Page 34 - Benbrook FY20 Approved Budget

CITY OF BENBROOK 2019-20 ANNUAL BUDGET

Employee benefits are maintained in the 2019-20 Budget. Funds are included in the Budget to continue health, dental, and life insurance
coverage at current levels. The Budget includes funds to pay the entire premium cost for employee health, dental, and life insurance; the
subsidizing of dependent coverage; and to reimburse employees and covered dependents for a portion of hospital and surgery co-payments.
An employee or covered dependent is eligible for reimbursement of up-to $1,000 for an out-patient procedure and up-to $2,000 for
hospitalization, and $200 for an emergency room visit. The Budget also includes funds to reimburse employees up-to $500 for co-payments,
deductibles, and prescriptions; these reimbursements are available only to employees who do not have dependent health insurance coverage
through the City’s group plan.

Full-time City employees are mandated to contribute seven percent of salary costs to a retirement fund with the Texas Municipal Retirement
System (TMRS). Funds are included in the Budget to finance the proposed contribution rate for the City’s two-to-one match of retirement funds
for full-time employees. The City’s contribution increases from the current rate of 16.32 percent to 16.59 percent effective January 1, 2020.

The City encourages wellness for all employees and dependents by offering discounted memberships at the Benbrook Community
Center/YMCA; the City pays approximately fifty percent of the monthly costs for employees (full and part-time employees are eligible). The
City’s group health insurance contract emphasizes wellness and provides diagnostic tools, health hints, workout strategies, and medical resources
on the company’s website. The 2018-19 Budget includes funds to provide flu shots for all City employees at no cost to the employee;
dependents are eligible to receive the vaccinations and pay only for the cost of the vaccine. Hepatitis vaccinations are also available to
employees at no cost to the employee.

The City also offers employees the opportunity to participate in a number of programs available through payroll deduction. Employees may
opt for credit union services, deferred compensation, supplemental life insurance, disability insurance, vision insurance, and catastrophic
insurance.

TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS AND UPGRADES

The 2019-20 Budget includes funds to improve and enhance the City’s technology. Separate line-items are included in the Information
Technology Activity in the 2019-20 Budget for software and for hardware; Council approved funds to finance the replacement, upgrade, and
purchase of computers, peripherals, software, and other technology-related equipment and supplies. Funds are included to upgrade the IT
Infrastructure and outsource its GIS.

VEHICLE REPLACEMENTS AND PURCHASES

The 2019-20 Budget includes funds to replace one Ambulance for the Benbrook Fire Department, which will be funded through the Capital
Asset Replacement Fund.

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