Highlights

IN-PERSON POP UP APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE

BOARD OF RETIREMENT NOMINATION PETITIONS DUE AUGUST 9

ALAMEDA DECISION: REFUND OF CONTRIBUTIONS ON STAND-BY PAY

IN-PERSON POP UP APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE

SBCERS Member Services Representatives are available for in-person "Pop Up" appointments in Santa Maria and Santa Barbara:

• Thursday, July 28 - Santa Barbara
• Tuesday, August 2 - Santa Maria

All upcoming pop up dates are updated at www.sbcers.org/pop-up.

Member Services Representatives are also available for virtual appointments on Zoom or over the phone on other dates.

SBCERS asks that members please wear a mask and practice social distancing during their in-person appointment. Masks will be available at each pop up location if needed.

Members may choose between 20-minute or 60-minute appointments.

Example 20-Minute Topics:

• Service purchase of medical leave or extra help time
• Divorce
• Tax withholding changes
• Health reimbursement claims
• Direct deposit changes
• Insurance questions

Example 60-Minute Topics:

• Pre-retirement or retirement counseling sessions
• Death benefit claims
• Continuance onboarding

BOARD OF RETIREMENT NOMINATION PETITIONS DUE AUGUST 9

Elections will be held Wednesday, September 14, 2022 – Wednesday, October 12, 2022, to select three voting members and an alternate voting member of the Board of Retirement:

1. General 2^nd Member elected by active General employees (filling a vacancy from December 1, 2022 – December 31, 2023),
2. General 3^rd Member elected by active General employees (full 3-year term from January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2025), and
3. Safety 7^th Member and Safety Alternate 7A Member elected by Safety employees (full 3-year terms from January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2025). The receiver of the most votes is the voting member and the runner-up is the alternate.

General and Safety members who would like to run for a seat on the Board of Retirement must submit a Nomination Petition by 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 9th to an SBCERS office. Nominating petitions are available on the Elections webpage.

Nominating petitions must be signed by members eligible to vote for the candidate being nominated. Each signer must legibly print their name, affix their signature (wet or electronic), and date the petition. The candidate may also list nominators’ name, email address, and phone number.

Inquiries regarding these elections may be made by calling the Clerk of the Board of Retirement at 805-770-1135 or emailing clerkoftheboard@sbcers.org. 

ALAMEDA DECISION: REFUND OF CONTRIBUTIONS ON STAND-BY PAY

In response to the Alameda Decision, and extensive study of the County’s unique stand-by practices, the Santa Barbara County Board of Retirement voted on March 24th 2021 to change the pensionability of certain stand-by earnings codes. This means that the County of Santa Barbara compensation associated with these codes is no longer included in the calculation of retirement contributions, and no longer included in a member’s Final Average Salary for the purposes of calculating a retirement benefit. This change affects pre-PEPRA “Legacy Members” who worked stand-by after January 1, 2013. Stand-by pay for PEPRA (Plan 8) members was already determined to be non-pensionable pursuant to PEPRA.

Additionally, the County of Santa Barbara negotiated a number of side letters with several labor unions, including SEIU Local 620, Santa Barbara County Fire Fighters Inc., Local 2046, and the Santa Barbara County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, which were all dated March 2, 2022. Pursuant to these side letters, particular special assignment pay within specific job classifications was recharacterized as an allowance, effective December 30, 2019.

Each of these events has resulted in the creation of a number of new or amended earn codes, which are scheduled for implementation to the County timekeeping system effective Pay Period 2022-16.

Click here for more information on when to expect your refund.