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Gatesville ISD says insurance costs are rising but plans to preserve staff raises and benefits
Summary
District staff told the board that employee‑only health insurance premiums rose to $555 per month and that employee‑plus‑family basic coverage would cost about $1,332 per month; the board approved a districtwide one‑step pay increase while staff said they intend to cover the premium increase without cutting the planned raises.
Staff member told the Gatesville ISD Board that employee‑only health insurance premiums have increased from $509 to $555 per month, a $46 monthly rise, and that the basic district contribution leaves an employee‑plus‑family cost of about $1,332 per month for families after the district contribution. The presenter said those figures are planning estimates and that final federal and state allocations can change the amounts.
The same presenter described pay scales the district rebuilt last year, which incorporated a teacher retention allotment and redesigned step structure. The board approved a recommendation to move every staff member up one step on the existing scale, which staff said equates roughly to a 3% increase for most employees. The motion to adopt the step increase passed by voice vote (tally not specified).
District staff said covering the higher premiums while preserving the planned step increases required trimming other parts of the draft budget, largely through attrition and position consolidations. "When 85% of your budget is personnel, that's how you do it," the presenter said, explaining that cuts to non‑personnel items produce limited savings. The presenter repeated the district intent: to preserve the step raise, the district health insurance contribution, a $500 Christmas bonus and a $150 school‑supplies stipend if possible.
Board members asked whether anything had to be drastically cut; staff responded that continued attrition and collapsed positions had made the budget adjustments feasible. The presenter cautioned that the monthly premium estimates are planning numbers and may change when final grant figures are finalized.
The board did not record a roll‑call tally in the transcript; minutes show the motion carried and the board moved on to the next agenda item. The board packet listed the health‑insurance planning figures and the proposed salary scales as information for the 2026–27 budget cycle.
The district presented the insurance and pay items as informational and budgetary decisions that staff will implement during the 2026–27 draft budget process. No formal reduction to employee benefits was adopted during the meeting; staff said they will submit required budget documents as the year proceeds.
