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Pension Payment CalendarCheck mailed May 28, 2025Direct deposit May 30, 2025

KCERA at a Glance 

The following information is current as of June 15, 2023, unless otherwise noted.

Membership

  • Active: 9,076 (General: 7,375 + Safety: 1,701)
  • Deferred: 4,015
  • Retired: 9,015

Benefit Tiers

  • General Tier I: “3% at age 60”
  • General Tier II: “1.62% at age 65”
  • General Tier III*: “2.5% at age 67”
  • Safety Tier I: “3% at age 50”
  • Safety Tier II: “2% at age 50”

* Only applies to West Side Recreation and Park District

Plan Sponsors & Membership Totals

  • County of Kern: 6,601
  • Berrenda Mesa Water District: 3
  • Buttonwillow Recreation & Park District: 1
  • East Kern Cemetery District: 2
  • Inyokern Community Services District: 0
  • Kern County Hospital Authority: 1,559
  • Kern County Superior Court: 492
  • Kern County Water Agency: 49
  • Kern Mosquito and Vector Control District: 20
  • North of the River Sanitation District: 19
  • San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District: 314
  • Shafter Recreation and Park District: 3
  • West Side Cemetery District: 3
  • West Side Mosquito & Vector Control District: 5
  • West Side Recreation and Park District: 5

Investment Assets

(Updated 03/21/24)

  • $5.6 billion
  • Asset Allocations (Policy): Equity: 33%, Fixed Income: 25% Commodities: 4%, Hedge Funds: 10%, Real Estate: 5%, Private Real Estate: 5%, Private Equity: 5%, Midstream Energy 5%, Private Credit: 8%, CE Alpha Pool 4%, Cash -4% .

Actuarial Assumed Rate of Return

  • 7% 
Investment Rates of Return (net of fees) 
  • FY 2022: -4.2%
  • FY 2021: 23.9%
  • FY 2020: 3.0%
  • FY 2019: 5.3%
  • FY 2018: 6.5%
  • FY 2017: 11.8%
  • FY 2016: -0.5%
  • FY 2015: 2.4%
  • FY 2014: 15.0%
  • FY 2013: 10.4%
  • FY 2012: 1.0%
Funded Ratios 
  • FY 2022: 69.2%
  • FY 2021: 67.1%
  • FY 2020: 64.4%
  • FY 2019: 64.8%
  • FY 2018: 65.1%
  • FY 2017: 63.2%
  • FY 2016: 63.4%
  • FY 2015: 62.4%
  • FY 2014: 60.8%
  • FY 2013: 61.1%
  • FY 2012: 60.5%
Pension Benefits Paid to Retirees 
  • FY 2022:  $371.4 million
  • FY 2021:  $355.1 million
  • FY 2020: $338.9 million
  • FY 2019: $320.9 million
  • FY 2018: $304.8 million
  • FY 2017: $288.8 million
  • FY 2016: $272.3 million
  • FY 2015: $257.2 million
  • FY 2014: $241.5 million
  • FY 2013: $226.6 million
  • FY 2012: $207.3 million
Average Monthly Retirement Benefits 
  • FY 2022:  $3,432
  • FY 2021:  $3,349
  • FY 2020: $3,465
  • FY 2019: $3,363
  • FY 2018: $3,062
  • FY 2017: $2,975
  • FY 2016: $2,900
  • FY 2015: $2,829
  • FY 2014: $2,734
  • FY 2013: $2,721
  • FY 2012: $2,584
Employer Contributions 
  • FY 2022:  $287.0 million
  • FY 2021:  $268.6 million
  • FY 2020: $273.9 million
  • FY 2019: $229.1 million
  • FY 2018: $258.9 million
  • FY 2017: $241.1 million
  • FY 2016: $234.7 million
  • FY 2015: $215.5 million
  • FY 2014: $220.4 million
  • FY 2013: $211.7 million
  • FY 2012: $189.8 million
Employee Contributions 
  • FY 2022:  $54.6 million
  • FY 2021:  $53.8 million
  • FY 2020: $57.8 million
  • FY 2019: $50.1 million
  • FY 2018: $36.1 million
  • FY 2017: $34.6 million
  • FY 2016: $33.3 million
  • FY 2015: $30.3 million
  • FY 2014: $25.8 million
  • FY 2013: $20.3 million
  • FY 2012: $18.7 million