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State Treasurer, employee group back lawsuit affecting pensions for local teachers, government workers, and Fort Bragg personnel

FAYETTEVILLE — A constitutional challenge backed by State Treasurer Brad Briner and the State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC) could directly impact retirement security for thousands of state employees, public school teachers, and military civil service workers in Cumberland County.

The lawsuit questions whether a 2023 state law protecting retirement benefits from inflation violates the North Carolina Constitution’s debt limitation clause. The outcome directly affects local residents who rely on the state pension system, including employees at Cape Fear Valley Health, Cumberland County Schools, Fayetteville State University, and civil service personnel at Fort Bragg.

The dispute centers on whether providing cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) creates an unconstitutional state debt. For local retirees on fixed incomes, these adjustments help maintain purchasing power amid inflation.

The case represents a significant tension between fiscal restraint and honoring commitments to public servants. A ruling against the state could potentially affect future benefit increases for hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians, including many in Cumberland County who depend on the system.

Cumberland County residents with a state pension or who are members of the retirement system can follow this case through SEANC updates at www.seanc.org or the State Treasurer’s office. For local coverage of how state policy impacts community finances, follow ccnc.news.