Pension Plans And Other Postretirement Benefits

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Pension Plans And Other Postretirement Benefits [Abstract]

Pension Plans And Other Postretirement Benefits

Note 9 – Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

The Company maintains a qualified defined benefit pension plan (the “Pension Plan”), a nonqualified pension plan and other postretirement benefit plans for certain of its employees.  The net periodic benefit cost is based on estimated values and an extensive use of assumptions about the discount rate, expected return on plan assets, the rate of future compensation increases received by the Company’s employees, mortality, turnover, and medical costs.  The following tables provide the components of net periodic benefit cost:

	Pension Benefits
	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2015		2014
Service cost	$	925	$	1,143
Interest cost		3,222		3,512
Expected return on plan assets		(4,674)		(4,305)
Amortization of prior service cost		43		69
Amortization of actuarial loss		1,532		500
Net periodic benefit cost	$	1,048	$	919
	Other
	Postretirement Benefits
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
	2015		2014
Service cost	$	406	$	312
Interest cost		758		737
Expected return on plan assets		(730)		(683)
Amortization of prior service cost		(54)		(74)
Amortization of actuarial loss		354		82
Net periodic benefit cost	$	734	$	374

The Company made cash contributions of $6,878 to its Pension Plan during the first three months of 2015,  and intends to make cash contributions of $6,878 to the Pension Plan during the remainder of 2015.