ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York's comptroller says state and municipal contribution rates to the pension fund for public workers will drop again next year.

Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, trustee of the more than $180 billion fund, says the average rate will drop from 18.2 percent of salary to 15.5 percent in the fiscal year that starts next April.

For police and firefighters, the rate will decline slightly from 24.7 percent of payroll to 24.3 percent.

At the same time, the assumed rate of return for the retirement fund will be lowered from 7.5 percent to 7 percent.

DiNapoli says lowering the return rate is "fiscally prudent" and "consistent with the tougher investment climate ahead.

He says the payment rates are declining for the third straight year because of solid investment returns.

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