Employee Benefit Plans

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract]

Employee Benefit Plans

Note 3 Employee Benefit Plans

     Prior to 2011, the Company maintained a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan that covered substantially all U.S. employees. As of January 1, 2011, the Company froze its pension plan for its non-union participants and formed a new feature within the Badger Meter Employee Savings and Stock Ownership Plan (“ESSOP”) in which each employee receives a similar benefit. No new benefits will accrue in the pension plan for the non-union participants, although they will continue to accrue interest on prior balances. The Company also maintains a non-contributory postretirement plan that provides medical benefits for certain U.S. retirees and eligible dependents.

     The following table sets forth the components of net periodic benefit cost for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 based on December 31, 2010 and 2009 actuarial measurement dates, respectively:

				Defined					Other
				pension					postretirement
				plan benefits					benefits
(In thousands)		2011			2010			2011		2010
Service cost — benefits earned during the year	$	143		$	447		$	37	$	34
Interest cost on projected benefit obligations		627			713			81		86
Expected return on plan assets		(945	)		(1,003	)		0		0
Amortization of prior service cost		49			0			40		42
Amortization of net loss		449			423			0		0
Net periodic benefit cost	$	323		$	580		$	158	$	162

     The following table sets forth the components of net periodic benefit cost for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 based on December 31, 2010 and 2009 actuarial measurement dates, respectively:

				Defined					Other
				pension					postretirement
				plan benefits					benefits
(In thousands)		2011			2010			2011		2010
Service cost — benefits earned during the year	$	286		$	946		$	74	$	72
Interest cost on projected benefit obligations		1,254			1,359			162		173
Expected return on plan assets		(1,889	)		(1,903	)		0		0
Amortization of prior service cost		98			0			80		82
Amortization of net loss		898			780			0		0
Net periodic benefit cost	$	647		$	1,182		$	316	$	327

     The Company previously disclosed in its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010 that it did not expect to make a contribution to its pension plan for the 2011 calendar year. The Company has determined that no additional contribution will be required for 2011, although it may consider voluntary payments to the plan.

     The Company disclosed in its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010 that it estimated it would pay $0.5 million in other postretirement benefits in 2011 based on actuarial estimates. As of June 30, 2011, $69,000 of such benefits were paid. The Company believes that its estimated payments for the full year may be somewhat less than the prior full-year estimate. However, such estimates contain inherent uncertainties because cash payments can vary significantly depending on the timing of postretirement medical claims and the collection of the retirees’ portion of certain costs. Note that the amount of benefits paid in calendar year 2011 will not impact the expense for postretirement benefits for 2011.