Title
Sacramento City Employees Retirement System (SCERS) Pensioners’ Cost of Living Increase
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FileID
File ID: 2026-00920
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Location
Location: Citywide
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Recommendation
Recommendation: Review and file.
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Contact
Contact: Osvaldo Lopez, Finance Manager, (916) 808-4740, olopez@cityofsacramento.org, Department of Finance
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Presenter
Presenter: None
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Attachments
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
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Description/Analysis
IssueDetail
Issue Detail: The Sacramento City Employees’ Retirement System (SCERS) is a closed defined benefit pension plan that is actively managed in-house. SCERS has not accepted new members since January 28, 1977, and currently one actively working member remains. There are currently 673 SCERS retirees and beneficiaries receiving pension payments.
In accordance with Charter Section 379 and Article IX, Chapter 2.124 of the Sacramento City Code, it is determined that the 2026 annual average Consumer Price Index for the San Francisco/Oakland area rose to 356.01, which reflects a 2.2% increase from calendar year 2025. The increase is calculated as follows:
2026 Index 356.01
2025 Index (348.42)
7.59 points / 348.42 = 2.2%
Under Article IX, Chapter 2.124 of the Sacramento City Code and section 379 of the City Charter, the increase or decrease shall not exceed 3%, regardless of the percentage of change in cost of living, and any excess shall be accumulated and included in the computation of increases or decreases in succeeding years.
Based on the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) banks, retirees will receive a COLA based on their year of retirement. If the retiree retired between:
• 07/01/1975 and 06/30/2022, the retiree will receive a 3% COLA.
• 07/01/2022 and 06/30/2023, the retiree will receive a 2.6% COLA.
• 07/01/2023 and 06/30/2025, the retiree will receive a 2.2% COLA
• 07/01/2025 and 06/30/2026, the retiree will receive a 2.2% COLA, pro-rated for each month retired.
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PolicyConsiderations
Policy Considerations: Sacramento City Code Chapter 2.124.
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EconomicImpacts
Economic Impacts: None.
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EnvironmentalConsiderations
Environmental Considerations: Not applicable. This action constitutes administrative action by the Board.
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Sustainability
Sustainability: Not applicable.
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Commission/Committee Action
Commission/Committee Action: Not applicable.
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RationaleforRecommendation
Rationale for Recommendation: In accordance with Sacramento City Code, Article IX, Chapter 2.124, the City is required to increase or decrease the monthly allowance of those SCERS members as outlined in the code.
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FinancialConsiderations
Financial Considerations: Not applicable.
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LocalBusinessEnterprise
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
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