Georgia State Retirees Association

05/23/2026

RULES FOR THIS FACEBOOK SITE
As a reminder of what should be the obvious, GSRA maintains this page for the purpose of rallying retired state employees to advocate for our benefits. We promote open, candid and respectful discussions regarding Georgia government retiree benefits and specific related matters, and how best to achieve our goals. This is notice that administrators will delete comments inconsistent with the purpose of this page. Multiple offenders will be blocked from posting.
Examples of unacceptable posts include but are not limited to these: posts that are promotional (personal, business or for the benefit of an acquaintance) or contain referral links, etc. are not allowed. Posts that promote campaigns or political agendas other than retiree benefits and specific related matters, either positively or negatively, are not allowed. Posts that express futility in retirees' efforts to achieve our goals, or in any way discourage readers from actively advocating for that purpose, are not allowed.
As a point of reference, recently there have been posts to this site which have maligned motives and/or individuals’ characters. GSRA has had extensive interactions with governors, legislators, agency heads, and staffs during our 19 years. While many of those people have taken positions that we disagreed with -- sometimes vehemently -- none has ever promised us one thing and done something else or failed to do what they promised. Almost all of them are readily accessible to us. Our legislators -- yes, ours! even if we did not vote for them -- give up much of their time for very little compensation. They deserve civility and at least not to have their honor impugned.
There have also been posts that state that we will never get COLAs and/or all our efforts are for nothing. As a reminder, ALL GSRA leadership, other than our paid lobbyist, are volunteers. We pour our blood, sweat and tears into our efforts to improve conditions for retirees. We have never given up. We are not giving up now. We will never, ever give up until we realize our promised benefits. Accordingly, we will not tolerate statements on this page from those who have given up and espouse others to do the same.
Let's all be part of the solution, not contributors to the problem.

05/19/2026

The AJC published a fair and balanced article this morning on our lost funding for future colas.

The governor, now in his final year in office, blocked $100 million in state spending that was meant to guarantee more robust cost-of-living raises for retired state workers.

05/19/2026

We have received the following statement from Attorney General Chris Carr, Republican candidate for governor:

I have always had the backs of Georgia law enforcement and retirees who have served our state so well. As governor, I will prioritize upholding the promises to restore funding for retirees. - Chris Carr

Thank you, A.G. Carr

05/18/2026

GSRA member Jimmie DeLoach reports that he has received the following statement from Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor, John F. Kennedy:

Thank you, Jimmie. I appreciate your encouragement. I look forward to serving next year and working to correct the unfair situation involving ERS. Thank you for educating me on this issue and explaining the history of it.

Thank you and please help spread the word to your friends and colleagues and church members of my CAMPAIGN.

Thank you Senator Kennedy.

05/18/2026

We have received a statement from Michael Thurmond, Democratic candidate for governor. He writes:

Like all retirees, I was appalled and discouraged to hear that the Gov-ernor chose to “disregard” the 100 million that was included in the State Budget for the purpose of an ongoing COLA for state retirees. This is, yet, one more sad chapter for retirees, who have not received a meaningful COLA in over 15 years.

While I cannot change the here and now, I can say one thing with ab-solute certainty. If elected as your Governor, the first thing that I will do is re-commit 100 million for the purpose of a well deserved COLA. I will also unequivocally commit to add the dollars needed in the State Budget to ensure that all retirees will receive an annual 3% COLA, as was promised when you were hired and committed your career to the State of Georgia.

One additional note. I am proud to be a member of ERS, but, if elected, I cannot personally benefit as I will be fully employed by the State, as Governor. I make this commitment, because it is a moral obli-gation that we owe our retirees. The annual 3% COLA was a promise given and a promise broken. Not on my watch. If you elect me, you will have a true friend, not just in name but by actions taken.

Thank you.
Michael Thurmond, Democratic candidate for Governor

Thank you Commissioner Thurmond

05/15/2026

We have received a message from retired judge Dwayne Gillis who is running for the State Senate in District 19 (Wheeler, Montgomery, Toombs, Jeff Davis, Appling, and Tattnall Counties)

05/14/2026

PUTTING THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE (or, Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water)

This is a long post, but we urge you to read it to the end.

We have had a day to process Governor Kemp’s action instructing ERS to disregard the $100 million ($64 million state money) appropriated unanimously for triggering future dependable and consistent COLAs for us. Almost all of us are battered with emotions such as shock, dismay, great loss, and a sense of betrayal. But directing these feelings toward our many friends who worked very hard supporting us in many ways, is not fair to them and is counterproductive for us. We listed many of those friends in an April 7 post, and we request that you reread that post. Beyond that, let us again recognize those who worked hardest for us in obtaining the $100 million.

· Senate Appropriations Chair Blake Tillery reached out to us and worked with us continuously as he searched for sources for the $100 million and inserted the funds in the Senate version of the appropriations bill.

· Lt. Governor Burt Jones supported Sen. Tillery’s efforts and ensured that the funds remained in the Senate version of the bill.

· Speaker Jon Burns and House Appropriations Chair Matt Hattchett supported the COLA funds in the Senate version and worked to ensure that the funds stayed in the final conference committee version.

· Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Billy Hickman and Senate Retirement Chair Rick Williams continuously worked for us.

Lt. Governor Jones has issued the following statement: “This past session I prioritized $100M in the amended budget to bring ERS closer to COLA and that funding was secured. I prioritized an additional $100M in the fiscal year 2027 budget to further this progress. I will continue to fight for long overdue cost of living adjustments for our state retirees. As Governor, I look forward to securing additional funding for our ERS program and ensuring that our state workers have security in their retirement years.”

Senate Appropriation Chair Tillery states: “I was proud to find a way to provide a $100 million base funding infusion to the ERS fund for the purpose of providing more regular and consistent colas to state retirees. While yesterday‘s decision is a setback, it does not change my commitment to this issue and it also does not place at risk the 2.25% cola that state retirees will receive this year thanks to previous cash infusions from prior state budgets.”

We are extremely disappointed in Governor Kemp’s action. This shows why elections for the top positions matter to our group. We know where the above candidates stand because they have shown us. Some other candidates have previously offered support which we have welcomed. We invite other candidates to support us as well.

05/12/2026

In signing HB 974, the FY 2027 appropriations bill, Governor Brian Kemp today instructed ERS to disregard the appropriation of $100 million "...to trigger regular and annual cost of living adjustments..." You can see the governor's veto/disregard statement here: https://gov.georgia.gov/document/2026-vetoed-legislation/hb-974-fy-2027-budget-disregard-letter-and-statements-and-line/download

We were informed that the governor believes that future revenues will not be sufficient to sustain year over year additions to the pension fund (the increase of the ADEC that we fought so hard for).

There is no way to sugar coat this. Governor Kemp has pulled the rug out from under us. We are dismayed.

Today's action today reinforces the criticality of electing candidates for top positions who support us. GSRA is attempting to contact candidates for governor and lt. governor who have issued statements supporting restoring our annual 3% COLAs to confirm their positions. We will update you once we have their statements.

As an update, the $26.75 million for a one-time adjustment remains in the appropriation for ERS to grant to us.

05/11/2026

Another reminder...