Page 69 - Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council

these costs; and to enhance the reimbursement program for out-patient procedure, surgery, and hospitalization co-
payments.

All full-time employees contribute seven percent of salary to the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS). The City
matches these contributions on a two-to-one basis. TMRS informed the City that the City’s rate is scheduled to
decrease from the current rate of 16.52 percent to 16.32 percent on January 1, 2019.

PERSONNEL CHANGES
POSITIONS

The 2018-19 Budget includes the addition of three full-time positions in the Fire Department; the elimination of part-
time positions in the Fire Department; and the deletion of two un-financed and unfilled positions in the Police
Department.

In the 2018-19 Budget the Fire Chief requested adding three full-time Fire Fighter/EMT positions. Approval for these
positions is included in the Budget; however, funding was deferred until January 2019. Three vacant part-time
positions in the Fire Department’s Auxiliary City Fire Support Unit (ACFSU) are scheduled for elimination; two positions
are scheduled for October 1, 2018 and one is for January 1, 2019.

In the 2017-18 Budget, two Police Officer positions were added to the Police Department; filling of these positions was
contingent upon the City’s receiving a grant that would finance these positions for up-to three years; this grant was
not received.

Effective with the 2018-19 Budget, the City will no longer employ school crossing guards. The difficulty in hiring
competent and capable people for these positions coupled with increased workers’ compensation and liability costs
results in contracting these services.

CAPITAL OUTLAY AND EQUIPMENT PURCHASES

The 2018-19 Budget includes funds to replace essential equipment. The 2018-19 Budget reflects the procurement of
five 2019 Chevrolet Tahoe patrol vehicles to replace older sport utility vehicles used for patrol by the Police Department
with General Fund financing for the vehicles. Funds are included in the Police Department’s budget allocation to
replace five light bars for patrol vehicles.

CITY OF BENBROOK 2018-19 ANNUAL BUDGET
68