Socorro ISD trustees discuss employee health fund options as pharmacy costs spike; board to consider options after Nov. 4 election

District leaders warned Oct. 28 that Socorro ISD’s employee health fund is operating at a structural deficit and the board discussed multiple options to address shortfalls for plan year 2026.

Mario Carmona, director of employee benefits and risk management, summarized the district’s current self-funded plan structure (three plan options: consumer-driven health plan, base plan and a closed premier plan) and identified pharmacy costs—especially recent prescriptions for GLP‑1 weight-management medications—as a major driver of rising claims. Carmona said the benefits advisory committee modeled options that would carry a deficit into 2026 with the goal of fully funding the plan by 2027.

David Solis, the district’s chief financial officer, said the health fund has operated with shortfalls for several years and that continuing to subsidize it from the general fund is not sustainable. Solis told trustees: “If we make no changes to the current plan, then we do face a $25,000,000 deficit next year.” He and staff said the board’s decision is contingent on the outcome of a local revenue measure (referred to in the meeting as “VADER”), which, if passed, would create new annual revenue that could be used temporarily to soften premium increases.

Administra…