Learn what a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) is, why Sonoma County retirees have not received one in years, and what SCARE is doing to advocate for restoring purchasing power.
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Rebecca Hermosillo: email@gmail.com
David Rabbitt: email@gmail.com
Chris Coursey: email@gmail.com
James Gore: email@gmail.com
Lynda Hopkins: email@gmail.com
A Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) is an increase to retirement benefits meant to help retirees keep up with inflation.
Without regular COLAs, the value of a pension shrinks over time, even though expenses like housing, food, healthcare, and utilities continue to rise.
There has been no COLA since 2008. This is not because retirees don't deserve one — it is because:
Funding Requirements
COLAs must be funded by the County and require approval from the Board of Supervisors.
High Costs
The cost of restoring purchasing power after many years is now very high.
Reserve Policies
Past reserve policies (including the Negative Contingency Fund) have limited the ability to provide COLAs.
Ongoing Advocacy
SCARE continues to work with SCERA, the County Administrator, and the Board of Supervisors to change this.
Julie Wyne presented a comprehensive pension report to the Board of Supervisors Budget Workshop covering four COLA cost studies and extensive information on Sonoma County pensions.
SCARE met with each Board of Supervisors member and presented to the County CAO with data showing the need for COLAs.
SCERA CEO Julie Wyne provided a comprehensive update on current COLA activity and answered member questions about the path forward.
The Board approved eliminating the Negative Contingency Reserve and reducing the Interest Fluctuation Reserve from 3% to the 1% required by law.
Julie Wyne reviewed how the Fund has been a major barrier to providing COLAs.
SCERA's annual report shows retirees who retired before 1998 would need a 50% adjustment to reach 80% purchasing power.
Why Defined Benefit (DB) pensions matter
Important: While current pensions cannot be cut, changes to pension funding can affect future COLA possibilities. Defending DB pensions protects both current and future retirees.
of retirees receive $2,500/month or less
of retirees receive 100k+ annually
of pension benefits come from investment returns, not taxpayers
of purchasing power has been lost by those who retired before 1999
These facts help counter misinformation and highlight why COLAs matter.
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Find answers to your questions about COLAs.
We're here to help you!
A Cost of Living Adjustment helps your pension keep up with inflation so your buying power doesn’t shrink over time.
Because COLAs require County funding and policy changes. The cost of restoring purchasing power after many years is very high and requires Board of Supervisors approval.
The Board of Supervisors must approve funding. SCERA provides analysis, but the County must commit the money.
The Sonoma County Employees’ Retirement Association manages the pension system and provides reports and recommendations on COLAs.
On this page and the Pension & Retirement Info section of the SCARE website.
You can check using the Purchasing Power Calculator, based on your retirement date.
