About MERS
Municipal Employees' Retirement System of Louisiana
The Municipal Employees' Retirement System of Louisiana (MERS) was created in 1955 to provide retirement benefits for employees of the municipalities of the state. The laws governing MERS are in Title 11 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, Sections 1730 through 1884.
Board of Trustees
Management of the system was entrusted to a Board of Trustees. The Board consists of eleven members: six members elected by the members of the system; the President of the Louisiana Municipal Association; the chairman of the Senate Retirement Committee; a member of the House Retirement Committee appointed by the Speaker of the House; the State Treasurer; and the Commissioner of Administration.
A Voluntary System
MERS is a voluntary system and cities, towns, and villages are eligible to participate. A member employer may withdraw its membership upon payment of its pro rata share of any unfunded accrued liability.
Benefit Responsibility
MERS is a statewide system; the State of Louisiana is not a guarantor of the benefits.
Plan A & Plan B
The system consists of two plans.