At the convention in 1927 a resolution was passed instructing the Executive to investigate a plan of superannuation for secretary-treasurers. There were ongoing discussions for many years in which representatives of the Department of Municipal Affairs and the S.A.R.M. were involved. Studies were made of some of the few existing plans and statistics gathered. One of the main stumbling blocks was that there was no immediate fund to provide pensions for those who were ready to retire at that time. A resolution before the S.A.R.M. in 1936 providing for the establishment of a superannuation plan was defeated.
The Executive then circularized each secretary-treasurer asking them to make the proposal to their own council and make them aware of the benefits to them as well as to their employees. As a result the S.A.R.M. voted in favour of a superannuation plan at their convention in 1937.
Again there was ongoing discussion between representatives of the Associated Committee, the Department of Municipal Affairs and the S.A.R.M. in order to come up with a plan that was suitable. The S.A.R.M. shared in the cost of an actuarial report in 1939. In 1941 legislation was passed providing for a superannuation plan that was to become effective on July 1, 1941. The Provincial Government contributed $24,500.00 to create a fund in order to pay pensions to retiring secretary-treasurers who had made little or no contribution to the fund. The plan provided for contributions of $120.00 per year from the employer and employee and provided for a minimum pension of $25.00 per month. It was a money purchase plan in which the contributions of each secretary-treasurer plus the contributions by the employer made on his/her behalf were kept in a separate account. Upon retirement the equity of the retiree was used to purchase an annuity. The $25.00 per month pension at that time was considered sufficient to provide groceries for a retired couple.
In 1957 the money purchase plan was terminated and a final earnings plan was substituted therefor. The legislation providing for the superannuation plan in 1941 also made provision for a Board to administer the plan. The administrative board was comprised of a representative from each of the Associated Committee, the S.A.R.M. and the Department of Municipal Affairs. For several years the Provincial Government paid the administrative costs of the plan. Eventually the plan was expanded to cover all local government employees except those in some of the cities. The present plan is being administered by a commission made up of representatives of all of the employer and employee groups in the plan. In 1970 the Association was able to persuade the Provincial Government and the rural municipalities of the province to finance an increase in the minimum pension from the original $25.00 to $100.00 per month for those few retirees who still qualify under that provision.