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Retirement Information

 The Milton-Freewater Unified School District compensates eligible employees with a generous retirement package
through OREGON PERS (Public Employees Retirement System). More information here:  https://www.oregon.gov/pers/pages/index.aspx

PERS website - Click here
Customer Service: 1-888-320-7377
Monday through Friday – 8:30am-5:00pm
**Please note, best times to call are Tuesday - Friday 8:30am-12pm

Member types:
You are a:
1. Tier One/Tier Two member, if you were hired before Aug 29, 2003
2. OPSRP member, if you were hired after Aug 28, 2003

Contribution types:
All contributions are paid by the District monthly, amount is a percentage of your gross pay
Tier 1/Tier 2 members will have - PERS Pre-Tax contribution (rate set by PERS)
OPSRP members will have – OPSRP Pre-Tax contribution (rate set by PERS)
ALL MEMBERS RECEIVE --PERS Paid pickup – 6% of gross monthly pay
Both benefit amounts are paid by the District and deposited into the PERS system.

A brief explanation of the differences below:
PERS or OPSRP Pre-Tax contributions – This is the employer mandatory PERS contribution. Funds are deposited into the total Oregon PERS system credited to your earnings, very similar to Social Security. These funds will be available to you upon retirement, only if you've worked for a PERS employer for more than 5 years (a.k.a. you are vested). The rate is referred to as the normal cost rate and is set by the PERS Board and updated every two years.

PERS PAID PICKUP – This is the employee PERS contribution, with a fixed rate of 6%. In Milton-Freewater School District, the negotiated agreement requires this expense to be paid by the District (or picked up). This is often referred to as the “6% Pickup”. Funds are deposited into the employees PERS IAP (Individual Account Program), opened by the district upon your eligible hire. These funds are specifically allocated to the employee--you do not have to be vested to
received these funds. These funds will be available to you upon retirement. PERS mails out annual statements reflecting your specific contributions and earnings.

Making plans to retire?
Step one: Schedule a meeting with Tara Lewis in payroll  541-938-8633

PERS FAQ's

  • What is the Individual Account Program (IAP)?
    Click here >>>>>IAP Information
  • Can I contribute to my PERS account?
    Click here >>>> Member contributions
  • How do I get a benefit estimate?
       Create an online account—see below
       Fill out paperwork and send to PERS
       Tier One/Tier Two—click here >>> Tier 1/2 estimate
       OPSRP – click here >>> OPSRP estimate
  • I want to change/add beneficiaries, how do I do that?
       Use these forms:
             Tier One/Tier Two - beneficiary form
                                                     - IAP beneficiary form
             OPSRP - beneficiary form
  • How do I create a PERS online account? click here
  • I'm planning to retire, how do I do that?
       Tier One/Tier Two member - Click here
       OPSRP member  - Click here
  • I need to update my address, how do I do that?
       Contact Tara Lewis in payroll
       541-938-8633 
  • I need to contact PERS, what is the best way to do that?Call 1-888-320-7377
  • I want to learn more about PERS, where can I do that?  Click here

 

Voluntary retirement options (effective Aug 2025)

Steps to open an account:

  • contact an approve provider above to open a 403b or 457 retirement account
  • compete the SRA (Salary Reduction Agreement)
  • return SRA to payroll
  • payroll is required to send to our TPA (Third Party Administrator) AFPlan Serv
  • once our TPA approves the SRA, it will be added to your payroll (could take up to two payrolls to take effect)

Questions?  Contact Tara Lewis  541-938-8633