6.2 SR 06-03-2024 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

81 City of Elk River Notes to Basic Financial Statements NOTE 12 – PENSION PLANS (CONTINUED) Public Employees' Retirement Association (Continued) B. Benefits Provided PERA provides retirement, disability, and death benefits. Benefit provisions are established by state statute and can only be modified by the state Legislature. Vested, terminated employees who are entitled to benefits, but are not receiving them yet, are bound by the provisions in effect at the time they last terminated their public service. General Employees Plan Benefits General Employees Plan benefits are based on a member's highest average salary for any 5 successive years of allowable service, age, and years of credit at termination of service. Two methods are used to compute benefits for PERA's Coordinated Plan members. Members hired prior to July 1, 1989, receive the higher of Method 1 or Method 2 formulas. Only Method 2 is used for members hired after June 30, 1989. Under Method 1, the accrual rate for a Coordinated members is 1.2% for each of the first 10 years of service and 1.7% for each additional year. Under Method 2, the accrual rate for Coordinated members is 1.7% for all years of service. For members hired prior to July 1, 1989, a full annuity is available when age plus years of service equal 90 and normal retirement age is 65. For members hired on or after July 1, 1989, normal retirement age is the age for unreduced Social Security benefits capped at 66. Benefit increases are provided to benefit recipients each January. The postretirement increase is equal to 50% of the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) announced by the SSA, with a minimum increase of at least 1% and a maximum of 1.5%. Recipients that have been receiving the annuity or benefit for at least a full year as of the June 30 before the effective date of the increase will receive the full increase. Recipients receiving the annuity or benefit for at least one month but less than a full year as of the June 30 before the effective date of the increase will receive a reduced prorated increase. In 2023, legislation repealed the statute delaying increases for members retiring before full retirement age. Police and Fire Plan Benefits Benefits for the Police and Fire Plan members first hired after June 30, 2010, but before July 1, 2014, vest on a prorated basis from 50% after five years up to 100% after 10 years of credited service. Benefits for Police and Fire Plan members first hired after June 30, 2014, vest on a prorated basis from 50% after 10 years up to 100% after 20 years of credited service. The annuity accrual rate is 3% of average salary for each year of service. For Police and Fire Plan members who were first hired prior to July 1, 1989, a full annuity is available when age plus years of service equal at least 90. Benefit increases are provided to benefit recipients each January. The postretirement increase is fixed at 1%. Recipients that have been receiving the annuity or benefit for at least 36 months as of the June 30 before the effective date of the increase will receive the full increase. Recipients receiving the annuity or benefit for at least 25 months but less than 36 months as of the June 30 before the effective date of the increase will receive a reduced prorated increase. Page 202 of 464