Any county board, department, or agency responsible for the local administration of a program for a state board, department, or agency affiliated with the Employees' Retirement System on October 1, 1998, may provide the cost-of-living increase pursuant to this article to any retiree or beneficiary who retired prior to July 1, 1998, if the local administrative unit elects to fund the increase.
Ala. Code § 36-27-148 (1975)