Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Employee Benefits topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Weslaco agrees to cover $50,000 in added employee health premiums
Summary
The commission voted to have the city absorb an roughly $50,000 employee premium increase so employees will not pay that portion; staff said the total contract increase would be about $630,000 and that Blue Cross Blue Shield’s increase was roughly 24%. One official recorded an abstention for the record.
The Weslaco City Commission on July 31 voted to revise the city’s employer contribution for the group health insurance plan so employees will not be required to pay an additional roughly $50,000 increase projected in the renewal.
Mayor (speaker 1) said he had asked to place the item on the agenda after reviewing numbers with staff and emphasized the commission should not shift costs to employees while the city is undertaking a comprehensive compensation study. "We can't do that to our employees," the mayor said.
Staff explained the total contractual increase would be about $630,000: previously the city planned to pick up about $580,000 of the increase, with employees covering the remaining roughly $50,000; the proposed revision shifts that $50,000 to the city so there is no net effect on employees. Staff also said the insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield, had quoted a near 24% premium increase for a fully funded plan.
Commissioners expressed support for avoiding increased employee costs and for advancing the longer-term compensation study to achieve regional comparability. One official announced on the record that they would abstain from discussion and consideration of the item.
A motion to approve the revised employer contribution was made and seconded; the motion passed on a voice vote.
Staff will implement the revised contribution levels and reconcile the change with the budget process and the ongoing compensation study.
