PERS certifies FY2026 municipal cost-of-living adjustments; retiree payroll and disability appeal recommendation approved

The Public Employees Retirement System of Mississippi Board of Trustees certified municipal cost-of-living adjustments for fiscal year 2026, approved a recommendation from the Disability Appeals Committee and accepted the standard retiree report at its June 23, 2025 meeting.

A staff presenter told trustees the municipal COLA certification details are behind tab I of the meeting materials and asked for approval and certification; the board voted to approve the staff report. The board also approved a recommendation from the Disability Appeals Committee concerning “Purge case number 20Five-zero3” as presented behind tab J.

Why it matters: COLA certifications affect municipal retirees’ benefit adjustments; disability-appeal decisions affect individual benefit determinations. Trustees also reviewed retiree payroll figures: staff reported the monthly payroll exceeded $200,000,000 and year-to-date payroll exceeded $3,400,000,000, and noted about 1,100 additions to the retiree rolls in June.

Staff said the COLA certification is a routine annual task and invited questions; trustees approved the certification on a voice vote. The Disability Appeals Committee recommendation was moved, seconded and approved by the board on a voice vote; the transcript records the committee’s recommendation but provides no further case details in the public portion of the meeting.

The retiree report was presented by staff (identified in the meeting as Mr. Higgins), who summarized payroll totals, year-to-date totals and the recent additions to the retiree rolls. Trustees approved the retiree report by voice vote.