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Our Commitment to Transparency

PERA On The Issues

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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Who We Are</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Colorado Public Employees&#8217; Retirement Association (PERA)&nbsp;provides retirement and other benefits to the employees of more than 500 government agencies and public entities in the state of Colorado. Established by state law in 1931, PERA operates by authority of the Colorado General Assembly and is administered under Title 24, Article 51 of the Colorado Revised Statutes. In accordance with its duty to administer PERA, the Board of Trustees has the authority to adopt and revise Rules in accordance with state statutes.</p>


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									<p><a class="doc_block" href="https://content.copera.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/pera-law-2025.pdf" target="_blank"><img decoding="async" src="https://content.copera.org/wp-content/themes/planeteria-plane/img/PDF.svg" class="img_icon" alt="download this document" width="17px"><span>PERA Law</span></a></p>
												<p><a class="doc_block" href="https://content.copera.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/colorado-pera-rules-2025.pdf" target="_blank"><img decoding="async" src="https://content.copera.org/wp-content/themes/planeteria-plane/img/PDF.svg" class="img_icon" alt="download this document" width="17px"><span>PERA Rules</span></a></p>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Members of PERA include employees of the Colorado state government, public school teachers in the state, many university and college employees, judges, many employees of cities and towns, State Troopers, and the employees of many other public entities.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">PERA is a substitute for Social Security for most of these public employees. Benefits are pre-funded, which means while a member is working, he or she is required to contribute a fixed percentage of their salary to the retirement trust funds. Employers also&nbsp;<a href="/employer-contribution-rates">contribute a percentage of pay</a>&nbsp;to the trust fund.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The trust funds are then invested by PERA under the direction of the Board of Trustees. PERA&#8217;s investment strategy uses actuarially established investment objectives with long-term goals and policies.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">PERA Mission and Vision Statements</h2>



<h3 style="color:#000000;" class="wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color">Mission</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">To provide retirement security for our members while ensuring the sustainability of the fund.</p>



<h3 style="color:#000000;" class="wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color">Vision</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">To innovate and build on a tradition of service by being a trusted partner in order to meet the changing needs of our diverse membership.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="anchortest1">Core Values</h3>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Be good stewards</strong>&nbsp;by emphasizing sustainability in all operations.</li>



<li><strong>Serve member needs</strong>&nbsp;by delivering quality service and performance amid changing environments and expectations.</li>



<li><strong>Build strong relationships and deepen trust among all stakeholders</strong>&nbsp;by exercising good governance, valuing transparency, upholding ethical conduct, enhancing communications, and providing excellent customer service.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Our Commitment to Transparency</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Colorado PERA is committed to conducting business in an open and transparent manner. To further public understanding of our operations and finances, we provide documents and links to information on PERA’s financial statements and investments, Board of Trustees activities and expenditures, legislative oversight, and staff compensation.</p>



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<div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link wp-element-button" href="https://www.copera.org/our-commitment-to-transparency">Find More Information</a></div>
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About


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">At the end of June 2025 the <a href="https://content.copera.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Annual-Comprehensive-Financial-Report.pdf">2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial report</a> was released. As part of our annual review, PERA assesses the funding status within each division to determine whether adjustments to the contribution rates are needed.&nbsp; Below are the contribution rates for all employer Divisions that are affiliated with PERA.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">State Division</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">For <strong>the State Division</strong>, the Defined Contribution Supplement rate increased from .23% to .25%. This change will go into effect January 1, 2026.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>The current employer contribution rate is 21.63%.</strong>&nbsp; Effective January 1, 2026, the employer contribution rate will be 21.65%.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>The employer contribution rate for Safety Officers is 24.33%.&nbsp; </strong><a>Effective January 1, 2026, this employer contribution rate will be</a> 24.35%.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The member contribution rate remains at 11% for State employees and 13% for State employees who are classified as Safety Officers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">School Division</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>School Division rates will remain the same in 2026.</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The employer contribution rate is <strong>21.40% </strong>and the member contribution rate is <strong>11%.</strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Local Government Division</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">For the <strong>Local Government Division</strong>, the Defined Contribution Supplement rate decreased from .11% to .10%. The AED increased from 2.20% to 2.70% and the SAED increased from 1.50% to 2.00%. All changes will go into effect January 1, 2026.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>The current employer contribution rate is 14.81%.</strong>&nbsp; Effective January 1, 2026, the employer contribution rate will be 15.80%.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>The current employer contribution rate for Safety Officers is 17.91%.</strong>&nbsp; Effective January 1, 2026, this employer contribution rate will be 18.90%. The member contribution rate remains at 9% for Local Government employees and 13% for Local Government employees classified as Safety Officers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Judicial Division</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Judicial Division rates will remain the same in 2026.</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The employer contribution rate is <strong>24.91% </strong>and the member contribution rate is 11%.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Denver Public School Division</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">For the <strong>Denver Public School (DPS) Division</strong>, the employer contribution rate decreased from <strong>21.40%</strong> to <strong>18.40%* </strong>due to the passing of House Bill 25-1105 that was signed into law on May 23, 2025.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This change went into effect <strong>July 1, 2025,</strong> and applies to all Denver Public Schools and affiliated charter schools chartered through the DPS District.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The member contribution rate remains at <strong>11%.</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">*Actual DPS employer contributions into the DPS Division vary based upon the DPS payments toward its pension obligation bonds and are reviewed each December.</p>
