NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The following provides information regarding benefit obligations, plan assets and the funded status of the plans: The weighted average annual assumed rate of increase in per capita health care costs is 10.0% for 2003 and is assumed to decrease gradually to 5.75% for 2012 and remain at that level thereafter. A 1.0% increase or decrease in the medical inflation rate would not have a significant effect on either the benefit obligation or the aggregate service and interest cost components of net periodic benefit cost. Net periodic benefit cost for 2002, 2001 and 2000 included the following components: The Company sponsors a defined contribution plan to provide eligible employees with additional income upon retire- ment. The Company’s contributions to the plan are based on employee contributions. The Company’s contributions totaled $2,276,000 in 2002, $2,303,000 in 2001 and $2,411,000 in 2000. 11. Income Taxes Pension Benefits Other Benefits 2002 2001 2000 2002 2001 2000 Components of net periodic benefit cost Service cost $ 387,527 $ 393,391 $ 351,320 $ 110,803 $ 117,596 $ 86,027 Interest cost 583,709 528,474 504,384 106,341 122,610 103,596 Expected return on plan assets (467,132) (558,237) (614,194) Amortization of transition obligation 29,707 30,555 33,700 Recognized net actuarial (gain) loss 86,264 (14,746) (12,164) Net periodic benefit cost $ 590,368 $ 363,628 $ 241,510 $ 232,105 $ 270,761 $ 211,159 Year Ended December 31, 2002 2001 2000 United States $ (9,185,974) $ 1,933,324 $ 41,692,857 Foreign 2,060,993 1,663,724 1,037,997 Income (loss) before income taxes $ (7,124,981) $ 3,597,048  $ 42,730,854 For financial reporting purposes, income (loss) before income taxes includes the following components: Pension Benefits Other Benefits 2002 2001 2002 2001 Change in benefit obligation Benefit obligation at beginning of year $ 8,176,169  $ 7,209,303 $ 1,916,424 $ 1,655,500 Service cost 387,527  393,391 110,803 117,596 Interest cost 583,709 528,474 106,341 122,610 Actuarial (gain) loss 723,519 358,657 (308,789) 105,865 Benefits paid (311,120) (313,656) (80,519) (85,147) Benefit obligation at end of year 9,559,804 8,176,169 1,744,260 1,916,424 Change in plan assets Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year 5,337,936 6,372,805 Actual return on plan assets (1,273,391) (721,213) Employer contribution 74,962) Benefits paid (311,120)  (313,656) Fair value of plan assets at end of year 3,828,387 5,337,936) Funded status (underfunded) (5,731,417) (2,838,233) (1,744,260) (1,916,424) Unrecognized net actuarial loss 3,761,302 2,021,156 212,283 536,033 Accrued benefit cost (1,970,115) (817,077) (1,531,977) (1,380,391) Accounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets Accrued benefit cost (1,970,115) (817,077) (1,531,977) (1,380,391) Additional minimum liability (2,130,449) Accrued benefit liability (4,100,564) (817,077) (1,531,977) (1,380,391) Accumulated other comprehensive loss 2,130,449 Net amount recognized $ (1,970,115) $ (817,077) $ (1,531,977) $ (1,380,391)  Weighted-average assumptions as of December 31 Discount rate  6.75% 7.25% 6.75% 7.25% Expected return on plan assets 9.00% 9.00% Rate of compensation increase 4.50% 4.00%