HARRISBURG – Legislation sponsored by Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R-24) to provide a long-overdue cost of living adjustment (COLA) for retired municipal police officers and firefighters was included in the FY 2026-2027 state budget and sent to the governor’s desk for his signature.
Pennsylvania’s retired municipal police officers and firefighters have not received a state-authorized pension COLA since 2002.
“These brave men and women have spent their careers putting their lives on the line to keep our communities and neighborhoods safe,” Pennycuick said. “For more than two decades, these retirees have watched inflation, and rising costs steadily erode their purchasing power.”
“The cost of food, housing, utilities, transportation and health care has increased significantly since the last COLA was approved, while their pension benefits have remained largely unchanged,” Pennycuick continued. “This adjustment is an important step toward keeping our promise to the men and women who protected our communities throughout their careers.”
PA FOP President Joe Regan said, “on behalf of Pennsylvania’s municipal police officers, the Fraternal Order of Police, Pennsylvania State Lodge, thanks Senator Tracey Pennycuick for her dedicated work in securing a much-needed cost-of-living adjustment for our state’s retirees. We appreciate her commitment to passing this legislation.”
Joe Brown, FOP Berks Lodge #71 stated that “on behalf of the members of Berks Lodge #71 of the Fraternal Order of Police, we extend our sincere gratitude to Senator Tracy Pennycuick for her dedication and hard work in helping secure this long-overdue benefit for our members.”
He added, “for many years, our retired members have gone without a cost-of-living adjustment to their pensions despite their years of dedicated service to their communities. Senator Pennycuick’s commitment to addressing this issue and advocating on their behalf has made a meaningful difference in the lives of those who have devoted their careers to protecting and serving the public.”
Daniel Diedel, Montgomery County FOP Lodge #14 added that “the brave men and women of the Montgomery County FOP Lodge #14 offer our most sincere thanks and gratitude to Senator Pennycuick for her unwavering dedication and support of active and retired law enforcement across Pennsylvania. Retired law enforcement officers have not received a (COLA) to their pension in more than 20 years. Every American has felt the sting of higher prices and her legislation will help those retired officers ease that burden by providing a much needed and well-deserved increase.”
About half of municipal police offers do not qualify for or receive social security benefits.
The COLA adjustment will be $75/month for eligible retirees who have been retired for between 5 and 10 years, $150/month for eligible retirees who have been retired for more than 10 years but less than 20, and $300 for eligible retirees who have been retired for more than 20 years.
The Commonwealth will reimburse a municipality for the annual amortization cost of the increase attributable to the adjustment.
The budget also provides a COLA for PA State Employees Retirement System (SERS) and Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) for pre-Act 9 retirees.