[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6202433,"mediaKeyId","3787301-4d2ca0681cf33638a93e71982cd79fd9","parentId",3787301,"title","Consultants: increase district health funding by $5M, raise employee contributions 15% to stabilize EPISD self‑funded plan","audioSeconds",361,"startMs",2419000,"endMs",2780000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3787301-4d2ca0681cf33638a93e71982cd79fd9&start=2419&end=2780","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3787301-4d2ca0681cf33638a93e71982cd79fd9/thumbnail_2419000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6202433/Texas/Consultants-increase-district-health-funding-by-5M-raise-employee-contributions-15-to-stabilize-EPISD-selffunded-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6202433-ca8c58ee75d635906be40f2a050bfa65/orig.mp4?Expires=1770952931&Signature=B-o7cycUgYS8lvhSAwNi-vNmGY2vLJN6gNh-sI6jz-PmxGWk9tWzmvuCR8lYSFWV69JCMMXXdMltAWcoJ4QqAwfzaV4Jks7~gVUuADcmDYelVeZrCeJS3ZONAbAElCrBSdqNSNtKNBOFMnz3n7gJMMeXe-k3VcNHMvO4qPVNsD8DQUSczMk3j~7BXUEt7GZbyUbJ6hmKUQ9HeunvnSf4UJdcCjOnr0KJHXZXGhJb7-aoYNS83fhzfheU0TfTzIIQxKeR-UKxcmjwZDjpzqGudc12GsV6jlMxgZFeGSMjWnXdyKL1XPLkahKsHZ3MWOE0HQW8jkRHmsxUamqMu5TGPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-12T23:47:57.52Z","article","District benefits staff and external consultants presented options to address an expected shortfall in the district's self‑funded health plan. Liz Bebo of HUB International, who described the consulting team's analysis, told trustees the plan faces an estimated calendar‑year shortfall of about $6,600,000 based on current claims projections. Bebo said negotiated changes with the district's third‑party administrator (Cigna) and pharmacy contracting improvements are expected to reduce the shortfall (she cited a $250,000 administration fee holiday and roughly $500,000 in pharmacy savings for 2025), bringing an adjusted gap nearer to $3,300,000 this year.

Bebo and district staff presented a recommended package for calendar year 2026 that would increase district funding to about $7.49 per‑employee per‑month (presented as a district contribution level) and raise employee contributions by 15 percent. The presenters said the combination of district funding increases, the contribution adjustment and contract improvements would position the self‑funded plan to cover projected claim costs for 2026 with a small surplus depending on claims.

Patty Cortez, the district's chief of human capital management, introduced the presentation and said the district has not raised employee contributions in the last four years as a strategic decision. Juan Chavez (director of employee benefits) and Bebo described plan features: medical, pharmacy and behavioral health claims are administered by Cigna; stop‑loss insurance covers catastrophic claims; the district funds a $1,000 HSA contribution for enrolled employees and maintains a wellness program that offers incentives (for example, a $100 incentive cited for flu vaccination and other screening incentives up to $400 for certain chronic‑condition programs).

Trustees asked whether the district or employees must “be proactive” to make the savings work; presenters said proactive plan management involves both district oversight and employee engagement (education, wellness participation and plan choice). Trustees also asked about per‑paycheck impacts; presenters laid out sample per‑paycheck and monthly amounts showing modest increases in employee contributions if the board approves the package.

