Contra Costa County Employees' Retirement Association
Contra Costa County Employees' Retirement Association (CCCERA) is the retirement system for Contra Costa County and 16 local public employers in the area. It was formed on July 1, 1945, and is based in Concord, California. CCCERA provides defined benefit retirement plans for county employees and participating agencies.
CCCERA is governed by a 12-member Board of Retirement, which sets regulations, procedures, and policies under the California County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 (the “37 Act”). The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors can also adopt resolutions affecting member benefits. A Chief Executive Officer oversees daily operations, with a Chief Investment Officer and Chief Financial Officer as part of the agency’s leadership. The agency’s finances and performance are summarized in a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).
As of December 31, 2012, CCCERA’s net assets were about $6.5 billion. The system has grown significantly since its early years when assets were just under $45,600 in 1945 and the organization had about 550 members in 1946. By 2013, CCCERA served roughly 20,000 members, including active employees, retirees, beneficiaries, and deferred members.
CCCERA administers a contributory defined benefit retirement plan. Benefits are not tied to the amount contributed or to investment returns; instead, a fixed formula determines the retirement allowance. The key variables are Highest Average Salary, Service Credit, and a Retirement Age Factor. The Highest Average Salary is calculated differently for tiers: 36 consecutive months for Tier 2 and Safety Tier C, and 12 consecutive months for the other tiers.
Members may receive an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) approved by the Board, based on the San Francisco Bay Area Consumer Price Index, typically ranging from 2% to 4%, and effective each April 1.
CCCERA does not provide health benefits. Health coverage for retirees and their dependents is managed as Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) by Contra Costa County’s Human Resources department. Health benefits for active employees are provided through county contracts and bargaining agreements. OPEB terms can change over time, while a member’s pension is a lifetime benefit.
As of 2012, CCCERA faced significant underfunding, with liabilities exceeding $1.9 billion. The system has been the subject of coverage on pension practices, including a 2009 investigative series on pension spiking. CCCERA has reciprocity with 19 other 37 Act counties and with CalPERS, and it has limited reciprocity with some other California cities and agencies.
For more details, visit CCCERA’s official site.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 14:50 (CET).