Although a 1.3% consumer price index COLA was paid to most eligible local government retirees beginning July 1999, legislation, which we were successful in enacting last November, allows city, town, county and authority retirees toreceive an additional retroactive 1.7%, bringing the July 1999 COLA to 3%, the same as state and teachers.

However, in order to pay this amount local retirement boards must obtain acceptance of the statute (Sec. 51 Ch. 127, Acts of ‘99) by their local governing bodies. This would be a city council or board of aldermen in a city, county advisory council in a county, town meeting in a town having its own retirement system, and the directors of authority or district systems.

Once accepted locally, the Boards, acting as an independent body, can then vote to pay both the retroactive 1.7% addition, plus a new 3% beginning this July.

Most cities, all counties and a few towns have already initiated this procedure. But D-Day, or perhaps it should be C-Day (COLA), is truly the operative phrase for the one opportunity that most town retirement systems will have - Spring Town Meeting.

We urge retired state employees and teachers to support town retirees at their local town meetings. Many town meetings have elected representatives, others are open to all voters. Either way, town meetings can be raucous and intimidating at times. But local retirement boards and their retirees do need your help on the Town Meeting floor.

We will update individual retirement system COLA activity on our toll-free hotline (1-800-368-8778) and our Association’s website (www.massretirees.com). Also, you may contact your local retirement board for information.

Town Meeting Dates