Public Employees Retirement System v. Gallant

OPINION

MATTHEWS, Justice.

I. INTRODUCTION

By statute, two Alaska retirement systems pay retirees who reside in the state a cost-of-living allowance that adds ten percent to their basic retirement pay. The question presented is whether failing to pay a similar allowance to retirees who live in high cost areas outside Alaska violates the equal protection clause of the Alaska Constitution. We hold that it does not because the purpose of the allowance-encouraging retirees to continue to live in Alaska by partially offsetting Alaska's higher cost of living-is legitimate and it bears a fair and…