MAY 29, 2007:   The Massachusetts Senate has completed its work on the Fiscal-Year 2008 state budget, which includes a 3% COLA for state and teacher retirees. While legislation is advancing that would create a higher base in future years, the base for the July 2007 COLA remains at $12,000.

With the governor, the House, and now the Senate each submitting identical language for the COLA, retirees can be assured of receiving the 3% increase this year. Governor Patrick and the Legislature also leave the contribution rates for the state’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC) intact for the coming year. Retirees will continue to contribute 10% (retired prior to 7/1/94) or 15% (retired after 7/1/94).

At the local level, 95 of the 104 local retirement systems have now voted to approve the full 3% COLA to be paid this July. The remaining 9 local systems are expected to vote in June.

FY 08 COLA

1. Adams (1/23/07)
2. Amesbury (1/25/07)
3. Andover (5/30/07)
4. Arlington (1/25/07)
5. Athol (1/31/07)
6. Attleboro (3/28/07)
7. Belmont (1/25/07)
8. Berkshire Cty (4/26/07)
9. Beverly (3/29/07)
10. Blue Hills (12/9/06)
11. Braintree (2/28/07)
12. Bristol Cty (1/25/07) 
13. Brookline
14. Brockton (2/21/07)
15. Cambridge (2/5/07)
16. Chelsea (1/25/07)
17. Chicopee (1/11/07)
18. Clinton (2/27/07)
19. Concord (2/27/07)
20. Danvers (4/25)
21. Dedham (May 07)
22. Dukes Cty (4/3/07)
23. Easthampton (2/26/07)
24. Essex Cty  (1/31/07)
25. Everett (2/28/07)
26. Fairhaven (1/22/07)
27. Fall River (1/24/07)
28. Falmouth (3/28/07)
29. Fitchburg (1/23/07)
30. Framingham (4/26/07)
31. Franklin Cty (1/30/07)
32. Gardner (4/25/07)
33. Gloucester (1/24/07)
34. Gr Law San Dist (2/28/07)
35. Greenfield (3/26/07)
36. Hampshire Cty (12/21/06)
37. Haverhill (2/20/07)
38. Hingham (3/15/07)
39. Holyoke (1/18/07)
40. Hull (1/23/07)
41. Lawrence (1//07)
42. Leominster (3/21/07)
43. Lexington (1/22/07)
44. Lowell (3/30/07)
45. Lynn (3/30/07)
46. Malden (1/24/07)
47. Marlborough (3/26/07)
48. MassPort (4/30/07)
49. Maynard (3/28/07)
50. Medford (1/25/07)
51. Melrose (3/28/07)
52. Methuen (1/25/07)
53. MHFA (12/9/06)
54. Middlesex Cty (2/13/07)
55. Milford (1//07)
56. Milton (1/25/07)
57. Minuteman (4/11/07)
58. Montague (2/23/07)
59. MWRA (May)
60. Natick (3/28/07)
61. Needham (3/28/07)
62. Newburyport (May)
63. Newton (12/13/06)
64. Norfolk Cty (3/27/2007)
65. North Adams (3/27/07)
66. N Attleboro (5/23/07)
67. Northbridge (3/28/07)
68. Northampton (2/27/07)
69. Norwood (April)
70. Peabody (4/11/07)
71. Pittsfield (2/22/07)
72. Plymouth (1/30/07)
73. Quincy (1/25/07)
74. Reading (3/21/2007)
75. Salem (3/29/07)
76. Saugus (4/5/07)
77. Shrewsbury (1/18/2007)
78. Southbridge (2/22/07)
79. Somerville (1/18/07)
80. Springfield (3/29/07)
81. Stoneham (1/30/07)
82. Swampscott (1/17/07
83. Taunton (12/20/07)
84. Wakefield (4/12/07)
85. Waltham (1/18/07)
86. Watertown (1/22/07)
87. Webster (12/06)
88. Wellesley (10/25/06)
89. W Springfield (2/28/07)
90. Westfield (2/15/07)
91. Weymouth (2/12/07)
92. Winthrop (2/26/07)
93. Woburn  (1/22/07)
94. Worcester (3/15/07)