No vote was taken at the workshop. Administrators said the recommendation will be included for board consideration alongside the FY2026 budget at the upcoming board meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Special Meeting of Board Of Trustees, El Paso Independent School District June 12, 2025 11:30am","oneSentenceSummary","HUB International consultant and district benefits staff recommended a $5 million district increase and a 15% employee contribution increase to reduce a projected shortfall in the district's self‑funded health plan.","taxTitle","EL PASO ISD, School Districts, Texas","taxId",13542,"location","Texas","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6202438,"EPISD forecasts multimillion‑dollar shortfall under HB2; public and trustees demand itemized budget, question Lamar reopening",4587,613000,5200000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3787301-4d2ca0681cf33638a93e71982cd79fd9&start=613&end=5200","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3787301-4d2ca0681cf33638a93e71982cd79fd9/thumbnail_613000.jpg","/articles/6202438/Texas/EPISD-forecasts-multimilliondollar-shortfall-under-HB2-public-and-trustees-demand-itemized-budget-question-Lamar-reopening","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6202438-1a0fd35962dc26d76b1e05f45dac720d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770952931&Signature=ldlbdEbowLR1O9OTUgneAZMi~q4iITJ3AZ6fxwGfZv0Sjxm-FKrDKCa1lT5EKCsJSiLSE2DYa7vA2jBgznYyDA4nqJ6fyXkcXhFhC8q0VscKpLLWxDWj2DydaUdTFF5H4gZLpY~W2fVg91SffW~YHPX99CCBfugbIg79NhKxzWXAP-WVPxumy4fF1iQeEuRyHM62hhkVWHX-1qpf~LBpclnlSK3um3VcWpXJgzHX4P9obq12PdIYWDMsxvUnAiISjR0cOSTq6uUnaG45pnTeUtBYmvKSD5e83lejTS0JzOqiiHIX7TR7gMeWdPBRfNJ~DCAHVDq9knUOh9gl8gpyQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The El Paso Independent School District Board of Trustees convened a budget workshop to review the district's updated fiscal‑year 2025 forecast and the developing FY2026 budget, including the estimated impact of House Bill 2. District comptroller Maria Alonso said the district projects total general fund revenues of about $515.1 million for FY25, projected expenses of about $555.8 million, and other sources of $18,585,313 (largely property sales). Chief Financial Officer Martha Giren said the district currently projects an ending unassigned fund balance of $119.6 million, equal to about 66.51 days of reserve.

The nut of the meeting centered on prospects for FY26. Alonso and other administrators presented a proposed FY26 budget that incorporates state HB2 funding for teacher compensation but still shows a projected deficit of $11,700,000 if the draft proposal is adopted (the presentation described that deficit as the equivalent of 7.82 days of fund balance if taken as written). The draft budget includes district proposals tied to the new law and local policy decisions that trustees and members of the public said must be explained in greater detail.

Public commenters pressed the board on several items. Parent and taxpayer Jenny Solo said the district faces a possible 7.3 days of reserves under one HB2 model and asked why the board approved $3.2 million a year to reopen Lamar Elementary when classroom programs and services are being cut; Solo also said reopening Lamar would cost “$17,000 per student,” a figure she cited during public comment. Minerva Torres Shelton, identified as a taxpayer, asked plainly, \"What is the plan?\" and said taxpayers deserve specifics about how the district will protect teachers, students and programs. Multiple speakers, including Sherry Ryder and Ross Moore, urged transparency and an itemized accounting of expenditures.

Administrators described the components behind the FY25 forecast. Maria Alonso said the FY25 forecast reflects year‑to‑date actuals through April plus projected May–August payments; it shows transfers out that include a $4.2 million one‑time contribution from the general fund to the health care fund and required transfers for maintenance tax note sinking funds. Treasurer Walt Byers outlined cash‑flow patterns: several months of the year produce negative net cash flow (payroll and vendor payments are large monthly outflows, with average monthly payroll around $35.5 million), and property‑tax receipts are concentrated in December–February. Byers and staff warned that maintaining an adequate fund balance supports payroll and reimbursable grant operations.

Board members asked for and administration agreed to provide additional detail. Trustee requests included an itemized list of expenditures by function, actual transaction reports, and the vendor payment listing that the district provides quarterly; administration said it would provide system reports and the requested itemizations in the Friday packet and run the vendor listing and monthly reports for trustees (the administration noted some reports require month close and audit timing). Staff also said the district will present the proposed budget and compensation plan at the board meeting next Wednesday and will return in August with proposed tax‑rate figures after certified property values are published in late July.

No formal action was taken because the session was a workshop. Administrators said the district's external financial audit work continues and the audited financials will be presented to the board in November.","At a board workshop the El Paso Independent School District reviewed a fiscal forecast showing a projected FY26 deficit under House Bill 2 and a projected FY25 ending fund balance of about 66.5 days; speakers pressed administrators for an itemized budget and criticized the $3.2 million annual cost to reopen Lamar Elementary.","actionData","errors"]

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Consultants: increase district health funding by $5M, raise employee contributions 15% to stabilize EPISD self‑funded plan

EPISD forecasts multimillion‑dollar shortfall under HB2; public and trustees demand itemized budget, question Lamar reopening