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Pension Payment CalendarCheck mailed March 29, 2023Direct deposit March 31, 2023
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KCERA at a Glance 

The following information is current as of June 30, 2021, unless otherwise noted.

Membership

  • Active: 9,072 (General: 7,382 + Safety: 1,690)
  • Deferred: 2,810
  • Retired: 8,835

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: 6,581
  • Berrenda Mesa Water District: 3
  • Buttonwillow Recreation & Park District: 1
  • East Kern Cemetery District: 2
  • Inyokern Community Services District: 0
  • Kern County Hospital Authority: 1,605
  • Kern County Superior Court: 477
  • Kern County Water Agency: 51
  • Kern Mosquito and Vector Control District: 21
  • North of the River Sanitation District: 17
  • San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District: 296
  • Shafter Recreation and Park District: 4
  • West Side Cemetery District: 4
  • West Side Mosquito & Vector Control District: 5
  • West Side Recreation and Park District: 5

Investment Assets

  • $5.4 billion
  • Asset Allocations (Policy):Equity: 37%Fixed Income: 24%Commodities: 4%Hedge Funds: 10%Real Estate: 5%Private Real Estate: 5%Private Equity: 5%Midstream Energy 5%Private Credit: 5%CE Alpha Pool 5%Cash -5%

Actuarial Assumed Rate of Return

  • 7.25% (as of August 2020)
Investment Rates of Return (net of fees) 
  • 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 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 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 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 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 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