Page 28 - CityofKellerFY25Budget
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activities. I believe these initiatives will assist in making Keller an even better place to work and attract
new public servants to our team.
This year, Human Resources also launched a new employee initiative called Keller Academy, which
provides employees with opportunities to better understand our organization. Through presentations,
tours, and activities that educate and engage participants on the responsibilities of City Council and
different city departments, we hope that this program will provide Keller employees with the knowledge
and tools to go further in their careers with the city and continue to grow in their roles.
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 87.1%. TMRS as a whole (as of Dec. 31, 2023) was 89.7%
funded. The city's contribution rate will increase effective Jan. 1, 2025, from 16.67% to 17.03%, for a fiscal
year blended rate of 16.85%.
The total for all personnel costs for FY 2024-25 is $36,566,858, which is an increase of $1,366,077 or
3.9% 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
Strategy 6.1 – Develop Digital Solutions to Increase Citizen Access to Information and Programs
No matter the size or type of community, citizen engagement is vital to maintaining a successful city. City
staff currently maintains and updates various digital platforms, including the website, a weekly e-
newsletter, and numerous social media accounts, to reach Keller residents and other essential
stakeholders. Always looking for more solutions to increase citizen access, in October 2022,
Communications and IT staff worked together to begin streaming City Council meetings on YouTube.
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