COLA Commission Update

Weekly Update, October 31, 2025: Happy Halloween! This week our focus returns to the Special COLA Commission, with an update on the ongoing work of the Commission. Since our founding in 1968, a consistent area of focus has been on improving the COLA for all retired Massachusetts public employees. Created within the FY25 State Budget at the behest of Mass Retirees, the focus of the Special Commission is to study and recommend improvements to the current COLA benefit. This includes increasing the COLA base for members of the State and Teachers Retirement Systems, as well as creating a new additional COLA benefit for long-term retirees. The COLA base for the 102 local retirement systems is determined by the local retirement board, with the approval of the local legislative body. No further state action is required regarding the local COLA base. However, the COLA base for members of the State and Teachers Retirement Systems is set by the legislature and governor per state law. Mass Retirees President Frank Valeri was appointed to the 9-member Special Commission by Governor Maura Healey. Having met on a regular basis since January, the Commission is anticipated to issue its report and recommendations for improving the COLA benefit in December. Once the report is filed, the legislature must approve the recommendations prior to the improvements becoming law. A primary focus of our Association in 2026, in addition to retiree healthcare, will be advocating for the adoption of the COLA improvements prior to the end of the formal legislative session on July 31st. Mass Retirees members are asked to look to our Weekly Update email report for full details on the Commission’s work. The Weekly Update is emailed to all members every Friday morning at 6:00 AM. If you are not currently a member of the Mass Retirees Association, please join today using the links below. Founded in 1968, Mass Retirees is a private statewide nonprofit membership association advocating on behalf of ALL retired Massachusetts public employees and surviving spouses. If you are a retired Massachusetts public employee, but not currently a member, please join today at https://massretirees.com/new-members-join/ We also offer an Associate Membership option to allow active public employees nearing retirement age to subscribe to our Weekly Update, newsletter, and other informational resources that will keep you well informed and help you better prepare for your future retirement. Subscribe today at https://massretirees.com/subscribe/