Updated October 30, 2026. Quick answer: The Stanislaus County Employees’ Retirement Association (StanCERA) adjusts non-Tier 3 retirees each year by the December CPI change for the San Francisco area, with a maximum of 3% and any excess accumulated in a COLA bank. For April 1, 2026 the December CPI rose 3.04%, rounded to 3.00%, so the January 27, 2026 agenda says all non-Tier 3 retirees who retired before April 2, 2026 will receive the maximum 3%. Tier 3 retirees get no COLA. The 2027 COLA is not published.
The rule on the StanCERA page
The StanCERA COLA page says: “The COLA is determined annually based on increases or decreases in December’s Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers in the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose area (CPI-U), using a base period of 1982-1984.” “The law also sets the annual maximum COLA at 3%. If the COLA percentage exceeds the annual maximum allowable percentage the excess percentage is accumulated to supplement future COLAs.” “Note: Tier 3 Retirees do not qualify for COLA pay and will not be affected by either increases or decreases in the CPI.”
The 2026 COLA
The Board of Retirement agenda for January 27, 2026 says: “members are to receive the lesser of 3% or the actual year-over-year change in the index, plus any available banked increase, up to a maximum increase of 3%.” “The CPIs described above were 358.568 and 348.001 for December 2025 and December 2024, respectively. This represents an increase of 3.04%, which is subsequently rounded to 3.00%.” “All non-tier 3 retirees who retired prior to 4/2/2026 will receive the maximum 3% increase.”
What the documents do not say
The agenda item is a staff recommendation on the consent calendar, and the minutes confirming adoption are not archived. The web page names the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose index; the actuary’s letter names San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward and says it was previously San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose. The 2017 Tier 6 handbook says the COLA is made on the May check, while the web page and agenda say April 1. Statute text is not archived.
Where 2027 stands
The 2027 StanCERA COLA is not published: it depends on the December 2026 CPI, and the 2026 COLA went to the Board in January.
Common mistakes
- Expecting a COLA for Tier 3. The StanCERA page says Tier 3 retirees do not qualify.
- Reading the 3.04% CPI rise as the COLA. The COLA is rounded and capped at 3%.
- Assuming inflation above the cap is lost. The excess is accumulated for later years.
Related: StanCERA retirement decisions, how public pension decisions work, and whether California taxes pensions.
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Answer againSources
- StanCERA, Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) web page: www.stancera.org
- StanCERA, Board of Retirement Agenda January 27, 2026 (item 2026 Cost of Living Adjustment, Attachment 7.e): content.stancera.org
- Related official page (not quoted): IRS Tax Topic 410, Pensions and annuities: www.irs.gov
- Related official page (not quoted): IRS Tax Topic 411, Pensions: the General Rule and the Simplified Method: www.irs.gov
Read from the primary documents linked above on October 30, 2026. General information, not tax advice. Your own facts decide the outcome, and a preparer or the IRS itself is the right place to confirm anything consequential.