CMERA Chronicles April

CMERA Chronicles – April 2025

The Spring 2025 General Meeting

It’s almost time for our first General Meeting of 2025.  Be sure to join me and other retirees.  The guest speaker will be Jon Salstrom, Executive Director for the City Retirement System.  The meeting will be on May 10, 2025, at the First Unitarian Church of Cincinnati, Reading Road and Linton Avenue.  The social hour starts at 9:00 a.m.

Spring Newsletter

Our Spring Newsletter is scheduled for delivery later this month.  Information about CMERA upcoming elections, health insurance survey, and the Social Security Fairness Act are planned.  As a reminder, the newsletter is only mailed to active (dues-paying) members.

Meeting with Executive Director of CRS

Members of the Executive Committee met with the City’s Retirement Director.  We exchanged ideas about increasing CMERA membership and how CMERA can assist the Retirement Office with providing useful information to it members. 

Budget and Finance Committee Meeting

Now that the public hearings and department presentations are completed, the City Administration is now drafting the 2026-7 budget.  The amount designated for the pension fund is not yet known.  The draft budget will be reviewed by Council during several public hearings scheduled.  CMERA will monitor the budget process.

Retirement Board

At their meeting on March 6, the Board reviewed recommended enhancements to the operation of the Retirement Department.  Thay also voted to forward a recommended pension contribution rate to the City Council for their review during the budget process.

Social Security Fairness Act

By now, most of those who are eligible for Social Security adjustments due to the elimination of the WEP and/or GPO should have received their retroactive payments.  This month, the adjusted monthly payments are scheduled to begin.  If you are not aware of this new Federal Act and how it may affect you, get more information at www.ssa.gov.

Thanks

My thanks to the members who spoke at any of the recent City budget hearings or wrote to Councilmembers about adequate funding for the pension fund. 

Until next month

Note: The statements and opinions expressed in the CMERA Chronicles are my own (Chuck Cullen) and may or may not reflect the views of the Governing Board of CMERA.