sharing and reductions in benefits. But lawmakers have yet to announce any specific proposal as they simultaneously grapple with the end of session debate over new revenues.

Brown's task force has a different mandate: looking for options to make a significant dent in the $22 billion liability by selling state assets or using one-time and unexpected funds coming to the state and local employers. The group plans to start a series of public meetings in July and deliver a report to the governor by Nov. 1. Brown has placed some options off limits, such as privatizing prisons and state parks or selling state forests.

"Oregon must keep its promise to retirees, but we must also reduce the legacy costs that are cutting into our public employers' bottom line," Brown said in a news release. "As I've said before, this is going to be uncomfortable, but we must provide policymakers with clear options for reducing the unfunded liability."

- Ted Sickinger

503-221-8505; @tedsickinger