News and Updates

Overview

News and Updates

Sign up for email updates or check here to receive the latest news at CCCERA. Request for Proposal (RFP) or similar projects will be posted here during the time they are open for response.

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2024 CCCERA Member and Employer Survey
Emailed To Active, Deferred and Retired Members and Employers

This fall we conducted a member and employer survey. The survey was emailed to active, deferred, and retired members, and our employer contacts.

The purpose of the survey was to find out what we are doing well and where we can improve. We will use these responses as part of our strategic planning process and will share information about the updated strategic plan in an upcoming newsletter. 

Our members’ opinions are very important to us. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts if you participated in this survey!

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CCCERA Announces Christina Dunn as New CEO
March 13, 2024

We are thrilled to announce Christina Dunn as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CCCERA (Contra Costa County Employees’ Retirement Association). The Board of Retirement has completed its thorough search, ultimately selecting Dunn for this esteemed position. This appointment follows Dunn’s role as the acting CEO since August 2023.

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2024 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)
February 14, 2024 – Board Approves 2024 Retiree COLA

The Retirement Board voted to adopt the automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) at the February 14, 2024 Board meeting as calculated by CCCERA’s actuary, Segal Consulting.

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Form 1099-R for Retirees
Mailed in January

CCCERA reports income to retirees, survivors, and alternate payees on a 1099-R tax form. This form should be filed with 2023 tax returns.

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We Heard You!
New Process Reduces Time Spent Waiting on First Benefit Payment

CCCERA redesigned its retirement application process to reduce the time that new retirees wait to receive their first benefit payment.

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SECURE Act of 2022
Change in Required Minimum Distribution Age

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) generally requires that when deferred members reach a certain age prescribed by law, they begin receiving required minimum distributions from the plan. 

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2023 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)
January 25, 2023 – Board Approves 2023 Retiree COLA

The Retirement Board voted to adopt the automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) at the January 25, 2023 Board meeting as calculated by CCCERA’s actuary, Segal Consulting.

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New Withholding Forms for Retirees
Discontinuation of Form 210 

As of December 16, 2022, changes to retirees’ tax withholding must be made using the IRS Form W-4P, Withholding Certificate for Periodic Pension or Annuity Payments, and the California State Form DE-4P, Withholding Certificate for Pension or Annuity. CCCERA will no longer be able to accept the Withholding Certificates For Pension Payments Form (Form 210). Form 210 will be accepted until December 15, 2022.

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AB 197
Contribution Corrections

AB 197 Frequently Asked Questions

In July of 2020, the California Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision upholding the constitutionality of the legislative changes contained in AB 197 to the definition of “compensation earnable.” More information about the legislative changes can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions.

Based on the California Supreme Court decision the CCCERA Retirement Board took action to correct retirement contributions for members that paid contributions in the following situations:

  1. Contributions provided to CCCERA from July 12, 2014 to June 30, 2015 on excluded terminal pay items.
  2. Contributions provided to CCCERA from July 12, 2014 to present on on-call pay items.

Members eligible for a contribution correction were mailed a letter in February 2022 and provided the option of receiving their contribution correction payment as a direct deposit. CCCERA has been processing payments according to the forms received. A check will be mailed to members that do not send a form authorizing the direct deposit. Checks will be mailed by summer 2022.

What are terminal pay items?

Terminal pay items are payments an employer provides to an employee at the time of the employee’s termination from employment and previously may be included in the retirement calculation. Once AB 197 was enacted it excluded the inclusion of some of these pay items going forward in “compensation earnable”, except those payments that do not exceed what is earned and payable in each 12-month period during the final average salary period. Since an employee’s contribution rates are determined based on the projections of future pay items they may receive, some employees may have paid a higher retirement contribution rate due to the projected future terminal pay items. Terminal pay items identified in AB 197 were no longer included in the projection of contribution rates effective July 1, 2015.

How is the terminal pay contribution correction calculated?

To calculate the terminal pay contribution correction amount the total pensionable compensation from July 12, 2014 to June 30, 2015 is determined and multiplied by the terminal pay percentage calculated by the CCCERA actuaries by each Cost Group and outlined in this letter - Segal Letter

What are on-call pay items?

On-call pay items are compensation provided to an employee for being available to be called into work outside of their normal working hours. Compensation of this type may also be called standby.

How are the on-call pay contribution corrections calculated?

To calculate the on-call pay items contribution correction the compensation amount paid to the member is multiplied by the contribution rate in effect during the time period. Contribution rates can be found in the contribution rate packets. Any subvention by the member or employer of contributions is factored into the calculation.

AB 197 Overview

On September 12, 2012, the Governor signed into law Assembly Bill 197, with an effective date of January 1, 2013. The measure changed how county retirement boards were permitted to calculate their current members’ retirement allowances.

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2022 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)
January 26, 2022 – Board Approves 2022 Retiree COLA

The Retirement Board voted to adopt the automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) at the January 26, 2022 Board meeting as calculated by CCCERA’s actuary, Segal Consulting.