Colorado Coalition for Retirement Security
1500 Grant Street
Denver, CO 80203
WHO WE ARE
First, we are not PERA. Secure PERA is a coalition of PERA members, retirees and supporters.
Collectively, we are dedicated to supporting retirement security for all Coloradans. Our work is funded by the member organizations, which include:
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employee
American Federation of Teachers Colorado
Colorado Association of School Executives
Colorado Education Association
Colorado Professional Fire Fighters
Colorado State Patrol Association
CSPERA – Colorado School & Public Employees Retirement Association
Colorado WINS
NPPC- National Public Pension Coalition
We first formed in 2006 to work with PERA and the State Legislature on changes to PERA’s defined benefit plan. In 2009, after the market crash of 2008, we re-activated our coalition. We were part of the bi-partisan team that created Senate Bill 1 in 2010. Senate Bill 1 was the first major reform of its kind in the nation and put PERA on a path to financial stability.
Today, we continue to advocate for policies that protect and improve PERA’s fiscal stability, and oppose legislation that negatively impacts the retirement security of hard-working Coloradans.
OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Secure PERA is formally known as the Colorado Coalition for Retirement Security (CCRS). We support retirement security for all Coloradans.
Many thousands of Coloradans have spent their careers working on behalf of the public. We believe that anyone who works hard and plays by the rule should have access to a secure and dignified retirement. We advocate to make sure that Colorado’s public pension system, the Colorado Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA), remains strong for all of Colorado’s public employees.
To accomplish this goal, we advocate for proactive efforts to protect defined benefit plans for public employees, advance retirement security for all workers in Colorado and ensure PERA’s fiscal stability.
We oppose any concepts, proposals or legislation putting the long-term fiscal stability of PERA in jeopardy including:
- Modifying the primary structure of PERA’s defined benefit plan to a defined contribution plan which would undermine the fiscal security of the plan.
- “Swapping” any PERA contributions from the employer’s responsibility to the employee. This action jeopardizes the fiscal stability of the fund by increasing the unfunded actuarial accrued liability.
- Modifying the composition of the PERA Board. Research has shown that boards with strong member representation deliver better pension fund earnings.
In January of 2013, CCRS became a c4 organization. Below are our organizational documents.
DONATE TO SECURE PERA
If you would like to donate to Secure PERA (also known as Colorado Coalition for Retirement Security) to help us further our work, you can mail a donation to: