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About Us

SBCERS was established on January 1, 1944 to provide service retirement, disability, death, and survivor benefits for County of Santa Barbara employees and 11 contracting employers. Members include all permanent full and part‐time employees of the County, the Santa Barbara County Superior Court, and ten special districts. SBCERS also administers an Other Post-Employment Benefit Trust (OPEB) or 401(h) Retiree Health Medical Trust Fund that was established in September 2008.

The System as set forth by the Board of Retirement provides:

  • Care, skill, and prudence in the administration of the retirement plan.
  • Investment of the assets of the plan in a diversified manner which will minimize risk of loss and maximize the rate of return.
  • Hold the assets of the plan in trust for the exclusive purpose of:
    • providing benefits to plan participants and beneficiaries,
    • minimizing employer contributions, and
    • defraying reasonable expenses of administration.
  •  Provide benefit information and retirement consultations for all active and retired members prior and subsequent to retirement.

“The Santa Barbara County Employees’ Retirement System is committed to fulfilling its fiduciary responsibility by providing the highest quality of service to all members and plan sponsors, and protecting promised benefits through prudent investing, while ensuring reasonable expenses of administration.”

“The Santa Barbara County Employees’ Retirement System is committed to fulfilling its fiduciary responsibility by providing the highest quality of service to all members and plan sponsors, and protecting promised benefits through prudent investing, while ensuring reasonable expenses of administration.”

As a qualified public agency covered by the County Employees’ Retirement Law of 1937 (CERL), members of the Santa Barbara County Employee’s Retirement System may participate in reciprocity with other member 1937 Act counties, PERS, STRS, and JRS. Contact Retirement System staff for more information.

Members may contact Retirement System staff at any time either for general information or an appointment for private consultation.