UPDATE: The PERAtour stops have completed. Visit www.PERAtour.org to learn more about what happened at the tour stops.
Colorado PERA is hitting the road and will be hosting a series of community outreach meetings in cities and towns near you! This is a great opportunity to engage in the conversation about PERA’s future and what changes will occur as it adapts and reacts to an evolving environment.
First, some history — last year, the PERA Board of Trustees adopted new mortality tables, which reflect a longer life expectancy, and they lowered the expected rate of return from 7.5% to 7.25%. These changes impacted the calculation used to determine the length of time until PERA is fully funded – the amortization period. This measurement is used to determine the overall “health” of the fund and is the driving force behind the upcoming conversations. As a result of these changes, the projected fiscal health of the fund was negatively impacted.
What happens next? — the PERA Board has been reviewing potential changes to PERA and want to get our input on these possibilities. There are only three areas in which you can change PERA: increase contributions, decrease benefits, or trust in the market to have another 90s era-like boom.
Increasing contributions or decreasing benefits will directly impact you as a PERA member!
That’s why attending these meetings is so crucial. PERA will talk about why changes are needed, what the potential changes could be, and then you will have an opportunity to ask questions and contribute to the conversation. These changes are not just about PERA’s funded status, they are about people’s lives and the pensions that were promised to them.
Attend, listen, ask questions, and share your perspective. Changes are coming and it is important to be part of the process. Here is the full schedule. Be sure to mark your calendars!
As a reminder—these meetings are hosted by PERA not Secure PERA!
Aurora
June 1 | 6:00 p.m.
Summit Event Center, 411 Sable Boulevard
Boulder
May 31 | 6:00 p.m.
Boulder JCC, 6007 Oreg Avenue
Colorado Springs
May 4 | 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Colorado Springs Marriott, 5580 Tech Center Drive
Denver
May 15 | 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
PPA Event Center, 2105 Decatur Street
Durango
June 7 | 6:00 p.m.
Holiday Inn & Suites, 21636 Highway 160 West
Fort Collins
May 18 | 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Lincoln Center, 417 W Magnolia Street
Grand Junction
June 5 | 6:00 p.m.
Clarion Inn, 755 Horizon Drive
Greeley
May 8 | 6:00 p.m.
Island Grove Event Center, 421 N 15th Avenue
Pueblo
May 11 | 6:00 p.m.
Pueblo Convention Center, 320 Central Main Street