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Firefighters and city review health‑care proposal that builds in 22% contribution increases
Summary
Negotiators discussed a draft agreement that would raise employee health‑care contributions by 22% per year in model projections, contingency language tied to a 3.5% property‑tax cap, and a pending health‑care trust package the union wants to review in full.
An agency official and representatives of the El Paso Association of Firefighters continued contract negotiations, focusing on health‑care enrollment, proposed employee contribution increases and language intended to protect the city if state law or voter outcomes reduce revenue.
Jay Nicholson, president of the El Paso Association of Firefighters, said the union is reviewing the city's proposal and the parties discussed details of enrollment across plans. A presenter explained that "what's built in according to the agreement is that 22% increase in the employee contributions on health care," and showed that a majority of members participate in a consumer‑driven health plan (CDHP), which has higher deductibles but a city contribution to an HSA.
The presenter said the city currently has "a 3.5 percent cap on property taxes without going to the voters," and offered contract language that would require the city to return to council with budget adjustment recommendations if an agreement pushes the city past that cap or if state law reduces the city's revenue authority. The presenter framed the clause as a contingency: if voters do not approve a voter‑approved tax rate required by a budget the council adopts, the city would come back to council with proposed adjustments for adoption.
The presenter provided projected contribution amounts for the current fiscal year and for subsequent years under the 22% escalation in the draft language. Some later‑year numeric entries in the transcript appear garbled (the transcript lists amounts as "$234, $2.86, $3.49, and then $4.26" for one line), and city staff said handouts and a backup packet will be posted so members can review the detailed tables.
Nicholson and other union representatives asked that the city circulate the complete health‑care trust package; Nicholson said he would rather "have the whole thing so we can just get to work on it." City staff said portions exist but that the full package was not yet ready and that they would provide it when complete.
Next steps: city legal will finalize and circulate the language for review before the next meeting; negotiators agreed to reconvene to continue bargaining after members have had time to review the materials.
