GULF SHORES — Gulf Shores retirees will get a one-time bonus in December.
Grant Brown, recreation and cultural affairs director, said the decision to pay retirees a bonus was due to the increase of living.

“The RSA made it a rule that they would not do cost of living increase for retirees,” Brown said. “But, at that point, they offered the opportunity for the organizations that participate with RSA to do one-time pay adjustments or cost of living increases.”

Brown added that the city wanted to help those retirees who are on fixed incomes and do not have the opportunity to increase their pay. Gulf Shores City Council voted on a resolution to approve the bonuses.

“This is an opportunity to keep up with inflation and a way to continue to express gratitude toward past city employees that have worked long, hard careers for the city,” Brown said.

To receive this one-time payment, individuals must be retired prior to March 1, 2022, and must be drawing from the Retirement Systems of Alabama as of April 1 or be a beneficiary of deceased retiree of the City of Gulf Shores.

The resolution was approved by the state legislature to give those retirees who are a part of RSA a bonus due to the increase in cost of living. Gulf Shores City Council adopted this resolution for the city.

The recreation and cultural affairs director added that there are 46 retirees or dependents in the city who are eligible for the distribution, and 448 organizations statewide are taking advantage of providing this bonus to their former employees.

The City of Gulf Shores can elect to reimburse RSA for the portions of funds the city will receive in a lump sum payment that will be submitted in the last budget amendment of 2023.

The estimated cost $26,180.