Schuylkill County retirees on Wednesday again asked commissioners for a cost-of-living increase. The last one was in 2007.

"We've been waiting for 10 years," said Joan Dietrich, president of the Schuylkill County Retirees Association.Commissioners' Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr. said county officials and retirees would meet with financial advisers to consider the request.Dietrich told commissioners that it would cost the retirement fund $182,116 to grant 0.03 percent increases to each qualifying retiree.She called the amount a "pittance" in comparison to the fund's total, which was $127,253,541 as of Wednesday morning.The figure was provided by actuary Hank Steel of The Hay Group, which manages the retirement fund.She bolstered her argument by reminding them that state law governing pensions changed last year to free counties from having to make any increase retroactive to the last one.There are about 500 retirees, but not all would qualify for the increase, Dietrich said.Further, the retirees have lost 116 members over the past 10 years, she said."I agree with you. You have been coming to the county for the past 10 years, and you know the reason we couldn't do it, because of the previous legislation," said Commissioner Frank J. Staudenmeier."With the new legislation, we can do it, and now I think it's time to reconsider it," he said."This would be the year for them to be the heroes, and yes, we're going to do it," she said.Commissioners Gary J. Hess said officials would have to talk with financial advisers and review a change in state law before making a decision."I know it's a small amount, but we need to look at" those aspects, he said.Any increase would be retroactive to one year, Dietrich said.Dietrich and Louise Howells, association treasurer, attended the public meeting.She said she's written to each member of the county retirement board, but has "never gotten an answer to my requests.""We're the loyal retirees who worked for this county for 20, 30 years," she said.Dietrich wrote to Controller Christy Joy in October, and the commissioners in August, so they had enough time to discuss the matter, she said."Where is the loyalty to the retirees? We've been waiting since 2007," Dietrich said.Halcovage said the rising costs of health care, with which retirees are provided - some for life, is also a factor."There are some significant increases in that," he said. "That is a major cost factor."After the meeting, Halcovage said, "We're looking at all the options."