Summary of CMERS Provisions Retirement Services Division Office of the State Comptroller State of Connecticut


	The CMERS Summary of Main Contribution and Benefit Provisions.			Application procedure for participation through a resolution or a collective bargaining agreement. Note: The State Retirement Commission must approve the participation of a municipality in CMERS.
	Summary of required payments			Membership Information Form. May take 6 to 12 months to complete process of application.
	"Roster of Employees" form (Form CO-1074) -- must be completed in order to obtain cost for membership information			Process for Rosterless entry
	Initial fee schedule for obtaining the costs of CMERS membership for those listed on the "Roster of Employees"

Summary of Required Payments

1.) Employee Contributions - are contributions deducted from each eligible employee's gross wages and forwarded monthly to CMERS.

Employees not covered by Social Security are required to pay:		5.00%
Employees covered by Social Security are required to pay:
	On pay covered by Social Security	2.25%
	On pay in excess of the Social Security maximum	5.00%

2.) Employer Contributions - are contributions based upon the total payroll of gross pay received by all employees eligible for membership and forwarded monthly to CMERS.

	Effective 07/01/2013
Police and Firefighters covered by Social Security	16.96%
Police and Firefighters not covered by Social Security	16.00%
General employees covered by Social Security	11.98%
General employees not covered by Social Security	13.00%

Employer contribution rates are subject to change on July 1 of each year.

3.) Amortization Payments - are the payments made, over a specified period of time, for contributions due for service prior to participation or for unfunded accrued costs associated with prospective membership. Such payments are determined by the CMERS actuaries prior to CMERS participation. The payments are due once a year for a thirty-year period and are subject to adjustment based upon results of periodic actuarial valuation of the fund's experience. A lump sum payment of the total contributions due can be made in lieu of amortization payments. Municipalities may choose to amortize their UAL for fewer than the 30 year maximum if desired. The CMERS actuaries will calculate a new amortization.

4.) Administrative Assessment - is the proportionate share of the cost of the administration of the fund. For the 2013/2014 fiscal year the rate is anticipated to be $130.00 per person (active and retired).

Note: If any payment due for any liability incurred is not made within two months from the date due, interest shall be added to such payment at the prevailing rate of interest.

Initial Actuarial Valuation Fee Schedule

Fee for an initial actuarial valuation for determining computed cost of CMERS membership, to be paid by the municipality requesting the valuation, shall be as follows:

Number of employees	Fee
Up to 100	$1,250
100 plus	$1,250 plus $0.50 for each member over 100

The above charges will be increased NOT MORE THAN 25% for estimates involving employer/employee contributions or annuities under a previous retirement system.

To determine the costs associated with CMERS participation, the municipality must forward a check to CMERS, in the appropriate amount based on the above fee schedule and made payable to the Cavanaugh Macdonald Consulting, LLC, 3550 Busbee Parkway, Suite 250, Kennesaw, GA 30144. The check should be sent with the completed Form CO-1074, entitled "Roster of Employees", to the following address: Office of the State Comptroller, Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement System, 55 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06l06.

Application Procedures to Effect Participation in the CMERS

I. By Resolution and Referendum (Connecticut General Statutes, Section 7-427)

Where to Apply:	State Retirement Commission
	Office of the State Comptroller
	Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement System
	55 Elm Street
	Hartford, CT 06106
Required Documents:	A copy of the Resolution adopted by the legislative body accepting participation, certified by the clerk or secretary of such body, must be sent to the State Retirement Commission. Additionally, a copy of the referendum* or town meeting approving the resolution, certified by the elected moderator for such referendum or meeting, must accompany the resolution. A sample of the required resolution format is enclosed.
Effective Date of Participation:	The first of any month at least 90 days subsequent to the State Retirement Commission's receipt of the certified copy of the approved resolution.
When to Apply:	Preferably 6-12 months prior to the desired effective date.

II. By Collective Bargaining Agreement (Connecticut General Statutes, Section 7-474)

Where to Apply:	State Retirement Commission
	Office of the State Comptroller
	Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement System
	55 Elm Street
	Hartford, CT 06106
Required Documents:	A copy of the approved Collective Bargaining Agreement, certified to by the officials designated by both parties thereto to execute such agreement must be sent to the State Retirement Commission.
Effective Date of Participation:	The first of any month at least 90 days subsequent to the State Retirement Commission's receipt of the certified copy of the agreement.
When to Apply:	Preferably 6-12 months prior to the desired effective date.

*Note: If the "municipality"is a district department of health, housing authority, regional planning agency, or supervision district board of education, there is no requirement for a referendum to effect participation.

Format for Resolution of Acceptance

Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes, Section 7-427, the following format shall be used by a municipality accepting participation in the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement System, other than by collective bargaining agreement.

(Name of Municipality), a municipality as defined in 7-425 of the general statutes as amended, accepts part II of charter 113 of the general statutes, as amended, for participation in Fund B of the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement System as to (*) , but this acceptance shall not repeal, amend or replace, or affect the continuance of, any pension system established in this municipality by or under the authority of any special act.

(*) - Insert the appropriate statement from the following:

"all departments"
: "the following departments: (naming them)"
: "except the members of the following collective bargaining units which have already been included in the said Municipal Employees Retirement System by collective bargaining agreement: (naming the units)"
: "the following elective officers: (giving titles)"
: "(name of library), a free public library which receives part or all of its income from municipal appropriation"