RI pension fund balance tops $8 billion

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The balance of the state pension fund has topped $8 billion for the first time since the financial crisis of 2007-2008.

Anne-Marie Fink, the state's chief investment officer, told the State Investment Commission that the balance was $8,000,500,000 as of Monday.

"We still remain pretty underfunded," she said. "But it's a nice milestone."

Treasury spokeswoman Joy Fox said the fund will probably dip back below the $8 billion figure at the end of the month, after paying out "thirty to forty million" dollars in benefits.