City of San Diego employees who participated in the September retiree health benefits election voted in favor of the proposed changes, in an election conducted by SDCERS on behalf of the City. Out of nearly 9,000 Members who received the materials, 1,901 voted in favor of the proposed changes, while 119 voted in opposition.
An MOU memorializing the changes and a City ordinance enacting the new retiree health benefits will be presented to the City Council for approval in the coming weeks. Eligible City employees will receive more detailed information from the City and, for those who are represented, their labor organizations, on the irrevocable options for retiree health benefits that they will need to select. This selection process will begin in December. Employees must make their selections no later than February 1, 2012, with the changes to retiree health benefits officially taking effect April 1, 2012.
IMPORTANT: Notify SDCERS As Soon As Possible if You Are Planning to Retire by March 31, 2012
The changes taking place to retiree health benefits, which take effect April 1, 2012, are expected to result in a large number of Members choosing to retire by March 31, 2012.
To assist SDCERS with the anticipated heavy volume of retirements, it is very important to notify SDCERS as soon as you have made your decision to retire by March 31 of 2012. This will help in our planning process, so that we may accomodate all Members wishing to retire, attend retirement seminars and schedule counseling sessions.
Retirement Seminars are scheduled for the months of November and early December of 2011, with more to be scheduled if necessary. Please call the SDCERS Call Center, at 619.525.3600, to notify us of your retirement plans.