Author: Alaine Taa

On January 27, 2026, the Board of Retirement approved the 2026 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA).  StanCERA bases its COLA increases on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for All Urban Consumers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward area. 

 The COLA change for retirees’ 2024 benefit is based on the change in the December over December measures (2024 to 2025). The 2024 and 2025 measures were 348.001 and 358.568, respectively. This equates to an increase of 3.04%, rounded to 3.0%.

Cost of Living Adjustments will be reflected for benefits payable in April 2026, which will be paid on May 1, 2026.

As a reminder, Tier 3 members are not eligible for COLA increases.

The StanCERA Actuaries (Cheiron) have provided an Interactive AVR report on how they have completed the June 30, 2025 Valuation.  Please click on the link provided to view.

STANCERA is soliciting proposals from qualified law firms and individuals to provide General Board Legal Counsel services to STANCERA Board and STANCERA staff.  It is STANCERA’s intent to obtain the services of one firm or individual to begin providing services in February 2026. 

Please click on link below for more information

Thanks to the other candidates (Fernando Armenta, Steuart Holt and Bill Martins) for their participation in the elections!

Election ballots (Seat 2 General Election) must be submitted to the StanCERA office by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 7, 2025. Any questions regarding the ballot, or if you need a ballot to complete, please contact our office at (209) 525-6393 or email: retirement@stancera.org

NOTICE OF ELECTION

The current term for Seat Number 2 of the Board of Retirement (General Member Representative) will end on June 30, 2025.  An election will be conducted for Seat Number 2 for the new term beginning August 11, 2025 and ending on June 30, 2028 pursuant to Government Code 31523.

The following are important dates and activities for this election process:

                        DATE                                           ACTIVITY

June 23, 2025                       Notice of Election Distributed

July 8, 2025                          Deadline to Submit Nomination Papers*

July 18, 2025                         Distribution of Election Ballots

August 7, 2025                     Final Date to Receive Ballots

August 8, 2025                     Canvassing (counting) the Ballots

*Note:  Any Member who desires to run for the Board of Retirement must request a nomination paper from StanCERA and return to StanCERA no later than 5:00 p.m. on the date specified. You must include no less than 25 signatures from StanCERA qualifying General Member signatures, more than 25 are encouraged should any signatures be disqualified.  See StanCERA Bylaws for additional information.

Pick-Up/Drop Off:    
Stanislaus County Employees’ Retirement Association
832 12th Street, Suite 600                                   
Modesto, CA  95354
retirement@stancera.org                                                   

Phone:                       (209) 525-6393
E-Mail:                        taaa@stancera.org

StanCERA’s Actuarial Valuation as of June 30, 2024. Click below for more information.

On February 25, 2025, the StanCERA Board of Retirement approved the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for retirees and survivor beneficiaries. Members that are retired between April 2, 2023 to April 2, 2025, in Tiers 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 will receive a 2.5% COLA beginning April 1, 2025.

Members that were retired prior to April 1, 2023 will receive a 3% COLA.