Carbon County's retirement fund saw a nearly $6.5 million increase in performance in 2016.

On Thursday, Robert Crampsie, county controller and secretary to the retirement board, gave the performance report for the year based on all final figures.Crampsie said that the equation to figure out how the fund performed overall is based on the starting balance, disbursements, contributions and ending balance.In January 2016, the county started with a balance of $70,104,066 in its retirement portfolio, throughout the year, it paid $3,934,084 in monthly benefits to its retirees; $755,272 in death benefits; and contributed a total of $800,965 back into the fund through employee and county contributions. It also reimbursed the general fund $327,311 for retirement expenses incurred; and paid refunds to members who left in the amount of $64,904."If you look at our beginning balance and back out disbursements and add the income, you come up with an adjusted beginning balance of $65,823,460," Crampsie said.Based on the final portfolio value for the year, which was $72,314,749, the county saw an increase in retirement funds of $6,491,890, he said."That equates to a return of 9.26 percent, which is very good," Crampsie said, pointing out that the actuary sets the annual rate-of-return at 7.5 percent. "It's amazing when you pay out over $5 million and you are still able to add value to the portfolio. All-in-all it was a good year."Carbon County's retirement fund currently serves 337 county retirees.