Volume 20 | February 26, 2019

CELEBRATING 75 YEARS 1944-2019

February 2019 Newsletter

If you do not want to receive this newsletter, you can unsubscribe by clicking on the link at the bottom of this email. In this Edition: Giving Back: Kaleigh Ganske & Sandra Casillas-Campos 2019 COLA Tracker January 2019 Investment Performance February 27, 2019 Board of Retirement Meeting Agenda January 23, 2019 Board of Retirement Meeting Minutes Care Counsel Information RESBC Membership Information

Giving Back: Kaleigh Ganske & Sandra Casillas-Campos

Kaleigh Ganske (left), Sandra Casillas-Campos (right)

Kaleigh Gankse, SBCERS Financial Systems Analyst, and Sandra Casillas-Campos, SBCERS Administrative Office Professional, volunteered for Santa Barbara County’s Homeless Point in Time Count on January 24, 2019.  The Point In Time Count is the annual count of individuals and families experiencing homelessness on a given day. This information can be used to plan local homeless assistance systems and raise public awareness. What were your duties in the Point in Time count? Sandra: My team consisted of four volunteers. Each of us were assigned different tasks, such as surveying the area or distributing donated supplies. I assisted my team by asking the individuals to participate in the Point in Time Questionnaire. For their cooperation, we provided the individuals with hygiene kits and gift cards.

What was your “take-away” from this experience? Kaleigh: Volunteering for this effort helped to bring more personal awareness of the issue of homelessness. I was also able to meet some great people; in fact, two of my group members work for organizations connected to the County. What did you like most about volunteering? Sandra: The Point in Time Count was the first time I volunteered. I enjoyed watching our community come together to bring awareness to this issue and contributing to finding a solution for local homelessness. If you are interested in getting involved with Santa Barbara County’s long-term solutions to homelessness, visit:   https://www.liveunitedsbc.org/commonground   Click HERE to view the PDF version.

2019 COLA Tracker For January 2019, Los Angeles Area Inflation (year over year) was 3.15%. Click HERE   or on the chart to see monthly inflation figures compared to last year.  Want to track the COLA on your own? On the 15th of each month, the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor statistics releases CPI data for Los Angeles. Click   HERE   to read the current Bureau of Labor Statistics report.

January 2019 Investment Performance  The Total Fund returned 4.32% for the month of January. Since the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018, the portfolio has returned 1.95%, generating over $57 million for our beneficiaries. Click Here to Read the Full January 2019 Investment Flash Report!

February 27, 2019 Board Meeting Agenda Available Online Click HERE to access the Board Materials on our agenda management website.

January 23, 2019 Board Meeting Highlights In January, Fifth District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino was appointed to the Board of Retirement. At the January 23, 2019 Board of Retirement meeting the Board received its monthly market update and performance review, and considered the  June 30, 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report .  The minutes for the January 23, 2019 Regular meeting can be found HERE .

Want help with your Health Care Inquiries and Concerns? Looking for a stress-free solution to your healthcare inquiries and, or concerns?CareCounsel is our health advocacy partner and is a service offered as part of your benefit package. CareCounsel works independently from your insurance carrier and is a completely confidential resource.  It’s easy, call: (888-227-3334), or email: staff@carecounsel.com Monday through Friday 6:30 am to 5:00 pm PST. After hours, you can leave a message and they will get back to you the next business day. A few examples of why you should contact CareCounsel: Education Making Sense of Medicare Benefits and Coverage Questions Claims and Billing Assistance Eligibility Status Quality Concerns Grievances and Appeals Assistance with Locating Healthcare Provider

RETIRED EMPLOYEES OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY (RESBC) RESBC is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of county retirees by providing information on critical retirement issues and offering educational/cultural social opportunities. Membership in RESBC is $2.50 monthly. Dues are deducted from the member’s Santa Barbara County pension payment. County employees may join RESBC by completing the RESBC Membership Deduction Authorization form at the time of their retirement exit conference. Retirees may join at any time by requesting a membership form from SBCERS, 3916 State Street, Suite 100 Santa Barbara, CA 93105, 1-877-568-2940 or, by clicking here  and sending the completed form to benefits@sbcers.org.   RESBC Membership benefits include: 4 issues of the RESBC newsletter per year 4 subsidized luncheon meetings per year held at various county locations Opportunities to participate in subsidized day trips and special events Attendance at special presentations on critical issues such as health insurance, pension litigation, pension-related court decisions, etc Opportunity to socialize and have fun with former co-workers and friends

Have a question about an item in this newsletter? Call a Benefit Representative at 1-877-568-2940. We are ready to help you!

Want to look at prior Newsletters? Click here to visit the SBCERS Newsletter Archive.