COLA Increase for 2018

At its January 23, 2018 meeting, the Board of Retirement approved the following cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for retirees and beneficiaries in accordance with each plan as shown on the chart below:

Retiree or Beneficiary’s Plan TypeCOLA %
Plan 1  General, Probation, and Safety3%
Plan 2 All Members3%
Plan 3N/A
Plan 4, 5, 6, 7  General Members2%

Please refer to the chart above to find your plan’s COLA. The COLA applies to eligible retirees and beneficiaries retired on or before April 1, 2018, and the amount of the COLA will depend on the retirement plan. All COLAs will be paid beginning with the April 2018 benefit payments.

Current employees and deferred members considering retirement: If you want to take advantage of this year’s COLA rate, you must retire on or before April 1. If you’re thinking about retirement, contact SamCERA as soon as possible so your paperwork can be processed in time for you to receive your first retirement benefit check on April 30.

Board of Retirement Investment Information

At its special meeting on January 8, 2018, the Board of Retirement approved a $20 million capital commitment to Sycamore Partners III, L.P., as part of SamCERA’s private equity portfolio.

No further board action was taken related to SamCERA’s investment commitments or hires.

More information on SamCERA’s commitments may be available in SamCERA’s Board of Retirement meeting minutes. Minutes for a given Board meeting are usually approved at the next regular meeting, and will be posted shortly thereafter.