KPERS is not a retirement plan. Maybe it was 20 years ago but not now.
Never was.
First there were private pensions, followed by Social Security, then 401(a) (then (k)). The 401(a) was essentially the government's answer to the private pension. When the 401(k) was introduced it was supposed to be a supplement to a pension and Social Security for retirement. Basically you could easily maintain your standard of living with your company's pension (or government), where were usually funded through forced contributions or deferred income, Social Security and what you contributed to your 401(k).
None of the three were ever meant to be a retirement plan.
That's the main reason why I have no qualms about cutting Social Security or things like government pensions. And when talking KPERS, it needs some slight modifications to make it solvent for Tier 1. Tier 2 has done quite a bit to make KPERS solvent in the distant future with increased contributions and points required. Tier 1 will have to reduce benefits and possibly increase contributions, though not in a drastic way.