Page 31 - FY 24 Budget Forecast at Adoption.xlsx

model allows for greater control over healthcare‐related costs and empowers employees to take
ownership of the plan to minimize future expenses.

I am proud to say that it looks like our efforts are paying off. In May 2023, Holmes Murphy, the
city's insurance broker, revealed that after reviewing the plan design and contribution details of
60 Texas municipal employers, the City of Keller's plan ranked second best, behind only the City
of Grapevine.

For FY 2023‐24, the Self‐Insurance Fund adopted budget is $4,640,578. This is the third year the
fund will be active, and it has an estimated fund balance of $6,262,027 from salary savings from
prior years. Despite increases in medical costs and inflation, there will be no change in premiums
for medical and dental insurance in the upcoming year.

As part of our benefits package, the City of Keller also participates in the Texas Municipal
Retirement System, which continues to be solidly funded at 87.7%. TMRS as a whole (as of Dec.
31, 2022) was 89.7% funded. The city's contribution rate will increase effective Jan. 1, 2024, from
16.15% to 16.67%, for a fiscal year blended rate of 16.5%.

The total for all personnel costs for FY 2023‐24 is $35,200,781, which is an increase of $1,197,439
or 3.5% over the current year. This increase falls below the city's annual budget goal of 4%.

Strategy 5.4 – Identify and Support Partnerships that Address the Challenges of Mental Health

While physical health is essential to the overall well‐being of Keller employees, one cannot forget
the importance of mental health. In an effort to help address mental health challenges, staff has
ramped up the promotion of existing wellness initiatives. The first of these is Alight Solutions, a
benefit meant to simplify healthcare by assisting with finding doctors, resolving bill errors and
scheduling appointments. Often, the first step in seeking medical help can be the most difficult;
we hope the Alight Solutions resource will provide staff with the extra push they may need to
take charge of their mental well‐being. The second initiative is the Employee Assistance Program,
which offers free over‐the‐phone counseling 24 hours a day, seven days a week and up to eight
free face‐to‐face counseling sessions for employees and covered dependents.

Our team also works with various partners to assist members of the public in dealing with mental
health concerns. Staff will continue to support the Keller Police Department's Behavioral
Intervention Team, which includes officers trained in critical intervention, incident stress
management, mental health and advanced de‐escalation, and the department's partnerships
with My Health My Resources of Tarrant County and the Keller Counselors Association.

Goal 6 ‐ Expand Citizen Engagement

During the Strategic Planning work session held in March 2023, City Council members discussed
opportunities to grow citizen engagement. In response, this new goal was created.

29