Your Retirement Security: OCERS Holds Strategic Planning, Celebrates Huge Milestone
A union is strong when we leverage our greatest strength, our strength in numbers. This is also true when we are talking about the retirement security of County public workers. Your pension is administered and governed by a nine-person Board of Trustees. Two of these OCERS Trustees are directly elected by you and your co-workers. Currently, you are served by two tireless advocates for retirement security, Trustees Adele Lopez Tagaloa and Iriss Barriga. Adele and Iriss, along with the other Trustees, work to ensure all County public workers can retire with dignity.
Periodically we provide an update on the latest news about your retirement security!
OCERS Strategic Planning Workshop: What You Need to Know
OCERS held its two-day Strategic Planning Workshop in September, uniting leadership, staff, stakeholders, and worker representatives to shape retirement security through 2030. OCEA Board Members and OCERS Trustees Iriss Barriga and Adele Tagaloa made sure the members' interests were well represented, advocating for policies that protect and strengthen the pension system for Orange County public workers.
Iriss and Adele, as union leaders, continue to champion dignified retirements for all county employees. Their involvement means public servants have their best interests being protected!
Your Pension Is Getting Stronger
OCERS’ financial health is a source of pride and hope. Serving nearly 55,000 members and managing $23.7 billion in assets as of December 2024. The system is 83.83% funded and growing stronger, with a projected surplus by 2037. OCEA and our members have been crucial in negotiating member improvements in a prudent way that benefits generations of public servants in Orange County!
Planning for Longer Lives
An important issue facing OCEA members and OCERS are longer retirements, with members outliving Social Security assumptions by five years. The system is proactively modeling future costs to maintain strong benefits.
OCERS Plans Future Headquarters Expansion
OCERS’ planned headquarters expansion, supported by OCEA, will offer modern spaces for retirement counseling and services, improving support for all members. This will improve the experience for OCEA members who need assistance as well as the OCEA members who work there! In 2022, the OCERS Board of Trustees approved construction on facilities to accommodate an expanded staff for the next 25 to 30 years.
Construction is estimated to take about 3.5 years to complete at a cost of $55 million to $70 million. The new facility will improve member service capabilities and provide modern, accessible space for retirement counseling and services.
OCERS Celebrates 80 Years of Service
This year marks a milestone: OCERS is celebrating 80 years of providing retirement security to Orange County employees. This was in part made possible by OCEA's member unity.
Trustees, OCERS staff, OCEA members, elected officials and more were in attendance to celebrate at a recent ceremony. OCEA General Manager Charles Barfield, in remarks, celebrated the union’s essential role in protecting retirement and public workers’ futures while honoring a tradition of member advocacy.
Congratulations to all OCEA members, staff, and trustees who help keep the pension system thriving. Union solidarity remains the foundation of retirement security.
Are Your Beneficiaries Up to Date?
Union members should update beneficiary designations to safeguard loved ones and pension benefits. Use myOCERS to keep your information current. You can also update beneficiaries by downloading the form at this link and mailing it to OCERS. Additionally, you can request to have OCERS mail a form to you by calling 714-558-6200.
Together, as a united union, we continue building a stronger, fairer retirement system. Your involvement and vigilance make the difference.
In Solidarity,
OCEA
Publication Date: November 6, 2025